How to hide applications on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: all ways from simple to complex

Why hide apps on Redmi 8 Pro and what to know before you start

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro based on MIUI It offers users flexible privacy settings, including the ability to hide apps from prying eyes, for reasons ranging from wanting to remove rarely used programs from the screen to having to hide personal correspondence or financial applications. Before you start hiding, however, it is important to understand a few key points.

First, not all methods are equally secure. Standard MIUI features do not require super-user rights (root), but provide limited features.Party launchers or system tricks may offer more flexibility, but there are risks - from accidental deletion of data to disruption of firmware. Second, hidden applications do not disappear from the system completely: they still occupy space in memory and can be displayed in the menu "All applications" or settings. Finally, some banking or messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram) have built-in lock mechanisms that are sometimes more effective than system tools.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 working ways to hide apps on Redmi 8 Pro, from basic to advanced, with their pros, cons and potential pitfalls in mind, starting with the simplest and ending with the most advanced user experience.

Method 1: Use the Hidden Applications function in MIUI

The most obvious and secure method is the built-in Hidden Applications feature in the MIUI shell. It does not require additional software installation and works on all firmware versions for Redmi 8 Pro (including MIUI 12/13/14). The main limitation is that hidden programs will not be available in the search and application menu, but their icons will remain in the App Settings →

To activate this function:

1. Open the settings on your Redmi 8 Pro.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Apps.
4. Turn on the switch and tick the programs you want to hide.
5. Confirm the action with a password or fingerprint (if the lock is configured).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Does not require root rights or third-party programs.
• ⚡ Quick switching on/off (just remove the tick).
• 📱 It works on all versions. MIUI For the Redmi 8 Pro.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from hidden applications, you can only restore access through a full reset (Hard Reset). Xiaomi does not provide official tools to circumvent this protection.

Make sure you remember the screen lock password

Make a backup copy of important data

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)

Close all hidden applications before starting-->

Method 2: Disabling icons through launcher settings

If you just need to remove the icons from the home screen, but leave the applications available through search or menu, you can use the settings of the standard MIUI launcher. This method does not hide the programs completely, but makes them less noticeable.

Instructions:

• 📌 Press your finger on the icon of the app you want to hide.
• 🔄 In the menu that appears, select Remove from the screen (not "Delete"!).
• 🔍 To return the icon, open the App Menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen), find the program and drag it back to the desktop.

This method does not require any additional actions, but has an obvious disadvantage: the application will remain visible in the Application Menu and search, and for more reliable concealment you will have to combine it with other methods (for example, with password folders, which will be discussed later).

Built-in MIUI function

The side of the launcher (Nova, Apex)

Turning off icons

Password folders

Don't hide the app.-->

Method 3: Create folders with a password (Second Space or third-party applications)

For those who want to block access to apps, not just hide them, Second Space or special utilities like AppLock or Calculator Vault are the right option. The second desktop in MIUI allows you to create a separate account with your own apps, settings, and even password, which is the perfect solution if you want to separate personal and work data.

How to set up Second Space:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
2. Follow the instructions for creating a second desktop (you will need to come up with a new PIN or pattern lock).
3. After setting up, go to Second Space and install the desired applications.
4. To hide the transition between spaces, turn off notifications in Second Space settings.

Alternatively, safe applications that disguise themselves as a calculator or other innocuous tool are popular options:

• 🔐 AppLock – blocks access to selected programs by password or fingerprint.
• 📟 Calculator Vault – hides files and applications behind the calculator interface.
• 📂 Hide App-Hide Application Icon – Removes icons from menus ADB).

⚠️ Note: When using Second Space, remember that some applications (such as banking) may require re-authorization when switching between spaces.

Method 4: Hiding through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use USB debugging (ADB) to hide icons, which is more complicated, but allows you to remove apps from the menu without using third-party launchers. Importantly, the wrong ADB commands can disrupt the system, so the method is recommended only for those who have already worked with this utility.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect Redmi 8 Pro to your PC, install ADB drivers (e.g., via Mi PC Suite).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb shell pm hide com.example.app (replace com.example.app with a real application package, for example, com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).
5. To return the icon, use the command: adb shell pm unhide com.example.app

List of packages of popular applications:

Warnings:

• 🚨 Not all apps support hiding through ADB (particularly systemic).
• 🔌 After restarting the device, some icons may return.
• 🛠️ For work. ADB PC and basic command line knowledge required.

💡

To find out the name of the package of any application, install App Inspector from Google Play. It shows the full information about the program, including the package name required for ADB commands.

Method 5: Installation of a third-party launcher with a concealment function

If you need to not only hide, but also customize the interface, the best solution is a third-party launcher with support for hiding icons.

• 🌌 Nova Launcher – allows you to hide applications through menu settings (Nova Settings) → App & widget drawers → Hide apps).
• 📱 Apex Launcher – similar feature in the Drawer settings section → Hidden apps.
• 🔍 Microsoft Launcher – Hiding programs in “Personal Storage” (requires a Microsoft account).
• 🎨 POCO Launcher – optimized for Xiaomi devices, has built-in categorization and hiding.

How to hide apps in Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Press your finger on the free desktop space and select Nova Settings.
3. Go to the Apps menu → Hidden Apps.
4. Check the boxes of the programs you want to remove.
5. Save the changes – the icons will disappear from the menu.

The advantages of third-party launchers:

• 🎨 Flexible interface setting (themes, gestures, animations).
• 🔒 Ability to hide without rooting or ADB.
• 📁 Additional features (e.g. backup of screen layout).

Cons:

• 🔋 Some launchers consume more battery.
• 🛠️ It may conflict with system gestures MIUI.

💡

The launcher side is the most versatile way to hide applications without risk to the system, but they don't protect data from access through system settings or file manager.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When hiding applications on Redmi 8 Pro, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• 🔄 The icons come back after the reboot, ADB) Solution: Use Second Space or the permanent concealment launchers.
• 🔍 The app is not searched, but it's seen in the settings. This is normal behavior for a method with hidden applications in the app. MIUI. To completely remove the program, you will have to deactivate it (Settings) → Annexes → Deactivate).
• 🔒 Second Space password is forgotten. The only way to restore access is to reset to factory settings. Xiaomi does not provide official tools to circumvent this protection.
• ⚡ Launcher brakes or flies. Try clearing his cache (Settings) → Annexes → [The name of the launcher] → Warehouse → Clear the cache) or disable animations in the developer settings.

Another common mistake is to try to hide system applications (such as Mi Store or Security) and this can lead to an unstable MIUI or even a launcher crash. If you are in the way of a system program, you better deactivate it through settings (Settings → Applications → Select Application → Deactivate), but remember that some phone features may stop working.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable features (e.g. Second Space) may be limited compared to the Chinese version of the firmware (MIUI If you need advanced features, consider flashing (but this will void the warranty!).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions