How to hide the application on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: from standard MIUI features to hidden chips

Hiding apps on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that comes with users for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal correspondence or financial applications. Redmi Note 7, despite its age (the model was released in 2019), is still actively used, and its MIUI firmware offers several built-in mechanisms to hide the software. However, not all of them are obvious, and some require knowledge of hidden system functions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways, including standard MIUI tools, second workspace creation, application archiving and even using third-party launchers. Particular attention will be paid to hiding system applications without root rights - this is one of the most popular tasks among owners of Redmi Note 7, since many preinstalled services (Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) can not be removed in the traditional way.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ The app continues to take up space in memory and can work in the background, but its icon disappears from the main screen and from the menu of all applications. If your goal is to completely get rid of the software, more radical methods will be required (for example, disabling through the use of the software). ADB, But it's a topic for a separate article).

1. Hiding through the built-in MIUI function (without additional programs)

The easiest way is to use the standard Hiding Applications tool available in MIUI 10-14, which requires no third-party software installation and works even on non-rooted devices, but has a limitation: it hides applications only from the menu, but does not block their background activity.

To take advantage of this function:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hide Apps.
3. Check the boxes next to the programs you want to remove from your eyes.
4. Confirm the action by pressing Ready.

After that, the app icons will disappear from the home screen and from the list of all programs, and to return them back, repeat the same steps and uncheck the boxes.

Make sure that the MIUI version is at least 10.

Check if the application is already hidden (sometimes a second click knocks down the settings)

- Remember the name of the app you are hiding (if it is system-based, it will be harder to find later)-->

⚠️ Note: This method does not work for some system applications (e.g. Security or Mi Account).If the desired program is not on the list to hide, try other methods from this article.

2.Use of Second Space (Second Workspace)

Second Space is a feature built into MIUI that creates an isolated copy of the system with a separate set of applications, wallpapers and even a password, and is ideal for hiding confidential programs (messengers, banking applications, gallery) from prying eyes.

How to set up Second Space on Redmi Note 7:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
2. Click Create Second Space and follow the instructions (think up a separate password!).
3. After creation, switch to the new space through the notification panel (Face in the curtain icon).
4. Install or transfer to Second Space the applications you want to hide.

Now, when you switch between spaces (swipe by the icon in the curtain), you'll see different sets of programs, and the main advantage of the method is reliability: without knowing the password, no one can access hidden data.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g., SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may block Second Space from operating as an “unsafe environment.

3. Archiving of applications (disabling without deletion)

If the goal is not just to hide, but to disable an unnecessary system application (such as Mi Browser or Mi Pay), you can use the archival function, which removes the application from the home screen and stops its background activity, but saves data in case of future recovery.

Archivalization instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (or Archive, depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Archived applications disappear from the menu, but remain in the system, and can be returned back through the same Application Management section by selecting Restore.

4. Hiding through third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Apex)

If you don't like the built-in MIUI methods, you can install an alternative launcher, like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which allows you not only to hide applications, but also to group them into folders, change icons and customize gestures.

The following is a step-by-step instruction for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Make it the default launcher (at the first start the system will prompt you to do this).
3. Click the free space on the home screen and select Nova Settings.
4. Go to App & Widget drawers → Hide apps.
5. Tick the programs you want to hide and click Ready.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔹 It works for all applications, including system.
• 🔹 You can hide not only icons, but also entire folders.
• 🔹 Flexible appearance settings (themes, icons, animations).

⚠️ Note: After the launcher is removed, hidden applications will appear in the menu, and some system utilities (such as Settings or Phone) cannot be completely hidden - they will remain available through the search or notification panel.

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If you are using Nova Launcher, enable the Lock desktop option in the settings so you don’t accidentally reset hidden apps when you upgrade the launcher.

5. Hiding through the.nomedia folder (for files and media)

This is a good way to hide not the app itself, but the data it creates — like photos, videos, or documents it creates — using a hidden.nomedia folder that Android ignores when scanning media files.

How to hide application files:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer).
2. Go to the folder where the application data is stored (usually /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[name packet]).
3. Create a new folder inside it and call it.nomedia (note the point at the beginning!).
4. Move the files you want to hide to this folder.

After that, the media files will no longer appear in the gallery, music player, or other applications, and to return them back, simply delete the.nomedia folder or move the files elsewhere.

⚠️ Note: This method does not hide the application itself, but only its data, and it does not work for system files (for example, Mi Browser cache or Mi Account settings).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When hiding apps on the Redmi Note 7, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

1.The application is not hidden through the standard MIUI function

• 🔸 Check if it is system critical (like Settings or Google Play Services) and you can't hide it without root rights.
• 🔸 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in old firmware, the concealment function may not work correctly.

2.Second Space is not created or is constantly reset

• 🔸 Make sure there is enough free space on your phone (requires a minimum of 1-2 GB).
• 🔸 Check if Memory Optimization is included in the battery settings – it can remove unused spaces.

3.After archiving, the application continues to work in the background

• 🔸 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery management and manually disable background activity for this application.
• 🔸 Use it. ADB to completely shut down (requires a connection to the PC).

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If none of the methods worked, check if the antivirus or application protection feature in MIUI Security is blocking the cover-up. Turn them off temporarily and try again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions