How to Hide Photos and Videos on Xiaomi Phones
As one of the leading smartphone brands in the world, Xiaomi continues to innovate by offering features that are not only useful but also enhance user experience. Beyond performance, Xiaomi also places strong emphasis on user privacy and security.
One of the built-in privacy features available on Xiaomi devices is the ability to hide photo and video files—without needing to install any third-party apps.
There are two main ways to do this: through the Gallery app or the File Manager app. Both options serve the same purpose, but the File Manager offers broader functionality, which lets you hide not just photos and videos, but also documents, audio files, and more. Here’s how to do it:
Hiding Photos and Videos Using the Gallery App
The Gallery app comes pre-installed on Xiaomi phones and can be used straight away. Just follow these steps:
- Open the Gallery app.
- Choose the photos or videos you want to hide. You can select multiple items at once.
- Tap on the ‘Add to album’ option at the bottom of the screen.
- Select ‘Private album’ to move the files.
- Tap ‘OK’ to confirm.
Once this process is complete, the selected photos and videos will disappear from the main gallery and can only be accessed by you. Keep in mind that if you haven’t already set a privacy password or pattern, the system will prompt you to create one before proceeding.
Hiding Photos and Videos Using File Manager
Another way to hide photos and videos on a Xiaomi phone is through the built-in File Manager app. Just like the Gallery app, it doesn’t require any third-party installation or setup. To hide your files, follow these steps:
- Open the File Manager app.
- Select the photos or videos you want to hide. You can choose multiple items at once.
- Tap the three-dot icon labeled ‘More’, then select ‘Make private’.
- Confirm by tapping ‘Make private’ once again.
Once done, the selected files will disappear from the regular view in File Manager and can only be accessed by you. As with the Gallery app, if you haven’t set a password or pattern before, you’ll be prompted to create one. Just follow the instructions provided.
One great thing about File Manager is that it lets you hide more than just images and videos. You can also make documents, audio files, and other file types private.
How to Access and Restore Hidden Photos and Videos
Once you've successfully hidden your photos or videos, only you can access or restore them. The process is fairly simple, and the steps are similar whether you're using the Gallery or File Manager app.
When restored, the photos and videos will reappear in the Gallery or File Manager and become accessible as usual. Here’s how to do it:
1. Accessing and Restoring Hidden Files in the Gallery
To access hidden photos and videos through the Gallery, open the app and swipe right to the Albums tab. Then, swipe down on the screen until the message "Release to open private folder" appears, and release. You'll be prompted to enter your password, pattern, or fingerprint. If successful, the hidden files will appear.
To restore them, just select the photos or videos you want to unhide—selecting more than one at a time is possible. Then tap "Remove from private album" and choose the album where you want to move them, or create a new one if needed.
2. Accessing and Restoring Hidden Files in File Manager
Open the app and swipe down on the screen until you see the "Release to open private folder" prompt. After entering your password or unlocking with your fingerprint, you'll gain access to the hidden folder.
To restore your files, press and hold on one of them to activate multi-select mode, then select the rest. Tap the open padlock icon labeled "Remove," select the folder you want to move the files to, and confirm by tapping "Remove" in the bottom-left corner. The files will be restored and will no longer be hidden.
Xiaomi’s privacy features are extremely helpful for keeping sensitive files secure—whether photos, videos, documents, or audio files. Since these files are hidden and password-protected, only those with the correct credentials can access them.
Xiaomi allows you to use a variety of locking methods, including character-based passwords, PINs, and patterns, with the added convenience of fingerprint access for quicker unlocking.
Hopefully, this guide helps you take better control of your privacy when using a Xiaomi phone. Good luck!