How to hide the app on Xiaomi Poco M3: from standard features to secret tricks

Why users want to hide apps on Poco M3 and when they really need to

Xiaomi Poco M3 with a MIUI shell offers many personalization options, but not all features are on the surface. Hiding apps is one of those options that can come in handy in a variety of situations: someone wants to hide banking programs from prying eyes, someone wants to remove from view system utilities that they never use, and someone just tired of seeing the blockage of icons on the desktop.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ The application continues to run in the background, takes up space in memory and can send notifications (unless manually disabled). M3 his MIUI 12/13/14 eat at least 5 The ways to hide software are from embedded tools to third-party solutions, but not all of them are equally safe and convenient. For example, the use of launchers from third developers may conflict with branded Xiaomi features, and system hiding through Settings does not always work with pre-installed applications.

Before you start, check the MIUI version on your device: Settings path → About phone → MIUI version. This depends on the availability of certain features. Also note that after resetting to factory settings, all hidden applications will be visible again.

Method 1: Built-in Hidden Applications in MIUI

The most obvious and safe method is to use a Xiaomi proprietary tool, which does not require superuser rights and works on all versions of the Poco M3 (including global and Chinese firmware), but this method has a limitation: it hides applications only from the app menu, but not from the desktop if the icon is already added there.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Apps.
3. In the list, tick the programs you want to hide and click Ready.

To return the application back, repeat the same steps and uncheck. Note: this method does not hide the application from search by system (if you enter the name in the MIUI search bar, it will still be found).

There are no system updates|The application is not system (not all system can be hidden)|The phone has enough free memory (minimum 500 MB)-->

⚠️ Note: If you use a child mode or a guest profile MIUI, Hidden apps automatically become unavailable in these modes, which can cause problems if you forget the password from the main profile.

Method 2: Use of Second Space (Second Space)

Second Space is a feature of Xiaomi that creates an isolated user profile with a separate set of apps, wallpapers and settings, and is essentially a sandbox that hides any program, including system programs.

• 🔄 Switching between spaces is required (inconvenient for frequent transitions).
• 📱 It takes up additional memory space (about 1-2 GB for the second space).

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Second Space (if there is no item, use the search by settings).
2. Create a second space by following the system prompts (you need to set a password).
3. After you create, go to Second Space Settings → Applications and select which programs will only be available in the second space.

Now, when you switch between spaces (via the notification bar), hidden apps will only be visible in Second Space, a technique that is also useful if you want to separate work and personal accounts on instant messengers or social networks.

Built-in MIUI|Second Space|Third-party launchers|Manual removal of icons from the desktop |I don't hide-->

Method 3: Third-party launchers with concealment function

If the built-in tools MIUI Not enough, you can install an alternative launcher. M3:

• 🎨 Nova Launcher (paid version supports app hiding).
• 🔒 Apex Launcher (there is an option to “Hide apps” in the free version).
• 🛡️ POCO Launcher (branded launcher from Xiaomi, but with advanced settings).

Example of settings in Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play and make it the default launcher.
2. Press the finger free space on the desktop → Settings → Hiding applications.
3. Select the programs you want to hide and confirm.

The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can hide applications selectively without affecting system processes.

• 🔄 Launchers may conflict with branded functions MIUI (for example, navigational gestures).
• 📱 Some launchers consume additional RAM.

Method 4: Disabling applications via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), it allows you to completely disable unnecessary system applications that can not be removed or hidden by standard methods. On Poco M3 with MIUI 13+ firmware, this method works only for some pre-installed programs (for example, Mi Browser, Mi Music), but not for mission-critical system services.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → 7 times tap on the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app

Where com.example.app is the batch name of the application (you can find it through the App Inspector in Google Play or the adb shell pm list packages command).

⚠️ Attention: Disabling system applications can lead to unstable phone operation, interface errors or even bootloop ( looped boot).Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 5: Archiving applications (without deletion)

If you want to temporarily remove an application, but you can quickly return it, you can use the archiving function, which does not delete the program, but freezes it, freeing up space in memory and removing the icon from the desktop. On Poco M3, archiving works through:

• 📦 Google Play Store (for custom applications).
• 🗃️ MIUI Optimizer (for some systems).

How to archive through Google Play:

1. Open the Play Store → Mine → Installed.
2. Select the application → click on three dots → Archive.

Archived annex:

• ✅ Does not occupy a place in the main memory (only cache remains).
• ✅ Not displayed on the menu and on the desktop.
• ❌ Not automatically updated.
• ❌ Can be removed by the system when memory is lacking.

💡

If the application reappears on your desktop after archiving, check the launcher settings. POCO Launcher has the option to “Show archived applications” – you need to manually disable it.

What to do if the hidden app is still visible

Sometimes, after applying one of the methods, the application icon continues to appear.

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Are there any conflicts with other installed launchers or Magisk modules (if the phone is rooted).
• 📋 Is the mode for developers with debugging turned on (sometimes interferes with the work of system functions).
• 🔄 Do you need to update the firmware (in new versions) MIUI Hidden bugs are often corrected).

💡

The most reliable way to hide the application on Poco M3 Risk-free – a combination of built-in functions MIUI + Archiving through Google Play.This does not affect system processes and is easily canceled.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Poco M3