The modern smartphone has long since ceased to be just a device for calls; today, Xiaomi Redmi 9 stores personal photos, work documents, banking apps and gaming accounts. However, it is often necessary to divide this digital life into two independent parts without buying a second gadget. A feature known as Second Space creates a completely isolated environment inside your device with its settings, passwords and content.
Imagine you pick up a phone and you see one set of icons, and after you type in a special code or fingerprint, the interface changes completely, showing completely different applications. It's not magic, but a regular feature of the MIUI shell that works at the system level, providing high levels of privacy. Redmi 9 owners can activate this mode, turning the budget device into a powerful tool for separating work and personal life.
In this article, we will discuss how to properly configure, use and, if necessary, remove Second Space, you will learn about the hidden features of the feature, which are not obvious when you first meet, and understand how it differs from simple guest mode.
What is the separation technology of the system
The second space in Xiaomi smartphones is not just a folder with a password, but a full-fledged virtual copy of the operating system. When you activate this feature, the phone actually creates a new user profile that runs parallel to the main one. All the data in this profile is encrypted and stored separately, making it inaccessible to view from the main account.
Technically, this is done through Android mechanisms that allow multiple users on a single device, but MIUI has added a user-friendly switching interface to it, which looks like two different phones to the system: each space has its own Wi-Fi settings, its own notifications, and even its running processes in memory.
- 🔒 Complete isolation: Applications in the second space do not see files and data from the first, which is critical for the security of corporate information.
- 📱 Two sets of apps: You can install one version of the messenger in the main profile, and the second – in the second, receiving notifications from different accounts at the same time.
- ⚙️ Independent settings: Screen brightness, sounds, wallpaper and even interface language may vary in each space.
⚠️ Warning: Second space takes up extra storage space. If you install heavy games or download a lot of videos in both profiles, free memory on Redmi 9 may run out faster than expected.
Step-by-step instructions for activating the mode
The process of enabling the feature takes only a few minutes and does not require root rights or complex software.All the necessary tools are already built into the MIUI 11 or MIUI 12 system, which are pre-installed on the Redmi 9. Before you start, make sure that the device is charged, as the profiling process may require resources.
To start, open the standard Green Icon Security app, which is the system control center in Xiaomi’s shell. Scroll down to System Apps and Settings, or find Second Space in the feature list. The system will offer you to familiarize yourself with the features and immediately start the creation process.
☑️ Preparation for profiling
After you press the "Enable" button, the phone will ask you to choose a login method. PIN-This is the key to entering the second profile, and it's important not to confuse it with the primary unlock password if you want spaces to be truly shared.
The system will create a virtual copy of the environment, which can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the speed of the internal memory recording, and at the end of the process, you will be in a clean interface of the second space, where you will need to reconfigure basic parameters such as language and network connection.
- 👆 Quick access: After setting up, you can switch between profiles through a notification curtain or a special gesture.
- 🔐 Hidden entrance: You can set the entrance to a specific fingerprint so that the phone itself knows which profile to open.
- 🎨 Visual difference: Wallpaper in the second space is different by default so you don’t get confused where you are.
⚠️ Note: Do not set the same fingerprint to enter both spaces if you want to keep your privacy.
Configuring entry and switching methods
The most powerful feature of Second Space is the ability to instantly switch without entering passwords every time. Xiaomi Redmi 9 implements a flexible biometric authorization system, you can assign a specific right finger to enter the main profile, and the left finger to enter the second.
The settings are done in the Second Space settings menu, where you can activate the "Use your fingerprint" option, and the system will prompt you to rescan your finger, which will be used solely to access the hidden profile.
In addition to biometrics, you can also use a special password when you unlock the screen, so if your primary password is "1234," you can set the code "5678" to enter the second space. When the phone is locked, you can type "5678" into the hidden profile immediately, bypassing the main one.
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Use a side button (if there is one in your firmware version) or a widget in the curtain for a quick switch if the biometrics seem uncomfortable in winter with gloves on.
You should also pay attention to notifications, and you can allow notifications from the second space to the first space in the settings, which is convenient if you're waiting for an important call, but you don't want to constantly switch profiles, but for maximum secrecy, it's best to turn it off.
- 🖐️ Biometrics: Assign different fingers to different profiles for instant access.
- 🔢 Pin Codes: Use different combinations of numbers to unlock the main and hidden modes.
- 🔔 Notifications: Set up if messages from a hidden profile will be visible on the locked screen of the main screen.
⚠️ Attention: If you forget your password or login method to the Second Space, it will be almost impossible to restore access to the data without losing it. MIUI No backdoors for resetting a secondary profile password.
Installation and management of applications
When you move to Space Two, you'll see a virtually empty screen with a basic set of applications, and it's a blank slate, and you'll have to install all the programs again. Fortunately, Xiaomi has a cloning feature that allows you to quickly migrate the main applications from the first profile.
When you first start the second space, the system will suggest you choose the apps to install. You can tick WhatsApp, Telegram, banking customers or social networks, and they will be automatically downloaded and installed. APK-files or re-enter passwords from Google accounts if they are saved.
It's important to understand that each space has its own Google account or Mi Account, which means that in-app purchases, subscriptions, and download history may not sync between profiles, and if you bought a game on the main profile, the second one will likely have to buy it again or download the free version.
Application removal also happens independently, so if you delete an application in the main profile, a copy of it in the second space will stay in place and continue to work, which gives you flexibility in managing the software: you can only keep your workmail in the second profile and delete it from there on weekends, leaving your personal applications in the first.
File transfer and data exchange
One of the common tasks is to transfer a file from the main profile to the second one or vice versa. Because the file systems are separated, you can't find a second space folder through the conductor in the first one.
In the Explorer app or in the Second Space settings, there's a Moving Files feature that allows you to select photos, videos or documents in one profile and copy them to another, and the process takes time proportional to the size of the files, as you physically copy the data to another part of the memory.
There is also the possibility of creating shared folders, although in MIUI on Redmi 9 this is not always explicitly implemented, most often users use cloud services or messengers (sending the file to themselves) to move the document between profiles. This is a workaround, but it works steadily.
| Type of data | Transfer method | Speed. | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | In-built imports | Tall. | Copyed in the album "Second Space" |
| Contacts | Synchronization of Mi Cloud | Instant. | You need to log in to one Mi Account. |
| Annexes | Cloning at launch | Depends on the network. | Just the basic set. |
| Documents | Through the conductor | Medium | Requires manual selection |
When you transfer large amounts of data, like video to 4K, the phone can get hot, which is the normal reaction of the processor and memory controller to intense recording, and let the device cool down if the process freezes or goes too slow.
Deletion of the Second Space and Data Reset
Sooner or later, you may need to completely delete the Second Profile, which may be due to selling your phone, transferring the device to another person, or simply because the function has ceased to be relevant, the deletion process is irreversible and will result in the complete loss of all data stored in the second space.
To delete, you need to go to the Second Space settings (either inside or through the switch) and select “Delete Second Space” and the system will warn you several times about the consequences, as all photos, contacts and installed applications will be erased without recovery.
What happens to memory after removal?
If you have forgotten the password from the Second Space and cannot log in to delete it, there is an option to reset through the main profile, but it also requires proof of ownership (entering a password from the Mi Account or the phone's main pin code).This is protection against theft: even if the phone is stolen, an attacker will not be able to easily delete the hidden profile to access the main data without knowing the passwords.
If you run out of memory on Redmi 9, deleting an unused profile can return several gigabytes of free space, which will positively affect the system’s speed.
- 🗑️ Complete Deletion: Writes all data irrevocably, including cache and settings.
- 🔄 Settings reset: You can only reset settings by leaving apps, but this is rarely used.
- 🛡️ Protection: Requires Owner Confirmation to Prevent Unauthorized Deletion.
⚠️ Warning: Before deleting, make sure to check if there are any important photos or documents left in the second space.
Comparison with the Guest mode
Many users confuse Second Space with Guest Mode, but these are fundamentally different features: Guest Mode is designed to temporarily transfer the phone to someone else so that the person does not see your personal data. It is reset when you exit.
The second space is your personal, permanent profile. It doesn't reset when you leave it. All apps stay in place, progress in games is saved, and messages accumulate. It's a full second life of your smartphone.
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The main difference: Guest mode is temporary and cleared after exit, Second space is permanent and stores all data between sessions.
Guest mode makes sense if you give your child a phone to watch a cartoon or a friend to call, and the second space is for you to share work and leisure, to hide personal correspondence, or to store sensitive financial information separately from the main applications.