How to hide the application on Xiaomi: full instructions

Xiaomi mobile devices often become a repository of personal information, access to which is better restricted. Owners of Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to hide certain icons from prying eyes, whether they are banking applications, personal correspondence or games. The standard shell of MIUI and its more recent version of HyperOS offer built-in tools for this, but their location is not always obvious.

There are several effective ways to secure your data: you can use system hideouts, create secure folders or use specialized software. Privacy in today's digital world requires a comprehensive approach, so it is important to know all the available methods. In this article, we will discuss the current options that work on most current models.

Before you start setting up, you need to understand the difference between simply removing a shortcut and protecting your data completely. Simply hiding an icon only removes the visual element, but does not encrypt the content. For maximum security, it is recommended to combine concealment techniques with password setting or biometric authorization.

Using the built-in application hiding function

The MIUI shell has a native toolkit that allows you to remove icons from the desktop without installing additional software. This method is the most stable and does not consume battery resources in the background. To activate this option, you need to go to the system settings menu.

Find the security or application section. The path may be slightly different from firmware to firmware, but the logic remains the same. You'll need Settings. → Annexes → Hidden applications. This is a list of all the installed programs that can be made invisible.

• 📱 Open the settings and find the "Applications" section».
• 🔒 Select “Hidden Apps” in the list of options.
• ✅ Activate the switch in front of the desired program.
• 👁️ Check the result in the swipe menu up.

Once the switch is activated, the icon will disappear from the home screen and from the menu of all applications.Subtle content is accessed through a special gesture or search bar, depending on the version of the shell.System restrictions may prohibit the concealment of some critical services of Google or the system itself.

⚠️ Note: When you reset to factory settings or completely flash the device, the concealment settings will be reset and the icons may become visible again.

Creating and Configuring the Hidden folder

An alternative is to use a special folder that is password-protected or fingerprint-protected, and unlike simple concealment, it creates an additional barrier: Hidden Folder is an isolated space inside the shell file system.

To get started, you need to activate the function in the security settings. Once turned on, the desktop will have an icon that matches it. You can put app shortcuts, photos and documents inside this folder. HyperOS and new versions of MIUI allow you to drag and drop icons right into this area.

Notifications from such programs may still arrive on the lock screen, unless you disable this option separately, and it is recommended to configure the notification behavior for maximum privacy.

• 📂 Create a new folder on your desktop.
• 🔐 Name it and set a password when you first log in.
• 📲 Drag the right applications inside the folder.
• ⚙️ Set up notification options for hidden programs.

The advantage of using a folder is that you always know where to find the hidden, with the access code, which is faster than searching for a program through a system search using special commands, and biometric protection greatly speeds up the process of entering such isolated areas.

Second Space as a Method of Isolation

Second Space creates a completely separate environment on your smartphone, in fact, it's like two different phones in the same case, where you can set up a separate Google account, your apps, and customize your wallpaper, which is ideal if you want to hide not just an icon, but a lifetime.

Switching between spaces is instantaneous through a label or a fingerprint, so you can assign different fingers to enter the main and second spaces, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the working profile, and the thumb of the left one opens the hidden one.

Creating a second space takes a little longer than simply hiding a folder, but the privacy level here is an order of magnitude higher.The apps installed in the second space aren't visible on battery spending lists or traffic usage in the main profile.

Restriction of access through “Application Protection”

If your goal is not so much to hide the icon as to prevent the app from being launched by outsiders, use App Lock, a tool built into the standard Security app on all Xiaomi smartphones, requiring a password or face scan every time you run your chosen program.

To activate, open the application Security → Application Protection. Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Just click on the lock in front of the desired application to activate the protection. The system will prompt you to set a password if it is not already set for the device.

This method is effective against random access or curious friends who have taken your phone unlocked. However, the icon of the application remains in plain sight, so for complete stealth, this method is better combined with others.

• 🛡️ Launch the Security App».
• 🔒 Select the section "Application Protection».
• 👆 Activate toggles for important programs.
• 🔢 Create a unique pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: Do not use simple passwords like “1234” or “0000” and attackers often check for these combinations first.

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Tip: Enable the option to “Hide the contents of notifications” in the application protection settings so that the text of messages does not appear on the locked screen.

Third-party launchers and utilities

Standard MIUI tools may not satisfy all users, and third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or specialized calculator apps with a secret can help them hide icons at the launch interface level.

Some calculator apps have a hidden input: if you type in a pin code instead of a mathematical expression, you open up a secret repository of photos or files, and this is an example of social engineering in data protection, no one suspects that the calculator is storing secrets.

When using third-party launchers on Xiaomi, there may be problems with battery optimization. The system aggressively closes the background processes, which can lead to a reset of the launcher settings. You must manually prevent the system from "killing" the launcher process.

Settings → Applications → All Applications → Your Launcher → Battery → Without Limits

Installing third-party software always carries risks: download programs only from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store. Avoid modified versions of popular applications, as they may contain malicious code.

Problem Solving and Frequently Asked Questions

Users may face a variety of challenges in the process of setting up, sometimes apps stop hiding after a system update, or settings are reset, and it's important to understand that each version of MIUI or HyperOS may have its own security features.

If you can't find a hidden app, try global search. Type the program name into the search box — if it's installed but hidden, the search can often find it, especially if content indexing is enabled. Also check if Guest or Child Mode is activated.

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The combination of methods (hiding the icon + password for launch + second space) ensures maximum protection of your data on Xiaomi.