How to hide the application on Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro: from standard features to hidden chips MIUI

Hiding apps on Xiaomi Poco smartphones M3 Pro is a task that users have for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal information from prying eyes, MIUI It offers several built-in mechanisms for this, but not all of them are obvious. Moreover, some methods can lead to unexpected consequences - for example, hiding system applications through the use of a system system. ADB may disrupt the Google services or MIUI-It's like "Quick Answers".

In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to hide applications on the Poco M3 Pro, from the basic launcher features to advanced tricks with ADB and third-party utilities, and focus on the risks of each method and how to minimize them, such as why hiding com.miui.analytics can lead to a bug in the design theme, and how to return the application if it’s gone from the menu.

Important: All instructions are tested on the Poco M3 Pro with MIUI 12.5-14 firmware (including global and European versions).If your smartphone runs on custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some methods may not work.

1. Hiding applications through the standard MIUI launcher

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the built-in App Vault launcher feature (some firmware calls it the App Folder) which does not remove the app from the device, but only removes its icon from the home screen and menu.

How it works:

• 📱 Long tap on the app icon → Select "Remove" (not "Delete!").
• 🔍 The app will disappear from the screen, but will remain in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔄 To return: Open Settings → Main screen screen → App folder and find hidden app.

⚠️ Note: This method does not hide the application from search by system (via swipe down on the home screen).If you need to completely hide the program from outsiders, use the methods from the following sections.

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If you have hidden a system application (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), it can only be returned by resetting the launcher settings: Settings → Home Screen → Reset settings.

2.Use of the function "Second space" (Dual Apps)

The MIUI's Second Space feature allows you to create an isolated user profile with a separate set of applications, which doesn't hide apps completely, but makes them inaccessible without entering a password.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Create a second profile and set a password (required!).
3. Move the desired applications to the second space through Settings → Apps → Clone applications.
4. In the main space, remove the original apps (they will remain in the second one).

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the second space, you can restore access to hidden applications only through a full reset of the smartphone. MIUI Does not provide official ways to reset a password without losing data.

3. Hiding through a "Secure Folder"

The MIUI 13/14-based Poco M3 Pro supports a Secure Folder (similar to Samsung Knox or Huawei PrivateSpace) that is encrypted storage, where you can transfer applications and files hidden from the main interface.

How to set up:

Set a password or pattern lock for the folder |

Move the desired applications through Settings → Privacy → Secure folder |

Turn off the folder icon on the home screen (option in folder settings)|

Check that notifications from hidden apps don’t appear in the curtain-->

🔹 An important caveat: apps in a protected folder are not automatically updated through Google Play. To update them, you need to temporarily remove them from the folder.

🔹 Limitations:

• 🚫 Does not work with system applications (e.g. Mi Browser or Security).
• 🚫 Some banking applications block work in a secure folder (for example, Sberbank Online or Tinkoff).
• 🚫 When resetting the smartphone, data from the folder is deleted without the possibility of recovery.

4. Hiding system applications through ADB (for advanced)

If you need to hide system applications (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Video, Analytics) that cannot be removed in standard ways, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and enabling developer mode.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can lead to system failure or loss of warranty, such as hiding com.miui.systemAdSolution will disable all ad units in the system. MIUI, But it can disrupt weather widgets.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm hide com.package.name (replace com.package.name with a real application package).
4. To return the application, use: adb shell pm unhide com.package.name

📌 Where to find the name of the package?

• 🔍 App Inspector (available on Google Play).
• 🔍 Through ADB: adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui" (will show all system packages) MIUI).

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Before hiding system applications through ADB, be sure to back up via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. Some packages (such as com.miui.home) will make the smartphone inoperable when hidden!

5. Third-party launchers with application hiding function

If you don’t like the built-in MIUI methods, you can use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or POCO Launcher (yes, it works on other Xiaomi smartphones too), which allow you to hide applications without tampering with the system.

🔹 The Best Launchers for Hiding Applications:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher (paid Hide Apps feature in application box settings).
• 🌟 Apex Launcher (Free Hiding Function in Pro-Version).
• 🌟 POCO Launcher (built-in "Hidden Apps" feature in category settings).
• 🌟 Lawnchair (open code, supports cover-up via plugins).

📌 How to hide the app in Nova Launcher:

1. Long press on the main screen → Settings.
2. Go to the box settings → Hidden applications.
3. Choose the programs you want to hide.
4. Save the changes – apps will disappear from the menu.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party launchers don't remove apps from the device - they only hide their icons:

• 🔍 Seen in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔍 Available via search by system (swipe down on the home screen).
• 🔍 Can show notifications (unless manually disabled).

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If you’re using Nova Launcher, create a gesture to quickly access hidden apps: Settings → Gestures & Inputs → Gestures → Double Touch → Select the “Open Hidden Apps” action.

6. Factory reset: What will happen to hidden apps?

If you decide to reset the Poco M3 Pro to factory settings, it’s important to understand how this will affect hidden apps:

🔹 Disclosure and behavior after resetting:

• 🔄 Launcher MIUI: All hidden icons will return to the main screen.
• 🔄 Second Space: Data will be deleted without recovery.
• 🔄 Secure folder: All data inside will be erased.
• 🔄 ADB: Hidden packets will remain hidden (but can be returned by the same command).
• 🔄 Third-party launchers: Settings reset, hidden apps become visible.

⚠️ Note: If you have hidden system applications through ADB And they did reset, some functions. MIUI They may not work properly, such as hiding. com.miui.weather2 This will cause the weather widget to not update after reset, in which case only re-install the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool will help.

📌 How to prepare for a reset:

1. Save a list of hidden apps (take pictures or write down the names of packages).
2. Disable the concealment via ADB (pm unhide command for each packet).
3. Move important data from the Second Space and the Secure Folder to the main storage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Poco M3 Pro