Xiaomi’s modern smartphones, which run on MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users incredible flexibility in setting up the interface. However, one of the most popular features remains the ability to hide the contents of the screen from prying eyes. This can be necessary to protect personal photos, banking applications or simply to clean the desktop of rarely used programs. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi offers built-in tools for this, which do not require the installation of questionable software.
The process of hiding can vary depending on the version of the operating system and regional firmware, some of which is available out of the box, and other times requires activation through an engineering menu or third-party launchers. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods that will allow you to make your data invisible to random users.
It's important to understand that hiding an app is not the same as uninstalling it. It continues to run in the background, consume resources and receive notifications unless you manually disallow it. Our goal is to visually remove the icon from the desktop and from the menu of all apps, leaving access to it only through a special password or gesture.
Use of the built-in function Hidden applications
The most reliable and secure way is to use the native system function. In most global and Russian Xiaomi firmware, this tool is already integrated into the standard launcher, which allows you to hide any installed programs, making them available only after you enter special code or fingerprint, which is ideal for those who do not want to risk the stability of the system.
To activate this feature, you don't need to be an experienced programmer, just go to the desktop settings, but it's worth considering that in some versions of MIUI (especially Chinese or older builds), this item may be hidden by default, in which case it will have to be activated through additional settings, which we will talk about below.
The main advantage of the standard method is that it integrates fully with the device’s security system, and the applications that are hidden in this way will not appear in the list of recent tasks unless you open them yourself through a secret entrance, and the system automatically blocks the preview of the contents of hidden programs on the lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: If you forget the password or access code for hidden applications, it will not be possible to restore access to them in standard ways.
Users often ask if hidden apps affect performance, and the answer is simple: visually they don't interfere, but background processes remain. So if you're hiding a heavy game or social network that you're not using, it's best to limit their background activity in the battery settings.
Step-by-step instructions for activating the hidden mode
To get started with the concealment feature, you need to configure the launcher settings correctly. The process may vary slightly depending on whether you have a shell version, MIUI 12, 13, 14 or the new HyperOS. We'll look at a universal algorithm that is suitable for most modern Redmi and POCO models.
First you have to get into the desktop settings menu, and this is done by a long tap over an empty area of the screen or through a summary of all the applications, and then the algorithm of actions becomes specific and requires attention to the details of the interface.
☑️ Activation of the hidden mode
Once the function is enabled, the system will prompt you to set an unlock password if it has not already been set, which is a critical step, since this password (or fingerprint) will serve as the key to your hidden data.
There is also an alternative path through the Security app, which is where Xiaomi has taken control of hidden apps in some firmware, and where you can find the shield icon, go to Hidden Apps, and follow the customization wizard's hints, which often works where standard lawn-cher settings are limited.
Once activated successfully, the screen will show a tell-tale clue as to how to call the hidden program menu now, usually by putting your fingers sideways on your desktop or typing a special code in the search bar, and remember this gesture, it will be your primary access tool.
Finger dilution method and code combinations
One of the most convenient features of MIUI is to control hidden content through gestures, and the standard mechanism is to use a pinch gesture right on the desktop, which opens a folder where hidden applications are placed.
But to make this gesture work, you have to pre-assign it, and in the hidden app menu, you'll see a field to enter a password or code, and this is where you can set a unique combination that will open access, which can be a word, a phrase, or a set of numbers, and the main thing is to use something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.
- 👆 Open the hidden application settings through the launcher menu.
- 🔑 Click on the gear icon or item "Password and unlock".
- 📝 Enter the desired code phrase (e.g., "mysecret" or "1234").
- ✅ Save the changes and check the gesture on the desktop.
It’s important to note that the finger-curtain gesture only works on the home screen or on the menu of all apps, depending on where you activated it. In other menus, such as notification curtains or settings, this gesture may perform other functions or may not work at all.
If you don't like the standard gesture, some launchers allow you to assign hidden apps to be opened through a search, so you just type in a given code into the Google search bar or the built-in MIUI search box, and the system redirects you to a hidden folder, which is less visible to others than active finger movements on the screen.
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Use a code phrase that looks like a common word but doesn’t make sense in the context of your communication, so as not to cause suspicion when typed in the presence of others.
Alternative ways through the Second Space
If you don't have a built-in app hider in your firmware version, or if you want to create a completely isolated environment, Second Space comes to the rescue, and it's not just hiding icons, it's creating a second, parallel operating system inside your smartphone, and it's going to have its own wallpaper, its own accounts, and of course, its own apps.
The second space is perfect for separating work and personal life, or for storing the most sensitive information, and the apps that are installed in the second space are completely invisible in the first, and even if someone unlocks your phone and accesses the main profile, they won't even see the existence of the second.
| Parameter | Hidden applications | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Level of secrecy | Medium (visible in settings) | High (complete isolation) |
| Memory consumption | Minimum | High (copy of system) |
| Switching | Instant (gesture) | It takes time (like logging in to the OS) |
| Notifications | They can come in the main. | They only come in the second. |
To activate Second Space, go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space. The system will suggest creating a new profile. You can set up a quick transition between spaces using a separate fingerprint, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the main profile, and the thumb of the left one opens the hidden one.
This method has its nuances: Because it’s actually two systems, they take up more disk space and can use up more battery power in the background, and some banking applications may require re-binding the device when entering the second space, considering it a new installation.
How do you transfer data between spaces?
Hiding through third-party launchers and programs
When Xiaomi’s regular hardware is not up to date or is missing from a particular model, third-party launchers take to the scene, programs that completely replace the standard Android interface, the most popular of which are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Smart Launcher.
These tools often offer more flexible concealment settings than MIUI itself. For example, Nova Launcher can hide icons in the app menu by making them available only through search or folders. However, it is worth remembering that installing a third-party launcher changes the behavior of the entire interface, which can take time to get used to.
There are also specialized calculator applications that look like regular calculators, but when you type in a specific password, you open a hidden photo album or a list of apps, such as Calculator Vault, which creates the appearance of a regular tool, which provides a high level of social engineering protection.
- 📲 Nova Launcher: Allows you to hide icons in the menu, requires a paid version for some features.
- 🛡️ App Hider: A specialized application changes the hidden application icon to a neutral one (for example, a calculator).
- 🔒 Private Safe: A comprehensive solution for hiding files and applications with data encryption.
When using third-party software, always check the permissions it requests.The launcher needs access to screen control and a list of apps, but it shouldn't require access to your SMS or microphone without a good reason.The security of data in the hands of third-party developers is always a risk to be assessed.
Features of work in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS shell, which gradually replaces MIUI, Xiaomi has revised many of the system’s algorithms, as well as privacy features, with new versions making the settings interface more minimal, and some items have been renamed or moved to align with the IoT ecosystem.
In HyperOS, the app hide feature has become more integrated with Xiaomi account services, which allows, in theory, to restore the concealment settings when changing devices if synchronization is enabled, but the access mechanisms themselves (gestures and passwords) have remained the same to avoid confusing users.
Notably, the change in the way notifications work for hidden applications: In newer versions of the system, notifications from hidden programs are not displayed by default on the lock screen and in the curtain until you unlock the device and enter hidden mode, which prevents accidental leakage of information through pop-up messages.
If you're up to the latest version of the software and can't find the settings you're familiar with, try searching by settings. Type in "Hide" or "Privacy," and the system will show you the actual path to the menu. In HyperOS, this search is very fast and covers even deep system settings.
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In the new versions of HyperOS, privacy settings are combined into a single security center, accessed through the Security application or a long tap on the application icon.