Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro is often a device used by different family members, or a gadget that can easily be in the hands of curious colleagues. In such situations, there is an urgent need to remove from the desktop icons of certain programs, whether they are bank customers, personal correspondence or games that you do not want to show to others. The standard shell MIUI provides powerful tools for managing the visibility of content, but they are not always obvious to the average user at first glance.
In this detailed guide, we will look at all the ways you can make your data invisible to outsiders, how to use the built-in features of Hidden Space, how to set up password access and what nuances the file system has in this version of the operating system, and we will also touch on the topic of third-party solutions that can be useful if standard functionality is not enough for your tasks.
Privacy is a priority, and using app hiding tools correctly significantly reduces the risk of information leakage. Redmi 6 Pro, despite its age, remains a capable device capable of providing a decent level of privacy when properly configured. Let's look at the basic techniques that will help you protect your digital perimeter.
Use of the Hidden Space function in MIUI
The most effective and native way to hide apps on Xiaomi devices is to use a system feature called Hidden Space, which creates an isolated environment inside your phone where any programs can be moved. The hidden space works as a second profile, with its own settings, notifications and, most importantly, its own login password.
To activate this feature, you will need access to the security settings menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI installed on your Redmi 6 Pro, but the logic remains the same. Once enabled, you can add banking apps, a gallery with personal photos or instant messengers, which should remain private.
⚠️ A forgotten password or pattern lock from Hidden Space is almost impossible to recover without resetting the most hidden profile, so use combinations that you remember exactly.
It is important to understand that applications in hidden space take up space in the main memory of the device, but their icons disappear completely from the menu and from desktops, and access to them is possible only through a special security login or through the creation of a separate user profile, if such an option is activated in your version of the firmware.
☑️ Checking before hiding
Access settings via the Security menu
To start the process of hiding, you need to go to the system application, which is usually called “Security” and has a green shield icon. This is where all the key protection tools for your Redmi 6 Pro are concentrated. In the menu of this application, you need to find the item “Hide Apps” or “Hidden Space”, which is often located at the top of the screen or in the additional settings section.
When you first start up, the system will ask you to specify a login method, which can be a pattern lock, a digital password or a fingerprint if the sensor is configured, and it is recommended to use the same unlock method as for the main screen to avoid confusion, or, conversely, to choose a unique code for increased secrecy.
Once you set the password, you'll have an interface where you'll be asked to select hidden apps, you'll see a list of all the programs installed, just switch the switch to the switch in front of the desired application to the active position, and from that point on, the icon will disappear from the home screen, and access to the program will only be possible through the entrance to the hidden partition.
- 🔒 Open the Security app on your desktop.
- 📂 Find and click on the section “Hide apps».
- 🔑 Create and enter a password or use biometrics.
- 📱 Select from the list of programs that you need to hide.
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Use different passwords for the main screen and hidden space so that if the main code is compromised, the hidden data remains secure.
Working with the second space as an alternative
If you don't have enough of the simple icon hiding functionality, Xiaomi offers a more radical solution, Second Space, which is a full-fledged copy of your operating system that runs parallel to your main operating system, and switching between them is as fast as unlocking your phone with a fingerprint or password.
Unlike just hiding apps, the second space requires you to re-install the programs, so if you want to hide Telegram, you have to install it in the second space separately and log in there, creating perfect isolation: data, correspondence history and files in the two spaces do not overlap.
For Redmi 6 Pro users, it’s a great way to separate work and personal lives, and you can set up notifications so that when you’re in the main space, the phone doesn’t signal anything in the second space, which offers maximum privacy and allows you to keep your phone in “work-only” or “rest-only” mode.
⚠️ Note: Creating a second space takes up a significant amount of RAM and permanent memory, which can slow down the device if there is less free memory. 2-3 GB.
You can switch between spaces through settings or quick access, and in the second space settings, you can set your own password or fingerprint to log in, which means that if you put a certain finger on the scanner, the phone will know what space you want to enter, which is very convenient and secure.
Hiding through third-party launchers
The built-in MIUI is powerful, but sometimes users need a more flexible approach or hide not only icons, but also the shortcuts themselves on the menu. For this, there are third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Apex Launcher. These programs completely replace the standard desktop and offer advanced customization capabilities.
Installing a third-party launcher allows you to hide applications from the application menu, making them visible only when searching or through special gestures. However, it is worth considering that on some versions of MIUI, the system can aggressively unload third-party launchers from memory, which leads to resetting interface settings.
The setup process is usually simple: after installing the launcher, go to its settings, find the Hide Apps section and select the desired programs. Some launchers even allow you to hide applications behind a password or create pseudo-errors when you try to run, which is a great way to deceive the curious.
Container applications for additional protection
For those who want to go beyond standard settings, there are special container applications such as Calculator Vault or Hide My App. The principle of their work is that they disguise themselves as harmless utilities, for example, as a calculator. When you enter a normal mathematical expression, the program works as a calculator, but when you enter a special PIN-The code opens a hidden storage.
Inside this container, you can install copies of any application. They'll run in an isolated environment, and even if someone accesses your phone, they won't see those programs on the installed list. This is especially true for the Redmi 6 Pro, which is often used as a second phone or a device for children.
The main advantage of these solutions is the presence of a fake password, so if you are forced to unlock your phone, you can enter a special code that will open a “clean” profile without hidden data, while real data will remain behind the main password.
| Protection method | Level of difficulty | Reliability | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI's Hidden Space | Low. | Tall. | Minimum |
| Second space | Medium. | Very high. | Average. |
| Third-party launcher | Medium. | Medium | High. |
| Container applications | High-pitched | Tall. | Average. |
Why can container applications be dangerous?
Access Restoration and Management of Hidden Data
Managing hidden apps requires discipline. If you forget how to log into hidden space or what password you set for a launcher, data recovery can become problematic. In the case of native Xiaomi functionality, linking to a Mi Account can help reset your password, but only if this option was activated in advance.
To remove applications from hidden space, you just have to go back to the security settings, select edit mode, and remove the boxes from the unwanted programs. They will instantly return to their places in the main menu. If you used the second space, the removal is done through the standard removal mechanism of applications inside this second profile.
Check system updates regularly. In MIUI 10 for Redmi 6 Pro, hidden space encryption algorithms have been updated, which has improved security but changed some ways to set up. Watch for notifications of new firmware releases to ensure you don't lose access to your data due to software bugs.
⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to the factory settings (Hard Reset), all data in the second space and hidden applications will be irretrievably deleted along with the main system.
Keep in mind that hiding an application does not mean protecting it from being deleted or stopped. An attacker with access to the App settings on the system can see all the processes running. Therefore, it is recommended to also use the Application Lock feature, which requires a password when running a particular program, even if it is not hidden visually.
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A combination of concealment techniques (e.g. Hidden Space + Application Lock) ensures the highest level of protection for personal data on your device.