How to hide applications on Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: from standard MIUI features to advanced methods

Why do users want to hide apps on Xiaomi smartphones?

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro, with its MIUI shell, offers extensive customization options, but not all features are obvious at first glance. App hiding is one of those options that can come in handy in many situations: from wanting to remove rarely used programs to the need to ensure the confidentiality of personal data. For example, hidden banking applications or messengers with important correspondence will become less accessible to prying eyes if the phone falls into the wrong hands.

Unlike iOS, where hiding applications is limited to creating folders or removing them from the home screen, Android on Poco X3 Pro allows both built-in MIUI tools and third-party solutions. However, not all methods are equally safe: some can cause system failures if used without understanding the mechanisms. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to hide applications on Poco X3 Pro, including those that work without superuser rights and those that require root access.

It is important to note that the concealment ≠ Delete. Applications continue to take up space in memory, receive updates, and can run in the background. If the goal is to free up memory, you better use the Cleanup function in Settings. → Annexes.

Method 1: Built-in Hidden Applications in MIUI

The easiest and safest method is to use the standard MIUI tool, which is available without installing additional software. This feature does not remove applications, but only removes their icons from the menu and App Vault search. However, they will remain visible in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

To hide the app:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section.
• 🔍 Select Application Management → Hidden applications.
• ➕ Click Add and tick the required programs.
• 🔒 Confirm the choice with a password or fingerprint (if the lock is configured).

Make sure the latest version of MIUI is installed on your phone.

Check that the screen lock function (PIN/pattern lock) is active.

Remember the password from your Mi Account – it may be required to restore access

Backup important data (in case of failure)

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⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from hidden applications, you can only restore access by resetting the settings to the factory.

Method 2: Use of the second space (Dual Apps)

The Second Space (or Dual Apps) feature in Poco X3 Pro is originally designed to clone applications (like two WhatsApp accounts at once), but it can be adapted to hide programs: move the desired applications to the second space, and then disable its display on the home screen.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
2. Create a second space by following the system’s prompts.
3. In the main space, remove the icon Second Space from the desktop (long press → Delete).
4. Set a password to enter the second space through the Second Space Settings → Lock.

Now, the applications installed in the second space will be inaccessible from the main interface, and you need to access them:

1. Swipe down on the home screen and enter Second Space in search.
2. Enter the password.

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If you use Google Pay or other financial applications, cloning them into a second space may disrupt services due to security policies.

Method 3: Third-party launchers with concealment function

If embedded tools MIUI If you don't like it, you can install an alternative launcher. X3 Pro:

• 🎨 Nova Launcher (paid version supports app hiding).
• 🔒 Apex Launcher (free, with hidden option in settings).
• 🛡️ POCO Launcher (official launcher from Xiaomi with advanced settings).

Example of settings in Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Long press on the desktop → Settings Nova.
3. Go to App Settings → Hide Apps.
4. Check the boxes for the programs that you need to hide.

⚠️ Note: Third-party launchers may conflict with Xiaomi system services, especially if battery optimization features for the launcher are enabled. To avoid lags, add the launcher to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Select applications → Nova Launcher → Not optimize.

Standard MIUI Launcher

Nova Launcher

POCO Launcher

Apex Launcher

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Method 4: Disable applications via ADB (without root)

For advanced users who are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), there is a method to disable system and user applications without removing them, which hides them from the interface and stops background processes, but does not delete files from the device.

Before we start:

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC (download from the official Android website).
• 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate the developer mode) → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔗 Get Poco on. X3 Pro to PC and confirm the trust of the device.

Commands to disable the app (example for Facebook):

adb shell


pm hide com.facebook.katana

To return the app:

adb shell


pm unhide com.facebook.katana

A list of packages of installed applications can be obtained by the command:

adb shell pm list packages

Method 5: Hiding through root access (advanced method)

If you have root rights on your Poco X3 Pro (like Magisk), you can use applications like Titanium Backup or Root App Deleter to deep-hide or even remove system programs, a method that is risky but provides maximum control.

Instructions for Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Select the app from the list and click Freeze (it’s analogous to disabling via ADB, but with a GUI).
3. Use the Remove option to remove completely, but remember: this may disrupt the system.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.finddevice for Find Device) may make it impossible to use Xiaomi services, including cloud backups and phone search when lost. TWRP.

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Root access is a powerful opportunity, but it is a security issue and increases the risk of system disruption, and only use this method if you understand the consequences and are ready to restore your phone through firmware.

How do I get my hidden apps back?

Depending on the chosen method, restoring access to applications is different:

If you forgot the password for hidden apps in MIUI, the only way to get access back is to reset your phone to factory settings.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (data in the phone memory will be deleted!).
3. After the reboot, hidden applications will become visible, but all data in them (logins, messages) will be erased.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Poco X3 Pro