How to hide the application on Xiaomi Mi A3: from standard settings to advanced tricks

Why Hiding Apps on Mi A3 is Different from Other Xiaomi Smartphones

The Xiaomi Mi A3 stands out from the brand’s lineup thanks to Android One, Google’s initiative to offer a clean version of Android without the MIUI shell. This means that the features familiar to Redmi or POCO owners like the built-in “Hidden Space” are simply absent. Instead, the user can access standard tools Android 9 Pie (or updated version if the firmware has been changed), as well as third-party solutions.

The main difficulty lies in the limitations of the operating system itself: Google does not provide a regular mechanism to hide applications, considering this a potential security threat. However, there are workarounds – from masking through launchers to using specialized utilities. It is important to understand that some methods can be reset after a system update or require super-user rights (root), which automatically deprives you of warranties.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways, including:

• 📱 Hiding through launcher settings (without root)
• 🔒 Using Xiaomi’s Protected Folder (with nuances)
• 🛠️ Third-party masking applications
• 🔧 Editing system files (for advanced ones)
• 📂 Transfer APK hidden-directory

Before you start, consider that no method offers 100% privacy guarantees; experienced users or attackers with physical access to the device will be able to detect hidden programs; if your goal is to protect against children or random clicks, simple solutions will be suitable; serious security will require complex measures, including encryption.

Method 1: Hiding through Standard Launcher settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in capabilities of the Google Now Launcher (or its counterparts if you change the standard interface), which does not require root rights and is reversible: the application is not removed, but only hides from the general list.

Instructions:

1. Press and hold your finger in the free seat of the main screen.
2. In the menu that appears, select Screen Settings (or Home Settings in English).
3. Go to the Hidden Apps section.
4. Tick the programs you want to hide and confirm the action.

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ Applications will remain visible in Settings → Applications and File Manager.
• ⚠️ Some system utilities (such as Google Play Services) will not be able to hide.
• ⚠️ After resetting the launcher to the factory settings, hidden programs will again become visible.

If the standard launcher does not support concealment, install an alternative one, such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which offers more flexibility in its masking option, including the ability to hide icons from search.

Method 2: Xiaomi Protected folder (with reservations)

Despite the Mi A3's involvement in Android One, some MIUI features can be manually activated, including the Second Space Firmware.

⚠️ Note: On pure Android One, this feature is disabled by default. its activation requires the installation of a modified firmware or use ADB-This method is recommended only for experienced users.

If you are ready for experiments, follow the instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → Build Number (click 7 times to unlock the developer mode).
2. Download ADB Tools and run the command: adb shell pm enable com.miui.secondspace
3. Reboot the device. Second Space will appear in the settings.
4. Set up a separate profile with your own password and transfer the necessary applications there.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 Complete application isolation: they won’t show up in the main space.
• 📱 The ability to use different Google accounts in each profile.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Risk of conflicts with system updates.
• ⚠️ Increased CPU load (two profiles running in parallel).
• ⚠️ When reset to factory settings, Second Space will be removed.

Method 3: Third-party applications for disguise

If the system methods don't work, Google Play comes to the rescue. 10 popular solutions and selected the top-3 Reliability and Functionality Criteria:

How to choose the right one:

• 🎯 For cover-up 1-2 Apps are suitable for App Hider.
• 🔄 If you need to duplicate accounts (like two WhatsApp accounts), choose Parallel Space.
• 🔒 For maximum privacy, test Hide App, but check it for compatibility with your version of Android.

⚠️ Note: Disguisers often request permissions to access notifications, contacts and SMS. Before installing, check the developer's privacy policy. LBE Tech has stories of data leaks.

The alternative is to use encrypted containers like Cryptomator or VeraCrypt, which don't hide icons, but encrypt application files, making them inaccessible without a password, which is more difficult to set up, but more reliable.

Method 4: Editing System Files (for Advanced)

If you have root rights or unlocked a bootloader, you can hide applications at the system level, and this is the most radical and requires caution: wrong actions will lead to a device blink (complete failure).

Step-by-step:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/app/, where all the APKs are stored.
3. Find a folder with the name of the app you're hiding (e.g., com.whatsapp-1) and rename it by adding a. (dot) character at the beginning. Example:.com.whatsapp-1.
4. Reset the device.

What's going on?

• 📁 The folder becomes hidden for standard file managers.
• 🔄 The application disappears from the menu, but remains in the list of installed programs (Settings) → Annexes).
• 🔧 To restore, it is enough to remove the point from the folder name.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Google system services) may cause Android errors when renaming a folder. Create a full backup before experimenting with it. TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

An alternative way is to disable the application via ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.package.name

Replace com.package.name with a program ID (you can find it through the App Inspector in Google Play).

adb shell pm enable com.package.name

Method 5: Transfer APKs to Hidden Directories

Less radical than editing system files, but still requires caution method – moving APK-Files in hidden folders. Suitable for applications installed manually (not from Google Play).

Algorithm of action:

1. Using a file manager (e.g. FX File Explorer), find the APK of the hidden application, usually in /data/app/ or /sdcard/Download/ (if manually installed).
2. Create a hidden folder in the root directory of internal memory: mkdir /sdcard/.hiddenapps
3. Move the APK to this folder, and note that the app will stop working because it will be cut off from the system.
4. For temporary use, copy the APK back and install it again.

Pros of the method:

• 🔹 Doesn't require root rights.
• 🔹 APK It stays on the device and can be quickly restored.

Cons:

• ⚠️ The application is completely removed from the system (so the method is only suitable for rarely used programs).
• ⚠️ Updates via Google Play will be impossible.

💡

Before moving the APK, back it up in the cloud (like Google Drive) to help restore the file if something goes wrong.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To facilitate the choice, the key parameters were summarized in a table:

Selection recommendations:

• 👶 For beginners: Start by setting up a launcher or installing an App Hider.
• 🔧 For power users: Try activating Second Space through ADB.
• 🛡️ For maximum privacy: Combine encryption (like VeraCrypt) with portability APK.

💡

On the Mi A3 with pure Android One, the most reliable and secure method is the use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex) or specialized utilities from Google Play. System modifications are advisable only if you have a backup and understand the risks.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you hide applications, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones.

1. The app disappeared from the menu, but it takes up space in memory. ≠ To free up space, uninstall the program through Settings. → Annexes.
2. After the Android update, hidden apps are visible again. Launcher resets or system updates can return icons to the screen. Solution: repeat the hideout procedure or use utilities with auto-recovery (for example, Hide App).
3. You can't hide system applications (Google Play, Google Services) and that's a limitation of Android: you can't turn critical services off without root, and trying to do that leads to bugs.
4. A third-party cloaking app asks for too many permissions. Decline installation: these utilities often collect user data. Except for proven programs like Parallel Space (but check the reviews here too).

⚠️ Warning: If, after hiding the app through root editing, the smartphone starts to brake or overheat, return the original settings.

Useful Lifehack: Before experimenting with the system, create a recovery point through custom recovery (TWRP) that will allow you to roll back changes in 5 minutes if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions