A modern smartphone like the Xiaomi Redmi 8 has become a veritable store of personal information: Photos, banking apps, instant messenger correspondence and notes often contain data that is not intended for prying eyes. Device owners often face the need to quickly hide the app icon from curious colleagues, friends or children without removing the program itself. MIUI This provides a powerful functionality, which, however, is not always obvious to the average user.
Standard MIUI shell methods offer multiple layers of protection, you can use built-in tools to create an isolated space, or you can resort to more radical measures, such as freezing applications. It is important to understand that simply removing an icon from the desktop does not guarantee security, since the program remains available through the menu of all applications, which is why you need to use specialized system functions that block access to content.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to hide applications on Redmi 8. We will consider both standard system features that do not require additional software installation, and advanced methods using third-party utilities. The security of your data depends on the correctness of the selected settings, so it is recommended to carefully study each of the proposed options.
Use of the “Second Space” function
The most effective and reliable way to hide applications on Xiaomi is to use the “Second Space” feature, which creates a virtual second, independent desktop with its own set of apps, photos and settings. Switching between the main and second spaces is instantaneous, often by fingerprint or special password.
To activate this function, you need to go to the system settings. Here you will find the section responsible for creating an additional user profile. The system will prompt you to set a password or fingerprint that will be used to log into the second space. It is important to remember which finger or code opens the hidden partition so that you do not lose access to your data in the future.
Once you create the second space, you can move any apps from the main menu, disappear from the home screen and from the general list, only being available after you switch your profile, and this solution allows you to keep two different Google accounts, social networks and banking customers on the same device without mixing them together.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data, applications and files inside it will be permanently deleted.
Let us consider the main advantages of using this method:
- 🔒 Maximum security: applications in the second space are not visible from the main profile and vice versa.
- 👆 Easy switching: Fingerprint entry takes just one second.
- 📱 Separating Contexts: Ideal for Separating Work and Personal Life on a Single Device.
- 🚫 Hiding from the eyes: a stranger who took the phone in his hands, will not even know about the existence of hidden programs.
It’s worth noting that the Second Space feature consumes additional RAM resources from Redmi 8. If you’re using heavy gaming or multitasking, the system may run a little slower, but for most users, this trade-off is entirely justified by the level of privacy it provides.
Customization of Guest mode for temporary access
If you have to give your phone to someone temporarily to call or view photos, but you don't want to create a full-fledged second space, Guest Mode is ideal, a simplified profile that allows the user to only perform basic activities, such as making calls and using pre-installed apps, while keeping the owner's personal data completely hidden.
Guest mode activation is done through the notification panel or system settings. You can set up a list of apps that will be available to the guest. All other programs, including instant messengers, a gallery with personal photos and a browser with saved passwords, will be unavailable. This is a great alternative to completely locking the device when you need to give the phone to a child or colleague.
Unlike the second space, guest mode does not require complex setup and creation of a separate account; it is designed for short-term use. Once the session is over, the guest leaves the profile, and all his actions (for example, call history or photos taken) can be deleted or remain isolated from the main profile, depending on the settings of the system.
☑️ Checking the settings of the guest mode
It's important to distinguish between Guest Mode and Do Not Disturb mode, which only restricts notifications but does not hide apps. Guest mode is a restricted user profile. On Redmi 8, with the MIUI shell, these profiles are managed in a flexible way, allowing you to fine-tune the access level.
Hiding applications through system settings
Some versions of MIUI firmware have a built-in application hide feature that works easier than the second space, making icons of selected programs invisible on the menu, leaving them available only through special code input or gesture. However, on global versions of firmware for Redmi 8, this feature is often missing or replaced with more advanced counterparts.
If your version of the system has a Hide Apps item in the desktop settings, you can use it. Usually, access to hidden apps is done by swiping at a specific location on the screen or typing the letter code in the search bar, which creates an “invisibility” effect for the standard user who just flips through the menu.
To check for such a function, follow the following steps:
- Clutch the empty area on the desktop.
- Go to the desktop settings.
- Find the item “Hide Apps” or “Hidden Apps”.
- Add the programs to the hidden list.
If this is not the case, don't despair. The MIUI shell is constantly updated, and functions can be moved or renamed, in such cases, third-party solutions or the use of Application Protection, which, although it does not shackle the icon, but securely locks access to content with a password, come to the rescue.
What to do if the Hidden feature is not on the menu?
Application of third-party launchers and utilities
When regular funds are scarce, third-party launchers take to the scene, programs that completely replace Xiaomi’s standard interface by offering advanced desktop management functionality. Popular launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher often have built-in hide-and-see features or allow you to hide them through visibility settings.
Using a third-party launcher gives you complete control over what is displayed on the screen, you can create a folder, hide it, or use special plugins to protect applications, but it is worth remembering that installing a new launcher changes the familiar look of the MIUI system, which many users are accustomed to.
A comparison of concealment methods is presented in the table below:
| Method | Level of concealment | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second space | High (complete isolation) | Medium | Average. |
| Guest mode | Medium (temporary) | Low. | Low. |
| Third-party launcher | Medium (visual) | Tall. | Depends on the launcher. |
| Freeze (ADB) | High (complete shutdown) | Very high. | Low. |
When choosing a third-party solution, pay attention to the permissions that the application requests. Launcher will need access to contacts, storage and other system functions. Trusted developers usually clearly specify why they need this data and do not use it for advertising purposes.
Freezing applications via ADB (For Advanced)
For users who want to achieve maximum results and are not afraid of complex manipulations, there is a method of freezing applications through USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to completely disable a system or user application, making it invisible and inactive until the time of defrosting.
To implement this method, you will need a computer, USB-cable and on-debugging USB In the Redmi 8 Developer Menu, the process requires you to enter commands into the command line, and it's a reliable way to hide even system applications that normally can't be removed or disabled by standard means.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.package.nameInstead of com.package.name, you need to substitute the name of the hidden application package. To return the application, you use a command to replace disable-user with enable. Be extremely careful: freezing critical system components can lead to work of the device instability.
⚠️ Warning: Do not freeze system processes that you are not 100% sure of, which can cause a cyclical phone reboot or loss of communication.
💡
Use PC assistant apps like Universal Android Debloater to safely freeze apps without manually typing commands. They have a graphical interface and warn of risks.
Protecting access to settings and menus
When hiding apps, keep your own (login) to your settings protected. If you use Second Space or special hidden folders, make sure that access to them is protected by a strong password or biometrics. Xiaomi can set a separate password to log into application settings or to run specific programs through Application Protection.
This feature is in the Security app, which is pre-installed on all Redmi devices, and you can select the list of apps that will request a password, fingerprint, or facial recognition every time you run it, and even if the app icon is visible, you can't run it without authorization.
By combining methods, you get the best results, for example, banking applications can be placed in the "Second Space", and access to the switching of spaces is protected by a complex graphical key, so that even an unlocked phone will not reveal your secrets.
💡
The combination of methods (Second Space + Application Protection) provides a double level of security, making data virtually inaccessible to outsiders.
Check your security settings regularly. After major MIUI updates, some settings may reset or change. Make sure your hidden apps are still hidden and passwords are correct.