How to hide apps on Xiaomi: from simple removal to deep camouflage

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer users flexible interface management tools, including the ability to hide apps, which are useful not only for protecting personal data from prying eyes, but also for optimizing workspace, such as removing rarely used utilities, system programs (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), or confidential messengers that you don’t want to give access to others.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to hide applications on Xiaomi, from basic (such as removing icons from the home screen) to advanced (using a second workspace or hidden folders). We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12-15+), and also consider alternative methods for devices with HyperOS. Importantly, some features may not be available on budget models (for example, Redmi 9A or Poco C31), so we will specify the limitations for each method.

1. Remove the icon from the main screen (without full hiding)

The easiest way to hide an application is to remove its label from the desktop, while remaining on the menu of all applications and being searchable, a method that is suitable for rarely used utilities that do not need to be hidden from other users of the device.

How to do this:

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on the app icon.
• 🗑️ At the top of the screen will appear the button “Delete” (or “Remove” on some versions). MIUI).
• ✅ Drag the icon to this area and release it.

Note: MIUI 14+ and HyperOS may have different interfaces, with a context menu with the option to “Remove from the home screen” instead of the “Delete” button, and note that system applications (such as Security or Themes) cannot be removed completely, only their icons can be hidden.

2. Hiding applications in the menu "All applications"

If you want to hide the program not only from the home screen, but also from the general list, use the built-in application hiding feature in MIUI. This method works on most devices starting with MIUI 10, but may not be available on some models for the Global market (for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro for Europe).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the All Apps menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select “Hide apps».
3. Tick the programs you want to hide and confirm the action.

To bring back hidden applications:

• 🔍 Enter in the search bar (swipe down on the home screen) the name of the hidden application.
• 🖱️ Click on the app icon in search results and hold it.
• 🔄 In the menu that appears, select “Cancel Hiding».

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The applications hidden in this way will still be displayed in the phone settings (Applications → Application Management section). To hide them completely, use the method with the second workspace (see Section 4).

3.Use of the "App Lock" function (access blocking)

If your goal is not so much to hide the application as to protect it from outsiders, use the built-in App Lock feature, which allows you to set a password, fingerprint or face unlock to access selected programs, while the application icon will remain in place, but when you try to open it, you will be asked for authorization.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application lock.
2. Activate the function by following the instructions on the screen (you will need to set a password).
3. Select the apps you want to block (e.g. Gallery, WhatsApp, Banking Apps).
4. Set up additional parameters: 🔒 Hide notifications – so that the contents of messages do not appear on the lock screen. 🕒 Automatic locking – 1–30 minutes after closing.

The advantage of this method is to keep the application available to you (through a fingerprint) with full protection from other users, but please note that App Lock does not hide the very presence of the application on the system – it can still be found through search or in the menu of all programs.

4. Second Space (Dual Apps/Second Space)

One of the most reliable ways to hide applications on Xiaomi is to use a second workspace, which creates an isolated space with a separate set of applications, settings and even data, for example, you can install Telegram or Viber only in the second area, and they will not appear in the main one.

How to turn on Second Space:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Workspace.
2. Click “Create” and follow the instructions (you will need to set a password or pattern lock).
3. After creation, navigate to the second area through the notification bar (swipe down → user icon → area selection).
4. Install or transfer the desired applications to the second area only.

Features of the method:

• 🔐 Applications from the second area are completely isolated from the main system (different accounts, cache, data).
• 📱 On some models (such as the Redmi Note 11), you can configure quick switching between areas via gesture.
• ⚠️ The second area takes up additional memory space (about 1-3 GB depending on the number of applications).

Make sure there is enough free space on your phone (minimum 5GB)

Remember the password for the second area (it can not be restored without resetting!)

Move to the second area only those applications that really need to be hidden.

Set up notifications for the second area (so they don’t show up in the main area)-->

5. Hiding through folders and gestures (for MIUI 14+ and HyperOS)

The latest versions of MIUI and the new HyperOS firmware have added additional ways to mask applications without using a second workspace, one of which is hidden folders that don’t appear on the home screen but are accessible through a special gesture or search.

How to create a hidden folder:

1. Create a regular folder on the home screen (drop one icon to another).
2. Open the folder and click on its name at the top.
3. Select the Hide folder option (available on MIUI 14+).
4. Confirm the action. The folder will disappear from the screen, but it will remain in the system.

How to access a hidden folder:

• 🔍 Through Search: Enter the folder name in the search bar (swipe down on the home screen).
• 👆 Through gesture: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13) you can configure the swipe up with a delay to display hidden elements.

HyperOS also introduced the Invisible Apps feature, which allows you to completely remove programs from the interface, leaving access only through search or voice assistant.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application and click “Hide”.
3. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu, but it will remain in the system.

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Hidden folders and “invisible apps” in HyperOS are not password protected! Anyone who knows they exist can find them through a search. For complete privacy, combine this method with App Lock.

6. Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Launchers

If the built-in MIUI features are not enough, advanced methods such as ADB commands or alternative launcher installations can be used, which are suitable for advanced users and require caution.

Method 1: Disabling applications via ADB

With ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can completely disable system or user applications so that they do not appear on the system, which is useful for removing unnecessary utilities (such as Mi Browser or Mi Pay) that can not be removed by standard means.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm hide com.mi.browser (replace com.mi.browser with the batch name of the desired application).
3. Reset the device.

To return the application back, use the command:

adb shell pm unhide com.mi.browser

Method 2: Third-party launchers

Installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) allows you to flexibly configure the display of applications, including hiding them. Most launchers have a Hide Apps feature in the menu settings.

Advantages of third-party launchers:

• 🎨 More opportunities for customization of the interface.
• 🔒 The ability to hide applications without using ADB.
• ⚠️ Some functions may conflict with MIUI (for example, navigational gestures).

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Backup your data before using ADB! Incorrect commands can cause system failures. A list of batch names of Xiaomi system applications can be found on specialized forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

Comparison of methods of hiding applications on Xiaomi

Important: On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), some methods may work differently or not.

Frequently asked questions

If none of these methods are suitable for your purposes, consider using third-party hidden apps (such as App Hider or Calculator%). However, remember that such programs can pose a risk to data security, so install them only from trusted sources (such as Google Play or APKMirror).