Photos and videos in the smartphone gallery Xiaomi often contain personal information that you want to protect from prying eyes. Even if you treat your device carefully, the risk of accidental access remains: your phone could be taken by friends, colleagues or children. Fortunately, MIUI offers several built-in and third-party solutions for locking the gallery - from a simple PIN code to hidden folders with double authentication.

In this article, we will break down 5 proven methodsincluding official functions Xiaomi and reliable applications from Google Play. You'll learn how to set up locking for individual albums, hide files from search, and bypass restrictions if you've forgotten your password. All methods have been tested on the latest versions MIUI 14/15 and are relevant for models Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 2020–2026.

Important: some functions may differ depending on the regional firmware. For example, European versions lack built-in gallery locking, but it can be easily replaced with third-party tools. We will indicate alternatives for each case. MIUI There is no built-in gallery lock, but it can be easily replaced with third-party tools. We will indicate alternatives for each case.

Starting from MIUI 12, Xiaomi added a function Protected Albumsthat allows you to block access to selected photos and videos. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and is integrated into the standard application. data-i="52">Gallery Gallery.

To activate protection:

  • 📱 Open the application Gallery on your Xiaomi.
  • 🔒 Go to the section Albums → click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner.
  • 🔐 Select Protected albums → Enable.
  • 🔑 Set a password (PIN, pattern or fingerprint).

Once configured, you can move files to a protected album by clicking on the photo → More → Move to protected album. Files in a protected album are not displayed in the general gallery list and are not indexed by the system.

⚠️ Attention: If you forget the password for a protected album, you can restore access only by resetting the gallery settings. This will delete all protected data!

Open the Gallery application|Go to Albums → ⋮ → Protected Albums|Set a password (PIN/pattern/fingerprint)|Transfer files to a protected album via the context menu-->

2. Blocking via "Second Space" (double account)

Function Second space (or Dual Apps) allows you to create an isolated copy of the system with individual applications, including the gallery. This is useful if you want to completely separate personal and work data.

How to set up:

  1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Second space.
  2. Follow the instructions to create a second account (you will need to link another phone number or email).
  3. After setup, enter the second space and transfer the necessary files to its gallery.
  4. Protect the entrance with a password or fingerprint in the security settings of the second space.

The advantage of this method is complete data isolation. Even if someone gains access to the main space, the files in the second will remain hidden. However disadvantage: you will have to switch between spaces to view photos.

What happens if you delete the second space?

When you delete the second space, all data (including photos in the gallery) will be permanently erased. Backup must be done manually via Settings → Second space → Backup.

3. Using the Notes application with locking

A little-known life hack: the standard application Notes in MIUI supports blocking individual entries, and also allows you to attach photos and videos. This is convenient for storing a small number of confidential files.

Instructions:

  • 📝 Open Notes and create a new entry.
  • 📎 Attach photos via the button + → Photo/video.
  • 🔒 Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper corner → Block.
  • 🔑 Set a password (you can use a fingerprint).

The disadvantage of the method is the limitation on file size (up to 50 MB per note) and the lack of sorting by albums. But the files will be securely hidden from strangers and will not appear in the general gallery.

Built-in protected MIUI albums|Second space|Third-party applications (for example, KeepSafe)|Notes application|I don’t block the gallery-->

If the built-in functions Xiaomi do not suit you, you can use specialized applications. We tested the three most reliable:

Application Features Cons Link (Google Play)
KeepSafe File encryption, cloud backup, PIN/fingerprint Advertising in the free version, limit on the number of files com.kii.safe
GalleryVault Support for fake-PIN (false password for masking), hiding the application icon Complex interface, sometimes slow on weak devices com.thinkyeah.galleryvault
LockMyPix Fast locking, Face ID support on new models Paid functions (for example, hiding from the system gallery) com.domobile.lockmypix

Recommendation: before installing, check the reviews and rating of the application. Some apps (especially lesser-known ones) may collect metadata from your files. For maximum security, use KeepSafe or GalleryVault —they are regularly updated and have a transparent privacy policy.

⚠️ Attention: If you uninstall a third-party gallery lock application, all files hidden in it may be lost. Always create backups!

5. Hiding files through a file manager (without a password)

If you do not need hard blocking, but rather hide files from accidental viewing, you can use the built-in File manager:

  1. Open File manager → go to folder DCIM/Camera (where photos are stored).
  2. Select the required files → click More → Rename.
  3. Add a dot in front of the file name (for example, .photo.jpg).
  4. Confirm the change. The files will disappear from the gallery, but will remain in the file manager.

To return the files back, simply remove the period from the name. This method works on all smartphones Androidbut does not protect from a targeted search - an experienced user will be able to find the files through the file manager.

💡

For additional disguise, create a folder named .nomedia (with a period at the beginning) and move the files there. The system will ignore it when scanning multimedia.

What to do if you forgot your password. galleries?

If you have lost access to a protected album or third-party application, there are several ways to restore:

  • 🔄 For built-in MIUI lock: go to Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage and clear the data. Attention: this will delete all protected files!
  • 📧 For KeepSafe/GalleryVault: use the recovery function via the email linked during registration.
  • 🔧 For Second Space: reset your password via Settings → Accessibility → Second space → Delete password (account confirmation will be required Mi).

If none of the methods worked, the last resort remains - reset phone settings to factory settingsThis will delete all data, including locked files, so use this method only as a last resort.

💡

Regularly back up protected files to cloud storage (for example, Google Photos with the "Secure Folder" function enabled).

Is it possible to lock only individual photos, and not the entire album?

Yes, you can selectively move files to MIUI 14/15 you can selectively move files to Protected album. Third-party applications (for example KeepSafe) also support locking individual images.

Will locking the gallery work after flashing the phone?

No, after resetting to factory settings or flashing all data Protected albums and third-party applications will be deleted. Always keep backup copies!

Is it possible to hide the gallery from search in system settings?

Files in MIUI Protected Album are not displayed in search results. For third-party applications (for example GalleryVault), you need to manually disable indexing in the application settings.

Do all Xiaomi models support gallery locking?

Function Protected albums available on most devices with MIUI 12+, but may not be available in European firmware versions. In this case, use Second space or third-party applications.

How to block a gallery from children?

The best option is Second space with a separate password or an application Google Family Linkthat restricts access to certain apps. You can also enable Mode for children in settings MIUI.