Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to separate personal and work data. The “Second Space” feature on the Redmi 9 Pro is ideal for this purpose, creating an isolated environment with a separate password and set of applications. However, when the need for an additional profile disappears, users may face an unexpected difficulty when trying to uninstall it.
MIUI sometimes hides the delete button or requires specific actions to complete the process. This is not a bug, but a security mechanism to prevent the accidental loss of important files. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps necessary to safely delete the second profile, including workarounds if the standard menu does not respond.
Before taking any drastic action, it is important to understand that removing Second Space is an irreversible process, and that all photos, contacts, messages and apps inside that profile will be permanently erased, so it is critical to back up your data in advance if it is of value to you.
Preparation for profile removal
The first step is to fully check the contents of the profile being removed, go to the Second Space and make sure there are no important documents or correspondence left, and if you just want to exit it but save the data, use the export function, not the complete deletion function.
The next step is to ensure that the battery is stable, and although the removal process doesn't require as much power as flashing, the Redmi suddenly shuts down. 9 Pro while working with system partitions can lead to errors in the file system. 40-50%.
⚠️ Note: Deleting Second Space will not free up space instantly to the extent you expect if the main profile has cached files from applications used in the remote profile.
Also, check for active syncs, if the second profile is running Google or Mi Cloud background services, wait until the data transfer is complete or force the sync to stop before you exit, which will prevent possible account conflicts in the future.
Standard method of removal through settings
The main method of deactivating the additional profile is built into the MIUI shell interface. First, go to the main space and open the settings menu. Find the Additional settings section or the Second space in the list of main categories, depending on the firmware version.
Inside the profile management menu, the system will offer two options: switch between spaces or delete them. You need to select the deletion option. The system will warn you that all data will be destroyed. Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or password, if it was installed.
The process takes from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the amount of data accumulated, at which time the smartphone can blink the screen several times or emit an audible signal, interrupting this process by pressing the control buttons is strictly not recommended, as this can damage the system files.
☑️ Checklist before removal
After the operation is successfully completed, the system will automatically return you to the main space. the profile switch icon will disappear from the desktop, and in the settings, the status of the Second Space will change to “Not created” or similar.
What to do if the removal button is inactive
A fairly common situation on the Redmi 9 Pro is when the profile deletion button is gray and does not respond to clicks, which often happens if the processes associated with the second profile are running in the background, or if the “Switch to fingerprint” function is activated.
To solve the problem, first turn off the ability to enter the second space through your fingerprint. Go to Settings → Second Space → Settings and find the item responsible for biometrics. Turn off the finger binding to enter the hidden profile.
Then force all the apps to close. Sometimes the background services freeze and block the system settings from changing. After you reboot your smartphone, try re-entering the delete menu. In most cases, the button becomes active.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The button is grey | Fingerprint entry active | Disable biometrics in settings |
| Error in removal | Lack of memory | Clear the system cache |
| The process hung. | Conflict of processes | Reset the device |
| No removal point | Interface error | Use the search for settings |
If simple methods don’t work, you can try to clear the data of the Security or Settings app, but this is an extreme measure that requires caution.
Removal through the Security App
In the MIUI shell, many of the space management functions are duplicated in the system application Security. Open it and scroll down to the Second Space section, which is often more stable than the direct settings menu.
Click the settings button (usually a gear) in the corner of the space management screen. This should show the current profile status and the delete button. The interface may differ depending on the Android version, but the logic remains the same.
Hidden system settings
Using the Security app ensures that you are impacting the system layer of profile management without any major settings interface bugs, especially for the Redmi 9 Pro, which came out with a rather heavy shell.
Cleaning of residual files after deletion
Even after successful deletion of the profile, the phone may still have tails — folders with temporary files, thumbnails of photos or logs of errors — that take up space, though not critically. Use the built-in cleaner to remove them.
Go to Settings → Memory and start analyzing the space you occupy. The system will offer to clean up the garbage. You can also manually check the MIUI/Gallery/cloud folder if you used gallery synchronization. Deletion of these files is safe if you don't need copies.
Remember that some apps may have saved their data in a shared storage, such as messengers often store media files in shared folders, and check the Android/media directory for large files left over from a remote profile.
⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete folders with system application names through the file manager unless you are sure of their purpose.
For deep cleaning, you can use third-party utilities like Files by Google, which can find duplicates and forgotten large files, but standard MIUI tools are usually enough to maintain order.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
When using Redmi 9 Pro, users sometimes encounter a message saying, “Second Space Could Not Be Deleted,” which can be caused by file system damage or access rights conflict, and then a safe mode will help.
Load your phone in Safe Mode (press the off button, then keep your finger on the "off" item on the screen for a long time). In this mode, third-party apps do not start or interfere with system processes. Try to delete the profile again.
If that doesn't work, then you'll just have to reset your phone completely, which is a radical method that will remove all the data from your device and return it to factory status. Make sure to make a full backup before you do that.
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If the delete button disappeared after the MIUI update, try switching the system language to English, deleting the profile, and then returning the Russian language.
It's a common mistake to try to delete a profile from inside it, always from the primary space, and when you're in the second profile, you can only exit it, but you can't eliminate the environment.
Alternatives to the Second Space
If the Second Space feature seems too cumbersome or difficult to remove, it’s worth considering alternatives, such as Guest mode, which allows you to temporarily give the phone to another person without access to your data.
The app cloning features built into MIUI are great for sharing applications, so you can create a copy of WhatsApp or Telegram with a different number without creating a whole second system profile, which saves resources and simplifies management.
There are also third-party launchers and password apps that hide access to selected programs, which are less deeply integrated into the system than Second Space, but for many users, their functionality is more than enough.
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Using embedded app cloning is often more effective and safer than creating a full Second Space if you just need to run a second messenger account.
If you want complete isolation, second space is indispensable, and if you just want to hide a couple of photos or start a second account, you better use lighter tools to avoid overloading the Redmi 9 Pro.