Xiaomi Poco X3 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but even its owners face the need to hide some applications. The reasons can vary from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities from view to protecting personal data from outsiders. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to hide applications on Poco X3, from built-in MIUI functions to third-party solutions.
It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ Applications continue to take up space in memory and may run in the background, but visually they will disappear from the menu, search and list of newly opened programs. Some methods require caution, such as disabling system applications can cause crashes. We will note all the risks separately.
This article is relevant for the Poco X3 based on MIUI 12/13/14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).If you have a different Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco model, most of the ways will work too, but the layout of menu items may differ.
Method 1: Built-in Hidden Applications in MIUI
The easiest and safest method is to use the regular MIUI tool, which does not require superuser rights and works on all versions of the Poco X3 firmware. However, this method has a limitation: hidden applications will remain visible in the settings and task manager.
To hide the app:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the app you want from the list (e.g. Google Play Games or Mi Video).
- Slip on the three-point menu in the upper right corner and select Hide the app.
- Confirm the action with a password / fingerprint (if the lock is configured).
To bring the app back, repeat the same steps and select Show App, a technique that is suitable for temporary concealment, such as if you give the phone to a child or colleague.
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If Hide App is not on the menu, upgrade MIUI to the latest version. Old firmware (MIUI 11 and below) may not have this feature.
⚠️ Note: System applications (e.g., Security or Themes) cannot be hidden in this way. They will require disabling (see Method 3).
Method 2: Use of the second space (Dual Apps)
The second space in MIUI is designed to separate work and personal data, but it can be adapted to hide applications, and the point is that you create a separate profile where you only install the programs you want to keep visible, and all the others will remain in the main space and will be inaccessible without switching.
How to set up:
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
- Create a new space (you will need to create a password).
- In the settings of the second space, select Applications → Clone applications and transfer only the necessary programs (for example, messengers or social networks) there.
- In the main space, remove the hidden app shortcuts from the desktop (they will remain on the menu, but will be less noticeable).
The downside is that when you switch between spaces, you'll see that you're using this feature, but you can hide not only individual applications, but entire groups (like all games or banking programs).
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| ✅ Doesn't require root rights | ❌ You can see the switch between spaces. |
| ✅ You can hide several applications at once. | ❌ Takes up extra space in memory |
| ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI | ❌ You need to manually adjust each space. |
Method 3: Disabling system applications (without deleting)
If you are annoyed by pre-installed Xiaomi apps (such as Mi Music, Mi Browser or GetApps), they can be disabled.This will remove them from the menu and stop background processes, but the application files will remain in the system.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select a system application (such as Mi Video).
- Click Disable (the button will appear if the application can be disabled).
- Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop updating.
To return the app, find it in the same menu and click Enable.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable apps called com.android., com.miui. or com.qualcomm. – this can cause malfunctions in the phone. Also do not touch Google Play Services and Google Play Services, otherwise many features will stop working.
Do not disable apps with "com.android" in the title|Before disabling, check for app reviews|Create a backup copy of the data|Don't turn it off anymore. 3-4 op-ed-->
Method 4: Hiding through third-party launchers
If the built-in methods don’t work, you can use alternative launchers (desktop shells) such as Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or POCO Launcher (yes, even Poco’s native launcher has advanced settings), which allow you to hide display applications on the desktop and in the menu.
Example of settings in Nova Launcher:
- Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
- Press the free space on the desktop → Settings Nova.
- Go to the Apps menu → Hide the Apps.
- Tick the apps you want to hide and save the changes.
The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can hide applications selectively, create folders with a password and even change icons. However, launchers consume additional RAM (about 100-200 MB), which can be critical for the Poco X3 with 6 GB of RAM.
Standard. MIUI Launcher|Nova Launcher|POCO Launcher|Apex Launcher|Other-->
Method 5: Hidden folders and archivers (for APK-file)
This is a method that works for people who want to not just hide an application from the menu, but hide its files completely, and the idea is to rename the application's.apk file to an archive and hide it in a secure folder, but it will require:
- 🔧 Root rights (or access to system folders through the ADB).
- 📁 Root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- 🔒 Archivator (e.g. ZArchiver).
Step-by-step:
- With the help of the file manager, find the /data/app/ folder (there are stored user applications).
- Find a folder with the name of the app you are hiding (e.g. com.facebook.katana for Facebook).
- Make sure you are in a safe place (for example, on the SD-map).
- Remove the original folder from /data/app/.
- Rename the copied folder to com.facebook.katana.zip (or any other archive).
- Place the archive in a hidden folder (e.g.,.hidden – folders with a dot at the beginning do not appear in standard managers).
Important: this method removes the application from the system, but saves its files, so to return the application, you need to rename the archive back to the folder and transfer it to /data/app/, then restart the phone.
⚠️ Note: Removing system applications from /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/ root-free can cause a device to blink (completely inoperable!
What if the phone stopped working after removing the APK?
Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?
To facilitate the choice, we will bring all methods into one table, taking into account their pros, cons and difficulty level.
| Method | Need root? | Hiding from... | Difficulty | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in MIUI function | ❌ No. | Appendix menu | ⭐ | No. |
| Second space | ❌ No. | Desktop and menu | ⭐⭐ | It takes up memory. |
| Disabling applications | ❌ No. | Menu and background processes | ⭐⭐ | You can disable important system software |
| Third-party launchers | ❌ No. | Desktop and search | ⭐⭐ | Additional RAM consumption |
| Hiding APK-file | ✅ Yes. | Complete removal from the system | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High risk of disruption |
For most Poco X3 users, the best solution is to combine the built-in MIUI function (for normal applications) and the second space (for hiding groups of programs).If you want maximum privacy and you are willing to sacrifice performance, use third-party launchers with a password.
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Poco X3 with MIUI 14 has a feature called “Private Mode” (Settings → Privacy → Private Mode) that allows you to hide not only apps, but also files, photos and notes with one password.