How to hide applications on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all the ways from standard to hidden

Hiding apps on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 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 the newer Xiaomi models, where the concealment feature is built into MIUI 13/14 by default, the Redmi Note 8 Pro (with MIUI 11-12.5) is nuanced. In some cases, it takes just a few clicks, in others it will require additional software installation or even a change in system settings.

It's important to understand that hiding an application is not the same as removing it or blocking it completely. A hidden application continues to run in the background, can send notifications and consume battery resources. However, visually it will disappear from the main menu, search and list of newly opened programs. In this article, we will examine all the current ways, from official MIUI functions to bypass solutions using third-party tools, including hiding through APK archiving, which works even without root rights.

1. Hiding through built-in MIUI (for MIUI 12 and later)

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added the official ability to hide apps without third-party software. However, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this feature may not be available depending on the firmware version and region.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hide Apps.
3. Tick the programs you want to remove from view and confirm the action.

If you don't have Hide apps on the menu, your version of MIUI doesn't support this feature, so move on to the following.

⚠️ Attention: Hidden through MIUI Applications remain searchable by system (Search in Settings). To hide them completely, you need to disable the display in the search results separately.

2. Archiving applications (without root)

The archiving method allows you to freeze an application, making it invisible on the menu and stopping background processes, which works on all versions of MIUI, including the Redmi Note 8 Pro, but has a limitation: the archived application ceases to update via Google Play.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application and tap Archive (or Disable if no archiving).
3. Confirm action. The app will disappear from the menu, but will remain in the archived list (Settings → Applications → Archived).

To return the app:

• 📌 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Archived.
• 🔄 Click Restore next to the desired application.
• 🔄 After recovery, it may be necessary to restart the device.

3. Password Hiding (App Lock)

The App Lock feature in MIUI allows you not only to block applications with a password, but also to hide them from the menu, which is suitable if you want to restrict access to an application (for example, a banking or messenger) and simultaneously remove it from the home screen.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Password and Security → App Lock
2. Activate the function by installing PIN-code.
3. Select the apps you want to block and enable Hide Notifications.
4. Return to the main screen, swipe down and tap the icon. ⚙️ (Settings) → Hide applications.

Now, blocked apps will be hidden from the menu to be seen:

• 🔓 Enter your password in App Lock.
• 📱 Swipe down on the home screen and select Show Hidden.

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If you forgot the password from App Lock, you can reset it through your Mi Account. To do this, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Security → Device Management and select the option to reset the application lock.

4.Use of third-party launchers

If standard methods don’t work, you can install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, or Microsoft Launcher) that supports hiding applications, which doesn’t remove programs from the device, but makes them invisible in the interface.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press the free space on the home screen and select Settings → Hide applications.
3. Check the boxes for the programs you want to hide.
4. Save settings. Apps will disappear from the menu, but remain in the system list (Settings → Applications).

Advantages of the method:

• 🎨 Flexible interface configuration.
• 🔒 Ability to hide system applications (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music).
• 🔄 Easy Recovery of Visibility in Two Clicks.

⚠️ Note: When you reset the launcher to the factory settings, hidden applications will be visible again, and some system utilities (for example, Security) can automatically return visibility after updates.

5. Disconnection via ADB (for power users)

For advanced users who are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), there is a way to disable any application, including system applications. It won't delete the program, but it will make it invisible and inactive. It requires a connection to a PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB).
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your PC and confirm your trust.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app

Where com.example.app is the batch name of the application (you can find it through the App Inspector or adb shell pm list packages).

Examples of packet names of popular applications:

To return the application, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.example.app

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The ADB method is the only way to hide system applications without root permissions, but after resetting or updating MIUI, you may need to shut down again.

6. Hiding through folders and gestures

If you just need to remove the app from the home screen but not from the system, you can use the standard MIUI features:

• 📁 Folders: Drag the app icon to another to create a folder. Call it neutral (e.g., Tools").
• 👆 Swipe up: In MIUI You can hide applications in the Box by removing them from the home screen, and then you can pull the icon up and drag it up to the Remove icon.
• 🔒 Folder protection: In some versions MIUI folders can be password protected (in addition to App Lock).

This method doesn't hide the application completely, but it makes it less visible, like a folder called "Utilities" that few people will open specifically.

Comparison of methods of hiding applications

FAQ: Frequent questions