How to hide the application on Xiaomi Poco: all the ways from simple to complex

Hiding apps on Xiaomi Poco smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal information from prying eyes. Unlike standard deletion, hiding allows you to return the application at any time without losing data. But how to do it correctly without disrupting the system?

In this article, we will look at all the current methods for different versions of MIUI (12 to 15), including hiding through launcher settings, archiving, access blocking and even using third-party shells. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of MIUI, which are not written about in the official instructions, but work stably on the Poco F5, Poco X5 Pro, Poco M6 Pro and others. If you are looking for a way to hide an application without being found even through search, you are at the right place.

1. Hiding through launcher settings (the easiest way)

This method is suitable for most Xiaomi Poco devices on MIUI 12-15 and does not require superuser rights.It hides the app icon from the home screen and menu, but leaves it in the system - it can be found through search or settings.

To hide the app:

• 📱 Long tap on the free seat of the main screen and select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings in some versions).
• 🔍 Go to Hide Apps (may be called Hide Badges).
• ✅ Tick the apps you want to hide and click Ready.

After that, the icons will disappear from the screen, but the apps will remain in the system. To return them back, repeat the same steps and uncheck the boxes.

⚠️ Note: This method does not hide the application from the system search. If someone opens the Search by device (swipe down on the home screen), hidden programs will appear in the results.

2. Application Archiving (Hidden with Save Data)

Archiving is a built-in MIUI feature that allows you to freeze an application by removing it from the home screen and stopping background processes, but saving all data. This method is suitable for system utilities that cannot be removed in the standard way (for example, Mi Browser, Mi Music or GetApps).

How to archive the application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Archive.
4. Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the screen, but its data will remain in memory.

To return an archived application, go to Settings → Applications → Archived, select the program and click Restore.

Check that the application is not used by the system

Create a backup copy of important data

Make sure there is enough memory on the device.

Close all background processes of the application-->

3.Using Second Space for complete cover-up

Second Space is a built-in MIUI feature that creates a separate work profile with its own apps, settings, and data, and if you have to hide an application so that it is not accessible without a password, this method is one of the most reliable.

How to set up Second Space:

• 🔐 Go to Settings. → Second Space (or Additional Settings) → Second Space in some versions).
• 📱 Create a new profile by following the instructions (you will need to set a password or a pattern lock).
• 🔄 Switch to Second Space and install the apps only there.
• 🔒 Returning to the main profile, these apps will not appear in the menu or search.

The advantage of this is that hidden applications are completely isolated from the main profile, but you have to enter a password and switch between spaces every time you access them.

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If you use Second Space to hide messengers (like Telegram or WhatsApp), remember to update them regularly in both profiles to avoid sync issues.

4. Hiding through ADB (for power users)

If you need to completely uninstall the system application or hide it so that it does not appear even in the settings, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires a connection to the computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
4. To hide an app (e.g. com.miui.browser), do: adb shell pm hide com.miui.browser
5. To return the application, use: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser

The list of packages of system applications Xiaomi Poco can be found on the Internet or get a team:

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui'

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not hide critical services (e.g. com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter) or the phone may stop ringing or locking.

5. Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher and others

If the built-in MIUI methods don’t suit you, you can install an alternative launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which offer advanced hide-out features, including:

• 🔍 Hiding icons without removing the app.
• 🔒 Blocking access to hidden programs with a password.
• 📂 Grouping applications into hidden folders.

How to hide the app in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Slip it in the free screen space for a long time and select Nova Settings.
3. Go to App & Widget drawers → Hide apps.
4. Check the boxes for the apps you want to hide.

The advantage of this method is that hidden applications do not appear even in system search if the launcher is set as the main one, but to return to the standard MIUI interface, you will have to disable Nova Launcher in the settings.

6. Hiding through app lock (for privacy)

If your goal is not just to remove the icon, but to block access to an application (such as banking programs or instant messengers), MIUI has a built-in lock function. It does not hide the application completely, but requires you to enter a password at each run.

How to block the application:

• 🔒 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application lockdown.
• 📱 Choose the apps you want to protect (such as SberBank Online or SberBank Online). VK).
• 🔑 Set a password or pattern lock (unless previously installed).

After that, when you try to open a blocked application, the system will require a password, which does not hide the icon, but makes the application inaccessible to outsiders.

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Application blocking in MIUI works even if the phone is unlocked, and the password is requested separately for each secure application.

7. What to do if the hidden application cannot be returned?

Sometimes, after hiding or archiving, an application can disappear from the system, and standard methods do not help it to return.

If the application was hidden through the launcher:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it resets the concealment settings.
• 🔍 Check the Hidden Applications folder in the launcher settings.
• 📱 Install another launcher (like Nova Launcher) – it can display hidden programs.

If the application has been archived:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Archived.
• 📲 If the partition is empty, try to find the application through system search and click Restore.
• 🔧 As a last resort, use it. ADB-command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.app (replace com.example.app with your application package).

If the application has been removed via ADB:

• 🔄 Try to return it with the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing --user 0 com.example.app
• 📥 If this doesn’t work, you’ll only have to reinstall the app from Google Play or backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Xiaomi Poco