How to hide apps on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: from standard MIUI features to hidden tricks

Why users want to hide apps on Xiaomi and when they really need to

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro smartphones (codenamed begonia) run on MIUI, which offers a lot of personalization tools. But not everyone knows that the system has built-in mechanisms to hide applications — and they are far from being limited to the banal removal of the icon from the desktop. The reasons for hiding the software vary from wanting to remove from the system utilities (like Mi Video or Mi Music) to the need to protect confidential messengers from prying eyes.

It is important to understand the difference between hiding and uninstalling. The first simply masks the application in the interface, but it remains installed and can run in the background. The second completely uninstalles the program, which is not always possible for preinstalled software. Redmi 8 Pro with its version of MIUI 12-14 (depending on updates) has several levels of hiding, from basic to advanced, requiring additional settings.

Another nuance: some methods (e.g. Second Space) create a separate user profile, which can affect notifications and data synchronization. Others, such as third-party launchers, change only the visual display without affecting system processes. We will analyze all the current methods, taking into account the limitations of the firmware and the features of the hardware Redmi 8 Pro (Snapdragon 665, 4/6 GB of RAM).

Method 1: Built-in Hide Apps in MIUI

The easiest and safest method is to use the MIUI tool, which does not require superuser rights and works on all versions of the firmware for the Redmi 8 Pro. However, it has a limitation: hidden applications will still appear in the All apps menu (if you swipe up on the desktop), but their icons will disappear from the main screens.

To take advantage of the function:

1. Long press on the free desktop space → select Desktop Settings.
2. Go to Hide Apps (in some versions of MIUI it is called Hide Badges).
3. Check the boxes of the programs you want to remove from your sight.
4. Click Ready – the icons will disappear from the screens, but will remain in the full list of applications.

This is a way to temporarily hide rarely used utilities, but it doesn't provide privacy, for example, if you want to hide Telegram or WhatsApp from the curious, it's better to use other methods.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 on some devices, Hide applications moved to Settings → Desktop → If you don't find an option, upgrade your firmware or check the system region (some features are not available in the global version).

Method 2: Second Space – a separate profile with hidden applications

Second Space is a proprietary MIUI feature that creates a second user profile on a phone that is originally designed to separate work and personal data, but is also great for hiding applications. Unlike the previous method, programs are completely isolated here: they are not visible in the main space, have separate notifications and can even be password protected.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Special Options → Second Space
2. Follow the Settings Wizard: Specify your login password (required!) and select the apps you want to move to the second profile.
3. After creating Second Space, you can swipe between profiles down the notification panel (avatar icon) or through the screen lock.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Complete isolation: applications are not visible in the main space even in the list of all programs.
• 🛡️ Additional password protection (you can use a fingerprint on the Redmi 8 Pro).
• 📱 The ability to duplicate apps (e.g., have two WhatsApp accounts in different spaces).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Notifications from Second Space do not appear in the main profile (you can miss an important message).
• 📴 Some system applications (such as Settings or Phone) cannot be moved.
• 🔋 The extra profile consumes a little more RAM and battery.

Method 3: Third-party launchers with concealment function (Nova, Apex, POCO Launcher)

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can install an alternative launcher, popular options are Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or POCO Launcher (optimized for Xiaomi devices), which offer flexible visualization settings, including hiding icons.

Instructions for Nova Launcher (free version):

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and select it as the main one in the settings (Settings → Home Screen → Default Launcher).
2. Long press on the desktop → Settings Nova → Hide applications.
3. Mark the programs you want to hide and confirm your choice.

Features of the method:

• 🎨 Full control over the interface: you can hide not only icons, but also folders, widgets.
• 🔄 It’s easy to return hidden apps back (without data loss).
• 📱 It works on any version. MIUI, custom-made.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers (for example, POCO Launcher) can conflict with gestures MIUI If swipes stop working after installation to return or open the menu - return the standard launcher or configure gestures in Settings → System system → Gestures.

Method 4: Disable system applications via ADB (without root)

For advanced users who are ready to work with ADB, there is a way to disable system applications without obtaining root permissions. This is true for Redmi 8 Pro, where many pre-installed programs (such as Mi Browser or Mi Pay) cannot be removed by standard methods.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times click on the line, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and check the connection with the command: Adb devices
3. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages Find the name you want (e.g. com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
4. Disable the app: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.browser

To return the application, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.browser

⚠️ Note: Disabling system components (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) can cause unstable phone performance.On Redmi 8 Pro, it is safe to disable only user applications (messengers, browsers) and some Xiaomi services (com.xiaomi.mipicks, com.miui.videoplayer).

Method 5: Hiding through a Secure Folder (for sensitive files and applications)

The “Secure Folder” function in MIUI It's designed to hide files, but it can also be adapted to mask applications. APK-You put a program file in a secure storage, and then you run it from there.

How it works:

1. Download the APK of the desired application (for example, with APKMirror).
2. Open Files → Secure folder (you will need to set a password when you first use it).
3. Move it. APK-file in a secure folder and install it from there.
4. Run the application only through Files → Secure folder.

Pros:

• 🔐 Complete confidentiality: without a password, access to the application is impossible.
• 📁 No trace of the main app menu.

Cons:

• ⚠️ The app will not automatically update via Google Play.
• 📱 You need to manually control the launch (no icons on the desktop).

💡

If the application hidden through the “Secure folder” stops opening, check the security settings in Settings → Privacy → Special Access → Install unknown applications and allow installation from the source of the Files.

What to do if the hidden application is still visible in the system

Sometimes even after the methods are used, programs continue to appear in the interface, because of the MIUI and the background processes.

1. Clear the launcher cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Launcher (or your current launcher) and click Clear Cache.
2. Disable notifications: For hidden app in Settings → Notifications, turn off banner displays so it doesn’t “give out” itself.
3. Use Incognito Mode: Some launchers (like Nova) only allow you to hide apps in specific profiles.
4. Check background activity: In Settings → Battery → Battery use see if the hidden application is consuming resources. If so, turn it off via ADB (see Method 4).

On the Redmi 8 Pro with MIUI 12–14, some system applications (such as Mi Community or Themes) can spontaneously “return” after firmware updates. To avoid this, disable their automatic update to Google Play → Settings → Auto-Update apps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro