How to hide the application on the Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways from MIUI to third-party tools

Hiding apps on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that comes with users for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal information from prying eyes. Unlike iPhones or pure Android devices, MIUI shell phones offer multiple built-in mechanisms to mask programs. However, not all of them are obvious, and some methods work only on certain versions of firmware.

In this article, we will discuss 5 current methods to hide an application in a Xiaomi phone – from standard MIUI functions to the use of third-party launchers and specialized utilities. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Black Shark 5) and firmware versions (MIUI 13/14/15).

Warn in advance: Some methods require superuser rights (root) or installation of unsigned ones. APK-We'll mark these cases with special warning boxes.

1. Built-in Hidden Applications function in MIUI

The easiest and safest way is to use the regular MIUI shell tool. It is available on most modern Xiaomi devices (starting with MIUI 12) and does not require installing additional software. The main plus of the method is that hidden applications are not displayed in the menu, but remain available through search and are not removed from the device.

To activate this function:

📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
🔍 In the upper right corner, tap the icon three dots and select Hide applications.
🔒 Check the boxes next to the programs you want to remove from your sight and confirm your choice.

After that, the app icons will disappear from the home screen and menu, but they will be found through Device Search (swipe down on the home screen). To return the programs back, repeat the same steps and uncheck the boxes.

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If Hide Apps is not on your menu, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI or use alternative methods from this article.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) after hiding the application through MIUI Your icon can stay in the Quick Settings Panel (curtain) and you'll need to manually disable notifications for that app to remove it and from there.

2.Use of the function "Second space" (Dual Apps)

The Second Space (or Dual Apps) feature is originally designed to clone messengers (e.g., to use two WhatsApp accounts at once), but it can be adapted to hide applications. The essence of the method is that you move the program to a second space and then turn off the display of that space on the home screen.

Instructions:

Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
Create a second space (think up a password if needed).
In the main space, find the app you want to hide and hold its icon.
In the menu that appears, select Move to the second space.
Return to the second space settings and turn off the option to Show the icon on the home screen.

Now, the app will only be available after you enter the second space (you need to swipe down on the home screen and enter a password), a method suitable for those who want to not just hide, but completely isolate applications with personal data.

Method	Root is required.	Hiding from search	It's working on MIUI 14.	Recovery capability
Built-in Hiding (MIUI)	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	✅ Easy.
Second space	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Through settings
Third-party launchers	❌ No.	❌ Depends on the launcher.	✅ Yes.	✅ Through launcher settings
Password to the folder.	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	✅ Password entry
Root + App Hider	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	⚠️ Risk of data loss

3. Hiding through third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Microsoft Launcher)

If you don't like the built-in MIUI, you can use alternative launchers, which not only hide applications, but also customize the interface to your preferences.

🌟 Nova Launcher – supports hiding applications through the box settings (Nova Settings) → App & widget drawers → Hide apps).
🔄 Apex Launcher – similar feature in the Apex Settings section → Drawer settings → Hidden apps.
🪟 Microsoft Launcher – Hiding programs through additional settings → Hidden applications.

The advantage of this method is that hidden applications do not appear even in the MIUI system search. However, after removing the launcher, they will become visible again, and some launchers (for example, Nova) require the purchase of a premium version to unlock the hide feature.

Download APK from the official website (not from third-party sources)|Disable battery optimization for launcher|Backup of current screen settings|Check compatibility with the Android version-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and later, some launchers may conflict with the system shell, causing animations to slow down or gestures to fail. Before installing, check user reviews of your model (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro).+ It can be very difficult to use Nova Launcher).

4. Creating a hidden folder with a password

Another way to disguise it is to put it in a password folder, and you can use this:

📁 Built-in function MIUI (Available on some models: hold the app icon → Move it to the folder. → Create a new folder and turn on the password in the settings.
🔐 Third-party file managers (e.g., Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer) FX File Explorer, which supports the creation of hidden directories with encryption.

For MIUI 14, instructions for creating a secure folder are:

Click and hold the free space on the home screen → select Widgets.
Find the Secure folder widget and drag it to the screen.
Set a password or pattern lock.
Move the desired applications to this folder.

Important: folders created through the MIUI widget do not hide applications from system search. For full masking, combine this method with disabling notifications and hiding from the menu through the MIUI settings.

Built-in settings MIUI|Third-party launchers |Second space |Hidden folders with password |I don't hide the applications-->

5 Advanced methods: root access and specialized utilities

If you want to remove an application completely from your eyes (including system search and task manager), you need super-user rights (root) or use utilities like App Hider, Hide App-Hide Application Icon, which create “wraps” for applications, masking them as system services.

Step-by-step instructions for App Hider:

Download the utility from APKCombo (the official website may be blocked).
Launch the application and give access to Special Features (in Android settings).
Select programs to hide and confirm the action.
After masking, the original icons will disappear, and access to the applications will be through the App Hider interface.

For root access methods, you will need:

1 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.


2. Set up custom recovery (TWRP).




3. Switch Magisk to obtain root rights.




4. Use Magisk modules like App Systemizer to hide.

⚠️ Attention: Installing root rights voids the warranty on the device and may result in the blocking of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) due to the SafetyNet trigger. on Xiaomi models with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi). 10C) Unlocking the bootloader may not be possible without authorization of the Mi Account.

What if the hidden app disappeared after the MIUI update?

If after the system update, hidden applications disappeared from the menu and are not displayed in the settings MIUI, try: 1. Restart the device in safe mode (hold the power button) → "Safe regime"). 2. Check the folder. /data/app via a file manager with root access, possibly, APK-files are left in place. 3. Recover hidden programs through backup (if it was created in the MIUI Backup). 4. Reinstall the app from Google Play – sometimes it’s back on the menu.

How to bring back hidden applications

Depending on the method used, the recovery of the visibility of applications differs:

🔄 MIUI Hiding: Repeat the steps from the first section and uncheck the boxes from the applications.
🔐 Second Space: Return to the second space settings and move the app back.
📱 Third-party launchers: Go to the launcher settings and remove the app from the hidden list.
🗃️ Password folder: Enter the password and drag the app back to the home screen.

If the app is not recovering, check:

Is it not removed by accident (see Settings → Applications → Deleted).
Is it disabled in settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Disabled).
Have you lost your launcher after the MIUI update?

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Before hiding applications, always back up their data (e.g., through Settings → My Device → Backup) to help restore information if something goes wrong.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When hiding applications on Xiaomi, users face typical errors:

❓ Why is the app still visible in search after hiding? MIUI?

This is a feature of the built-in MIUI feature, which hides icons only from the menu and the home screen, not from the system search. To remove the application and from there, use third-party launchers or a second-space method.

❓ Can I hide system applications (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music)?

Yes, but it will require root access or use. ADB-Without root, system utilities can only be turned off (Settings) → Annexes → Select an application → Disable, but not completely hide.

❓ The hidden app keeps sending notifications. How to fix it?

Open Settings → Notifications → Manage notifications, find a hidden app, and turn off the notifications manually. Alternatively, use Do Not Disturb mode for specific programs.

❓ After updating MIUI Hidden apps are back. What to do?

MIUI updates sometimes reset the concealment settings. Repeat the masking process again. If the problem recurs, try another method (e.g., switch from built-in concealment to a third-party launcher).

❓ Can you hide the application so that it is not seen even by someone who knows the password from the phone?

Yes, but it will require a combination of methods: Hide the application through the second space with a password; disable the display of the second space icon in the MIUI settings; Use a launcher that supports hiding system folders (for example, Nova Launcher Prime).