Many Xiaomi smartphone users face the need to use multiple accounts in the same app at the same time, and whether it is to separate personal and work profiles in instant messengers or the need to maintain multiple gaming accounts, standard Android features often limit these activities.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer a built-in tool called Second Space or Double Applications, which allows you to create a complete, isolated environment where you can install copies of programs without affecting the main profile.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate and configure this mode, you will learn about the intricacies of working with system files and understand how to competently manage data separation so as not to get confused in notifications and contacts.
What is the second screen mode and why is it needed?
The second screen in the Xiaomi ecosystem is most commonly referred to as Second Space, not just an app clone, but a completely isolated partition in the device’s memory, and technically, the phone perceives it as a separate smartphone within a single case with its own set of settings and files.
The main advantage of this approach is complete confidentiality: the data stored in the second space is not visible from the main profile without entering a special password or fingerprint, it is the ideal solution for those who want to hide personal photos or correspondence from prying eyes.
- 🔒 Complete isolation: Applications in the second space do not have access to the first profile data.
- 📱 Different wallpaper and settings: You can configure a unique interface for each space.
- ⚡ Quick switch: Change of profiles takes place in a couple of seconds through the notification panel.
It’s worth noting that using this feature increases the load on RAM. If you have a budget model with 3 or 4 GB of RAM, running background processes in the second space can lead to more frequent downloading of applications from memory.
Step-by-step activation of the Second Space
The process of starting a function may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the overall algorithm remains the same.
Go to the settings menu and find Second Space, which may be hidden inside the Advanced Settings or Special Features tab in some firmware versions. If the settings search fails, use the search bar at the top of the settings screen to enter "Second Space."
☑️ Checklist before activation
After entering the menu, the system will prompt you to press the button Enable the second space. Next, you will need to specify the method of protection: pattern lock, PIN-It is recommended to use different fingerprints to enter the first and second spaces so that the switching occurs instantly from the lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: Remember to have a password or a pattern lock from the second space, and it is impossible to reset it without losing all the data inside this profile by standard means.
Setting up and managing profiles
Once activated, you'll be taken to an environment that looks like a phone you just bought, no contacts, no photos, no browser history, and the first thing you need to do is set up a network connection and add a Google account if you're planning to download apps from the Play Market.
To easily manage both profiles, a special icon appears in the notification curtain. By clicking on it, you can instantly switch between the main and second screens. In the feature settings, you can allow or prevent notifications from the second space in the main curtain.
| Parameter | Main space | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Access to files | Full access | Isolated. |
| Notifications | All applications | Only selected |
| Battery consumption | Basic | Additional workload |
| Camera. | Public access | Public access |
It's important to understand that some system resources, such as the GPS module, Bluetooth, and camera, are shared. If you run the navigator in the second space, it can intercept geolocation control from the application in the first profile.
💡
Use different wallpaper sets for each space, which will help you visually navigate your current profile and avoid sending a personal message from your work account.
Dual Applications: An Alternative
If you think it’s too much to create a full second space, and you just need to run a second WhatsApp or Telegram, you’d better use the Dual Apps feature, which is less resource-intensive and easier to manage.
This is the option on the Settings → Applications → Applications → Cloning. This is a list of supported programs. Just activate the switch in front of the desired application, and a copy of it with a characteristic icon will appear on the desktop.
The main difference from Second Space is that cloned applications use a common file system for some operations and can be seen in the installed program list in the main profile settings, but for most users, this level of separation is sufficient.
The hidden possibilities of cloning
Transferring data between spaces
One of the most challenging tasks for beginners is moving files between the main and second profiles, and because environments are isolated, you can't just copy photos from one gallery to another.
There is a tool for sharing data within the Second Space function, and in the second profile settings, you need to find File Transfer, and the system will tell you to select the files (photos, videos, documents) you want to move, and once confirmed, they will disappear from your current profile and appear in another.
An alternative and often faster way is to use cloud storage, and by uploading a file to Google Drive or Yandex.Disk from one profile, you can download it in another, since cloud services run on top of file system isolation.
⚠️ Note: When transferring large amounts of data (e.g., video to 4K) via built-in tool MIUI It can take a long time. Don't interrupt the screen while copying.
Solving and removing profile
Sometimes users find that notifications from the second space stop coming, often due to aggressive energy savings, you have to go to the battery settings for a particular application in the second space and select the No Limits mode.
If you no longer need the second screen feature, you can delete it completely, and all data, contacts and applications created within the second profile will be permanently deleted, and the main profile and its data will remain intact.
To delete, go to Settings → Second Space and select Remove Second Space. The system will require you to confirm the action by entering a password.
💡
Deleting the second space is an irreversible operation. Before deactivating, be sure to back up important files by moving them to the main profile or the cloud.