How to hide the application on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all the ways from standard to advanced

Why Hide Xiaomi Apps and When to Hide

Hiding apps on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is a challenge that users have for a variety of reasons: Some want to take out system programs that can’t be removed, some hide personal messengers from prying eyes, and some just want a minimalist desktop. Unlike iOS, where the concealment functionality is limited, MIUI offers several built-in tools — but not all of them are obvious.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ The app continues to take up space in memory, can be updated via Google Play and even run in the background (if not manually disabled). MIUI 12-14 at least 5 methods of hiding are available, from standard to third-party launchers that require installation, and some methods (such as archiving) can cause disruptions to Google services if applied to system applications such as Google Play Services».

Method 1: Built-in Hidden Applications in MIUI

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tool, which does not require super-user rights (root) and works on all versions of the firmware for the Redmi Note 7. However, this method has a limitation: hidden applications will still appear in the All apps menu if you swipe up on the home screen.

To hide the app:

📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
🔍 Find the right application in the list and tap it.
👁️ Select Hide App (may be called Remove from the Home Screen in older versions) MIUI).
✅ Confirm the action – the icon will disappear from the desktop.

☑️ Preparation before concealment

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)Make a backup copy of important dataMake sure the application is not system-based (e.g. not “Settings”)Remember the name of the search application

Done: 0 / 4

If the item Hide the application is missing, it means:

🔄 Your firmware has been modified (e.g. Global) ROM China ROM).
🛠️ The application is system-based and cannot be hidden through standard means.
📲 You have a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that override the features. MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: Hidden through MIUI Apps will still be visible in the All Apps list (long swipe up on the home screen.

Method 2: Archiving applications (without deletion)

The MIUI archiving feature allows you to freeze an application, making it invisible on the menu and stopping background activity.This method is suitable for the Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 12 and later, but has a nuance: the archived programs are not updated and may stop working after the device is restarted.

Archivalization instructions:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select the desired application and tap Disable (or Archive in new versions).
Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the menu and stop using resources.

Benefits of archiving	Deficiencies
🔹 Completely hides the icon from the menu	🔸 The app stops updating
🔹 Stops background activity	🔸 Can break dependent services (e.g., Google Play Services archiving»)
🔹 Doesn't require root rights	🔸 After the reboot, it may appear again on the menu.

💡

If the application reappears after archiving, try disabling it via Settings. → Annexes → Show all applications → ⋮ (menu) → Show system-based → Find the app → Shut down.

⚠️ Note: Archiving system applications (such as Mi Account or Security) may result in the inability to log in to Xiaomi account or sensor failures (such as a fingerprint scanner.

Method 3: Hiding through third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, POCO Launcher)

If you don't like MIUI, you can use alternative launchers, like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher, which allows you to hide applications without root rights and without the risk of breaking system functions, and the main advantage of this method is flexibility: you can hide applications selectively without affecting their work in the background.

How to hide the app through Nova Launcher:

📥 Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
🔧 Go to the launcher settings (hold your finger in the free screen space). → Settings Nova).
📂 Go to the Application Settings → Hidden applications.
✅ Check the programs you want to hide.

Advantages of the method:

🎨 Complete control over the visibility of icons.
🔄 Ability to quickly return hidden applications.
🛡️ Security: System files are not affected.

📊 What kind of launcher are you using on Xiaomi?

Standard MIUI

Nova Launcher

POCO Launcher

Apex Launcher

Other

Cons:

📱 Apps remain in the menu All apps (long swipe up).
🔄 When you change the launcher back to the standard hidden programs will again become visible.

Method 4: Using the Second Space to Hide Completely

MIUI’s Second Space feature is designed to separate personal and work data, but it can also be used to hide applications, and unlike previous methods, applications will be completely isolated from the system, and will not be seen even through a search.

How to set up:

Open the Settings. → Second space.
Create a new space (you will need to create a password).
Install the required applications only in the second space.
Return to the main space – hidden programs will not be available without entering a password.

This is the perfect way to:

🔒 Hiding messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) from outsiders.
📱 Isolation of Work Applications from Personal Applications.
🛡️ Protecting confidential data (e.g. banking applications).

⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to factory settings, the second space is removed without recovery.

What to do if I forget the password from the second space?

If you forget your password, the only way to get back access is to reset your phone to factory settings. However, this will delete all data in the second space. To avoid data loss, back up regularly through Settings → Second Space → Backup.

Method 5: Advanced Hiding with ADB (for power users)

If you're ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can hide applications at the system level, which requires a computer connection, but allows you to hide even system programs without root. Importantly, improper use of ADB can lead to firmware failure, especially on Xiaomi with a locked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell pm hide com.example.app

(Replace com.example.app with a real-life app package, such as com.facebook.katana for Facebook).

To return the application, use:

adb shell pm unhide com.example.app

Where to find the name of the package:

📱 App Inspector (available on Google Play).
🖥️ Through ADB-Adb shell pm list packages | grep “keyword".

💡

ADB-The teams only work when they're connected to the PC. USB Hidden applications will remain invisible, but they can be returned through the same commands.

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:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Hidden app reappears after reboot	MIUI automatically restores some system programs	Use Archiving or ADB for Permanent Hiding
You cannot hide the system application (for example, “Security”)	MIUI blocks changes to critical services	Try disabling it through Settings → Applications → Disable
Launcher does not save Hiding Settings after Update	Resetting the launcher settings when updating	Make a backup of the settings in the launcher itself

Another common mistake is trying to hide Google Play Services or Mi Account, which leads to:

🚫 Google Play Market Shutdown.
🔒 Unable to log in to Xiaomi account.
📱 Loss of sensor functionality (e.g, NFC face scanner).

If you have already archived a critical application and your phone has stopped working correctly, return it via:

Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → ⋮ (menu) → Show system-based.
Find the problem app and click Enable.
Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can you hide the application so that it is not visible even in the list of all programs?

Yes, but only with ADB or second space. Standard MIUI tools and launchers hide icons only from the desktop and in the launcher menu, but the application remains visible in Settings → Applications or when searching the system.

Will a hidden app consume a battery or the internet?

Depends on the method of concealment: 🔹 Hiding through MIUI: The application works in the background if not manually disabled. 🔹 Archiving: Completely stops background activity. 🔹 ADB/hide: The application is not visible to the system, but may continue to work (for example, receive notifications).To completely stop the resource consumption, disable the application in Settings. → Annexes → Shut down.

Can I hide system applications (for example, Music or Camera)?

Yes, but with reservations: 🔹 Through MIUI: only if it is not a critical application (e.g. Settings or Phone). 🔹 Through ADB: You can hide any one, but you can risk breaking the system (for example, hiding MiuiSystemUI will lead to a black screen). 🔹 Across the second space: secure, but the app will only be available there.

How to return a hidden application if you forget what it is called?

There are several ways: Check the list of installed apps through Settings → Annexes → Manage applications (even hidden ones are displayed there). ADB-Adb shell pm list packages -f If you've used the second space, try the standard passwords. 123456 date of birth.

Does this work on other Xiaomi models (Redmi Note 8/9/10, POCO X3)?

All of the above methods (except for the Redmi Note) 7 Settings) work on other smartphones with MIUI 12–14, including: 📱 Redmi Note 8/9/10/11. 📱 POCO X3/X4/F3. 📱 Mi 10/11/12. Exception: on some models for Global ROM function to hide the application in MIUI It may not be available, in which case you should use a launcher or ADB.