How to hide the application on Xiaomi Redmi 9: Hidden mode and not only

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 have become repositories of our personal lives, where banking apps, personal correspondence and photo galleries are located alongside working tools. Device owners often face the need to restrict access to certain programs to protect their data from the curious glances of friends, colleagues or children. The standard MIUI interface offers powerful tools for this, but not all users know exactly where to look for privacy settings in their gadget’s menu.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can hide your app icons on your device, and we’ll look at both the built-in features of MIUI that don’t require additional software, and more advanced methods for creating isolated spaces, and using these tools to make sure you’re comfortable handing your phone over to other people to make calls or view photos.

It’s worth noting that the methods may vary depending on the firmware version installed on your Redmi 9. However, the basic principles of security remain unchanged over the years of shell development.

Use of the built-in Hidden MIUI mode

The easiest and most effective way to hide applications is to use the native feature that Xiaomi developers built directly into the MIUI shell. This method does not require third-party installation and works at the system level, providing high reliability. To activate this feature, you need to open the standard Security application, which is preinstalled on each device of the brand and has a green shield icon.

Once you run the utility, scroll down to a section that is usually called Hide Apps or Hidden Mode. If you see a switch, put it in the active position. The system may ask you to set an unlock password or use a fingerprint if it hasn't been done before, so that no one can accidentally or intentionally turn off the Hidden Mode without your knowledge.

Once the mode is activated, the menu will have switches opposite each installed application, you just need to select those programs that should disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all applications, and it is important to understand that hidden applications will no longer appear in the search and in the list of recent tasks, making them almost invisible to the average user.

There's a gesture or code that you set up to access hidden applications, most often swiping two fingers across the desktop (finger dilution) or entering special code in the Phone app, and without knowing that secret, you can't find the hidden.

But it has its own peculiarities: Hidden applications don't get notifications to the lock screen until you unlock them through a special login, which can be both a plus for privacy1 and a minus if you're waiting for an important call or message from the messenger that you've hidden.

Configure the Second Space (Second Space)

If you want more isolation than just hiding an icon, Second Space is the perfect solution, creating a virtual second independent smartphone inside your Redmi 9 with its own set of apps, Google accounts, photos and contacts, and switching between the main and second spaces is instantaneous and protected by a separate password or fingerprint.

To activate this feature, go to your device's Settings, then select About Phone or search for Second Space in the settings. By clicking on Enable Second Space, the system will create a new environment. You can set up your input through a special fingerprint: for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the main profile, and the thumb of the left one opens the hidden one.

All the apps installed in the second space are completely isolated from the main one, so you can install a separate Telegram, banking apps or games, and they won't be visible in the main profile even when you connect the phone to a computer to transfer files, which is a level of security comparable to having two different physical devices.

It's worth considering that using Second Space takes up extra memory on the drive, because some system files are duplicated, and notifications from apps in the second space won't come while you're in the main profile, and vice versa.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to a factory setting, both spaces are deleted. Be sure to back up important data from the Second Space before selling or flashing your device.

Hiding applications through third-party launchers

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 are not limited to the standard shell MIUI. If the built-in methods do not suit you or seem not flexible enough, you can install an alternative launcher from the Google Play Market. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer their own mechanisms for hiding icons, which often work even more stable than the system.

Once you install the launcher and assign it to the default, you have to go to its settings. Usually, it's called Hide Apps or App Hide. Here you pick the programs you want to disguise. Some launchers let you not just hide the icon, but also replace it with another icon or require a password when you start a particular application.

The advantage of using third-party launchers is that you can fine-tune the look and behavior of hidden elements. You can create a folder called Tools, which will contain hidden applications disguised as a calculator or voice recorder. However, it is worth remembering that these methods work only at the interface level and do not provide data encryption.

Also, some launchers require the purchase of a Pro version to unlock the application hide feature. Before installing, read the description carefully in the app store. Also keep in mind that when you update your Android system or the MIUI shell, the launcher settings may get lost, and the icons will temporarily appear on the desktop.

Masking through calculator applications (Vault)

One of the most popular ways to hide content in an Android environment is to use masking apps, often called “Vault,” which is that a normal app like a calculator is displayed on the smartphone screen, but when you type in a special pin code, it opens a hidden storage of files and applications.

To do this, Redmi 9 download one of the popular apps from the Play Market, such as Calculator - Hide Files or analogues. After installing, follow the instructions inside the program: set a pin code that will open the storage and another code (or action) that will simulate a regular calculator for outsiders. Then add shortcuts to the desired applications inside this storage.

This approach provides a double layer of protection: first, an outsider does not know that the storage exists, and second, even if he does, he can not open it without a password. Many of these applications also have a false password function: if you are forced to unlock the phone, you enter a special code, and open an empty or pre-prepared storage without compromising data.

It's important to choose apps that rank well and have a lot of reviews, because you trust them with your data. Some unscrupulous developers may be putting in ads or collecting statistics. Always check the permissions that the masking app requests.

Restriction of access through the Guest mode

If your goal is not to permanently hide the app, but to temporarily give the phone to another person (like a child to play with or a friend to call), the best solution is Guest Mode, which, unlike concealment, creates a temporary session in which the guest does not see your personal apps, photos and contacts.

To activate Guest on Xiaomi Redmi 9, lower the notification curtain down and find the user profile icon (usually a human silhouette). Click on it and select Guest. In this mode, the phone looks like a new device: only standard apps are on the desktop, and all your data is hidden.

It's the perfect way to secure your data without permanently deleting or hiding apps. Once you switch back to your owner account, all the data will stay in place, and the guest won't be able to see or change anything in your main system, and it's safer than just hiding icons, because it eliminates human error and forgetfulness.

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Before turning on Guest mode, make sure you have internet if the guest needs a navigator or messenger, as Wi-Fi settings may be reset in the Guest profile.

However, it is worth remembering that in Guest mode you can not install new apps from the Play Market without your password from your Google account, which can be an inconvenience if the guest needs to download something specific, in which case it is easier to use the Screen Pinning feature, which locks the phone on one open application.

Frequent problems and their solution

When you configure app hiding on Xiaomi Redmi 9, users may encounter a number of typical problems, such as when you update your MIUI system, the hidden mode settings may reset or the apps will stop hiding correctly, often solved by simply restarting the device or re-activating the feature in the Security app.

Another common problem is the disappearance of notifications from hidden applications, which is a regular behavior of the system, but many users perceive this as an error. If it is critical for you to receive notifications from a hidden messenger, consider using Second Space instead of simply hiding, since notifications work independently there.

There may also be conflicts between third-party launchers and system hideout settings. If you are using Nova Launcher and trying to turn on the system hidden mode at the same time, priority can be given to one of them, causing confusion.

⚠️ Note: Do not use apps to hide icons from unverified sources (APK-They may contain malicious code that steals your passwords instead of protecting them.

If neither method works correctly, check for updates for the system and the applications themselves. Sometimes bugs are fixed in security patches. In extreme cases, you can reset the launcher settings or clear the security cache through the application management menu.

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The combination of methods (e.g. Hidden Mode + Password to launch an application) creates layered protection that makes it much more difficult for outsiders to access data.

Comparative analysis of protection methods

The best way to hide applications depends on what you want to protect and from whom. For quick disguise from prying eyes of children, a simple Hidden Mode is suitable. To protect financial data from attackers who have access to an unlocked phone, you better use Second Space or specialized Vault applications.

Each method has its trade-offs between convenience and security. The higher the level of protection, the more action it takes to access the application. On Redmi 9, with its budget-friendly but functional hardware, all of these methods work fairly smoothly without causing severe interface delays.

It's recommended that you periodically check your security settings and change your passwords. Technology is not standing still, and what was safe yesterday may have vulnerabilities today. Regularly updating your MIUI system is the best way to stay secure.