How to completely block the second space on Xiaomi from a child: 5 working ways

Xiaomi’s Second Space smartphones allow for isolated work environments, useful for separating personal and work data, but the same feature can be problematic if a child gains access to an uncontrolled space with unlimited internet, games, or dangerous apps. Unlike standard parental controls, which only operate in the main space, the second space requires separate security measures.

In this article, you will find unique ways to lock second space on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI settings, using system tools and third-party applications with proven effectiveness. We will look at options for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), and also bypass the typical errors that cause the lock to be reset after rebooting. If your child has already learned to switch between spaces, here you will learn how to prevent this at the system level.

Why Standard Parental Controls Don't Work in Second Space

Many users mistakenly believe that the parental controls enabled in MIUI automatically extend to the second space, in fact, two independent instances of Android with separate settings, and here are the key reasons why the usual restrictions don't work:

• 📱 Isolated Environment: The second space has its own accounts, apps, and security settings, and even if the main space has a password for Settings, the second space may not have one.
• 🔄 Switch reset: Some restrictions (e.g., locking application installation) are reset when switching between spaces unless fixed at the system level.
• 🛡️ No sync: Apps like Google Family Link or Xiaomi Parental Controls don’t see second space as part of the main device.

Moreover, MIUI 13/14 has made it possible to hide space-switch notifications, making it even more difficult to control, allowing a child to use a second space for years without even knowing it exists.

Method 1: Complete removal of the second space (most reliable method)

If you don't use the second space, the most radical and effective way to do this is to remove it completely, which will prevent your child from accessing the isolated environment, and this guide is suitable for all Xiaomi models (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark):

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Select Remove the Second Space.
3. Enter the main space password (if requested).
4. Confirm deletion. All data in the second space will be erased without recovery.

Important: Once the space is removed, it can be recreated, so this method should be combined with settings locking (see Method 3).

Save important data from the second space (photos, contacts)

Remember the password of the main space

Disable synchronization of Xiaomi account in the second space (if any)

Make sure your child doesn’t know the password from the main space

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Method 2: Locking switching between spaces with a password

If you don't want to delete the second space, you can block the switching mechanism itself, and MIUI has a password protection feature for that, but there's a caveat: by default, this password matches the unlock password of the main space screen, and if the child knows it, the method won't work.

To set up a separate password for switching:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space → Settings.
2. Select the Password to switch.
3. Set a new password (preferably different from the main one).
4. Activate the option to Require a password at each switch.

Method Limitation: If your child knows the password from the main space, they can reset the switch password through Settings → Accounts → Sync (in some versions of MIUI). To avoid this, use Method 4 (block settings).

Method 3: Block access to second space settings

Even if the child gets into the second space, you can limit the ability to change the settings.

1. Switch to the second space (enter a password if requested).
2. Open Settings → System and device → Additional → Developer settings.
3. Activate Developer Settings (click 7 times on MIUI version).
4. Return to Settings → System and Device → Additional → Developer Settings and enable:

• 🔒 Blocking settings (requests password when entering settings).
• 📱 Shut down. USB-debugging (so that the child can not connect the phone to the PC and reset the settings).
• 🔄 To prevent password change (in some firmware).

Important: The password to lock settings must be different from the main password of the phone, otherwise the child will be able to pick it up.

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If the developer’s settings do not have the option “Block Settings”, install the third-party AppLock app from Google Play and block them from accessing Settings in the second space.

Method 4: Using third-party apps for parental control

If system methods don't work, you can install specialized parental control apps that work in the second space.

To install the application in the second space:

1. Switch to second space.
2. Open Google Play and install the selected app.
3. Set up restrictions (for example, Kaspersky Safe Kids can block the installation of new apps).
4. Protect the application settings with a password.

Warning: Some apps (like Google Family Link) may conflict with MIUI and reset settings after rebooting.Please check reviews for your Xiaomi model before installing.

Method 5: Hiding the second space from the switching menu

MIUI 14 and HyperOS have the ability to completely hide the second space from the interface so that the child does not even know it exists.

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space → Settings.
2. Select Hide the icon of the second space.
3. Confirm the action with a password.

After that, you can switch between spaces only:

• 🔑 Through Settings. → Special facilities → Second Space (requires a password).
• 📱 With gesture: double pressing the power button (configured in Settings) → Buttons and gestures).

Important: If you forget your password or gesture, you can only restore access to the second space by resetting your settings (with loss of data).

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Hiding the second space is the most reliable way to protect, but it requires remembering an alternative way of access (password or gesture).

What to do if your child already knows about the second space

If the child has already used the second space and knows how to get there, the usual locking methods may not work.

1. Change the password for the main space (if the child knew it) and use a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
2. Remove the second space (see Method 1) and recreate it with new security settings.
3. Turn off biometric unlocking (fingerprint, facial recognition) in the second space so your child can’t bypass the password.
4. Install a monitoring app (such as mSpy or FlexiSPY) to track access attempts.

If your child is tech-savvy and can reset through Recovery Mode, consider using a hardware lock, such as the Xiaomi Child Lock (a physical blocker button for some models).

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To check if your child has tried to access the second space, open Settings → Security → Security Log and see the unlock history.

FAQ: Frequent questions about locking second space on Xiaomi