How to hide applications on Xiaomi: all working ways to MIUI 12-14

Hiding apps on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal information from prying eyes. Unlike other manufacturers, MIUI offers limited built-in tools for this purpose, but there are workarounds – both standard and requiring additional actions.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ Even after masking, the application stays in the system, takes up space in memory and can work in the background, but visually its icon disappears from the home screen and from the application menu. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways that are relevant to the development of the application. MIUI 12–14, including root-free and third-party methods.

Xiaomi features frequent shell updates that can change the location of settings. If your version of MIUI has a point missing, check the relevance of the firmware in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. For experiments, we recommend using a secondary account or data backup.

1. Built-in Hidden Applications function in MIUI

The easiest way to do this is to use the standard MIUI tool, which is available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.

• 🔹 It only works for third-party applications (not system applications).
• 🔹 Hidden programs remain in the list of "All applications" (Settings) → Annexes).
• 🔹 Does not hide notifications and background activity.

To hide the app:

1. Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Hidden Applications (on some firmware – Hide Applications).
3. Activate the slider next to the desired application.
4. Confirm the action at the request of the system.

After that, the icon will disappear from the home screen and from the app menu. To return it back, repeat the steps and turn off the slider. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), this section may be called Private Mode and require a password set.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI global-market (EEA) Application hiding may not be possible due to privacy policy limitations, in which case use alternative methods.

2.Use of the "Second Space" folder (Second Profile)

Second Space allows you to create an isolated work environment with a separate set of applications, wallpaper and settings, which does not hide the program completely, but allows you to separate personal and work applications, hiding them from the main user.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
2. Follow the setup wizard by specifying the password for the second profile.
3. After creating, switch between swipe profiles on the lock screen (or through the notification panel).
4. In the main profile, remove unnecessary icons, and in Second Space, only leave those you want to hide.

Cons of the method:

• 🔸 Requires manual switching between profiles.
• 🔸 Takes up additional memory space (up to 1-2 GB).
• 🔸 Not all system applications can be moved to a second profile.

💡

If Second Space doesn't show up in settings, check the firmware region. On some global versions of MIUI, this feature is disabled. Try changing the region through Settings → Additional → Region (reboot required).

3. Hiding through "Private Mode" (App Lock)

App Lock is Xiaomi’s built-in password-blocking tool, and while it doesn’t hide icons completely, it can be used for disguise: blocked programs don’t show up in the latest apps list and require you to enter a password when you launch them.

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → App Lock
2. Set a password or pattern lock.
3. Select the apps you want to block.
4. Activate Hide Notifications (if available).

For additional disguise:

• 🔐 Set an invisible password (such as spaces or repeating characters).
• 🔐 Turn off the display of blocked applications in search (App Lock settings) → Additionally).

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from App Lock, you can only restore access through resetting (Settings) → Accounts. → Password reset, which will result in the deletion of all blocked data.

4. Hiding system applications without root (ADB)

For advanced users, there is a method to disable system applications through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not remove programs, but only hides them from the user interface, and even works for built-in Xiaomi utilities (for example, Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser).

Step-by-step:

Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times press the version)

Install ADB drivers on PC (download from Android Developers website)

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm trust in your device

Download the ADB platform tools (or use the Minimal ADB utility)

-->

adb shell


pm hide com.miui.videoplayer # example for Mi Video




pm hide com.android.browser # example for the browser

To return the application back, use the command:

pm unhide com.miui.videoplayer

A list of Xiaomi system application packages can be found online or obtained through the command:

pm list packages | grep miui

⚠️ Warning: Disabling critical system applications (e.g. com.miui.home) may cause the interface to fail.Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

5. Third-party launchers with application hiding function

If the built-in methods don't work, you can install an alternative launcher that supports hiding applications.

• 📱 Nova Launcher (paid version) – allows you to hide icons through the settings of the application menu.
• 📱 Apex Launcher – a free analogue with the function “Hide Apps».
• 📱 POCO Launcher (not even on the-POCO Devices – has a built-in “App Drawer” with filtering.

How to hide the app in Nova Launcher:

1. Hold your finger in the free place of the main screen → Settings.
2. Select the App Menu → Hide the Apps.
3. Check the boxes of the programs you want to remove.
4. Confirm the change.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 It works on any device, including Xiaomi with custom firmware.
• 🔹 Does not require root rights or ADB.
• 🔹 You can hide both system and user applications.

Disadvantages:

• 🔸 Launchers consume additional RAM (up to 100-200 MB).
• 🔸 Hidden applications remain in the system menu (Settings) → Annexes).

💡

Third-party launchers are the most versatile way to hide applications, but they don't provide complete privacy. To protect data, use them in combination with App Lock or Second Space.

6. Root methods: complete removal or freezing (for experienced)

If you need to completely remove system applications or hide them at the kernel level, root rights are required, a method only suitable for power users, as improper actions can lead to a device blink.

Popular tools:

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup – allows you to “freeze” (disable) or remove any applications.
• 🛠️ System App Remover - a specialized utility for removing system software.
• 🛠️ Magisk Module (e.g. Debloater) – for selectively disabling components MIUI.

Freezing through Titanium Backup:

1. Open the application and provide root access.
2. Go to the Backup/Restore tab.
3. Find the right application and click on it.
4. Choose Freeze! (do not delete system APKs without backup!).

Warnings:

• 🚨 Removing system applications can disrupt the work MIUI (For example, deleting com.miui.securitycenter will disable the security center).
• 🚨 After updating the firmware, remote applications can be restored.
• 🚨 Root voids warranty and may block certain features (e.g. Google Pay).

For Xiaomi devices with an unlocked bootloader, we recommend using Magisk instead of full root, as it allows you to hide root status from some applications (for example, banking).

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Xiaomi