How to camouflage an app on Xiaomi Android: from simple tricks to hidden folders

Hide the application on the smartphone Xiaomi may need for many reasons: from the desire to remove unnecessary system utilities to the need to protect personal data from prying eyes. MIUI It offers several built-in cloaking mechanisms, but they don’t work clearly – especially on newer versions (MIUI 14-15). In this article, we will understand 7 Proven methods, including system functions, third-party tools and technical tricks without superuser rights.

It is important to understand that the complete removal of system applications (com.miui.weather2, com.xiaomi.scanner, etc.) requires unlocking the bootloader and can disrupt the stability of the work. But to mask from outsiders, standard MIUI tools or secure workarounds are enough. We will focus on methods that do not require root rights and do not affect the warranty.

Let’s start with the practice – from the simplest actions to advanced techniques.

1. Built-in "Hidden Applications" function in MIUI

The most obvious way is to use the MIUI tool to hide apps from the home screen and menu, a feature available on all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO), but its location has changed depending on the firmware version.

In MIUI 14/15, the path is: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Hidden Applications.

On older versions (MIUI 12-13), you may need to tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the App Management screen and select Hide Apps.

• 🔹 After activation, the application will disappear from the menu, but will remain in Settings. → Applications and will be available through search (Conductor) → Search).
• 🔹 To get it back, repeat the path and uncheck the box.
• 🔹 Restriction: System applications (e.g. com.miui.calculator) cannot be hidden.

This is a technique that is suitable for temporary disguise, for example, if you want to remove a game so you don't get distracted, but still keep it quickly accessible through search.

Archiving of applications (without deletion)

If you can't hide an application through settings (for example, due to the limitations of MIUI for system utilities), you can use the archival function, which removes the application from the home screen and menu, but saves its data and the ability to restore it.

Instructions:

1. Press the app icon on the home screen → select Delete (don’t be afraid, this is not deletion in the usual sense).
2. In the window that appears, tap Archive (do not delete!).
3. The app will disappear, but it can be restored through the Play Store → Library → Archived.

⚠️ Note: Archived applications are not automatically updated. To update them, first restore them from the archive.

This method works for all applications, including system applications (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music), but has a drawback: the application remains visible in Settings → Applications and can be found through a search system.

3. Creating a hidden folder in the Explorer

For disguise. APK-files or application data (for example, messenger cache) can be used hidden folders in the file system. MIUI There is a built-in Explorer with a file hiding function, but it works non-intuitively.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Explorer (standard MIUI application).
2. Go to the Category section → Local storage.
3. Create a new folder (e.g.,.hidden, a point at the beginning of which makes it hidden in most file managers).
4. Move it to her. APK-files or application data (for example, folder) Android/data/com.whatsapp).
5. Return to the root directory, tap three points → Settings → turn on Show Hidden Files (to see the folder) and immediately turn off this option back.

For security, you can additionally password a folder through third-party file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer). However, remember: if you delete the APK from the /data/app folder, the application will stop working until you re-install it.

Make sure you have a backup of the app data |

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About Phone)|

Battery charge of at least 30% |

Turn off automatic update of the application in the Play Store-->

4.Using Second Space (second profile)

Second Space is a MIUI feature that allows you to create a second isolated user profile with a separate set of applications, and is ideal for masking messengers, banking applications or games.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Second Space (on some models, path: Settings → Special features → Second Space).
2. Create a second profile by following the instructions (you will need to set a password or a pattern lock).
3. In the main profile, delete or archive unnecessary apps (they will remain in Second Space).
4. To switch between profiles, use a gesture: swipe down with two fingers on the lock screen (configured in Settings → Lock screen → Gestures).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Complete isolation: Second Space applications are not visible in the main profile and vice versa.
• 🔄 You can clone apps (e.g., have two WhatsApp or Telegram accounts).
• 🛡️ Data protected by password or fingerprint.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to factory settings, Second Space data will be deleted. It is recommended to back up regularly through Settings → Second Space → Backup.

This is one of the most reliable ways to hide root-free applications, but it requires additional steps to switch between profiles, which can be inconvenient for frequent clicks.

5. Masking through Nova Launcher (for advanced users)

If you don't just hide an app, but make it invisible even to search the system, you can use a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher, which works on any Xiaomi smartphone, but requires additional customization.

Instructions:

1. Install Nova Launcher from the Play Store and make it the default launcher.
2. Click the empty space on the home screen → Nova Settings → Hiding apps.
3. Select the apps you want to hide and confirm.
4. Return to the home screen – apps will disappear from the menu and Nova search.

Additional opportunities:

• 🔧 You can hide apps from Google search by disabling indexing in Nova settings.
• 📂 Create a “secret” gesture to access hidden apps (e.g. double tap on the icon of a watch).
• 🔒 Block access to Nova settings with a password.

Important: Apps hidden through Nova Launcher remain visible in the standard MIUI menu if you return to it. For full disguise, combine this method with archiving or Second Space.

6. APK and data encryption (for tech-savvy)

If you need to not just hide, but encrypt the application and its data, you can use tools like App Cloner or Island (from Oasis Feng), which create isolated copies of programs with a separate data store.

Example from Island:

1. Install Island from the Play Store and activate it as a work profile management app (confirmation is required in Android settings).
2. Transfer the desired applications to Island through its interface.
3. In the main profile, remove or archive the original applications.
4. Protect Island with a password or biometrics.

Advantages:

• 🔐 Application data (e.g., correspondence in Telegram or WhatsApp) is stored in an encrypted container.
• 📱 Apps can be cloned to use multiple accounts.
• 🛡️ Protection against screenshots and screen recording in an isolated profile.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may block work in isolated profiles due to security policies.

For maximum privacy, combine Island with Second Space: create an isolated profile inside the second MIUI space.

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If you need to hide not the application itself, but its notifications, go to Settings → Notifications → Notification settings for applications and turn off the display on the lock screen or in the status bar.

7 Advanced Methods (with root rights)

If you're willing to go for radical measures and have root access, the camouflage capabilities are expanded many times over, but remember: unlocking the bootloader and getting root on Xiaomi resets the phone to factory settings and can take away warranty.

Ways for experienced users:

• 🔧 Titanium Backup: Allows you to freeze system and user applications, making them invisible and inactive.
• 📂 Manual renaming APK: Root Explorer can rename the application folder to /data/app, Adding a point to the beginning of the name (e.g..com.whatsapp).
• 🔒 Xposed/EdXposed: Modules like App Hider or Hide My App allow you to hide applications at the system level.

Example of commands for “freezing” an application via ADB (without root, but with USB debugging):

adb shell pm hide com.package.name

To return the application back:

adb shell pm unhide com.package.name

Critical information: Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi is blocking some ADB-commands to hide system applications. This method may not work on new firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Xiaomi

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The most reliable way to hide the application on Xiaomi without root is a combination of Second Space + archiving, which ensures data isolation and no icons in the main profile.