Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone users, when they upgrade to new versions of the MIUI shell or switch to the new HyperOS, find a new icon in the notification curtain that resembles a portfolio: Work Profile, a feature that was originally created by Google for enterprise devices, but is now available to everyone. Its appearance often bewilders: why is it for the average user and is it not a virus or hidden spyware?
In fact, a work profile is a powerful tool for digital well-being and data sharing, and it creates an isolated space on your phone that functions as a second, independent smartphone within a single device, where you can install individual copies of apps, customize your wallpaper, your widgets, and most importantly, completely disable all notifications at a single click when the workday is over.
In this article, we will discuss how to activate this feature without installing third-party software, how it differs from the usual “Second Space” and how to configure it correctly to improve your productivity, learn how to clone applications for different accounts and understand why this mode is becoming the standard for effective time management on Android.
What is a work profile and how is it different from a second space?
Work Profile is based on native features of Android Enterprise, which is a system layer of separation, unlike proprietary add-ons, and when you activate this mode, the system creates a separate container for data, and applications installed in the work profile are marked with a special portfolio icon and do not have access to data in your personal profile, unless you allow it.
Users often confuse this mode with the “Second Space” feature that has long been present in Xiaomi shells. However, there is a fundamental difference between the two. The second space is essentially creating a second user account on a device with its own set of passwords, fingerprints and full separation of the system. Switching between them takes time and requires password or biometrics.
The mode is much faster and more flexible. It doesn't require you to log in to another Mi or Google account. You stay in your main interface, but the apps are visually and functionally separated. The key advantage of the mode is that you can instantly block all work notifications and calls with a single switch in the curtain, which is impossible to do in Second Space without fully logging out of your profile.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete the Devices system app or Android Enterprise components if they appear after the mode is activated.This can lead to unstable operation of cloned applications and loss of data within the work profile.
In addition, the work profile is often used. IT-departments of companies for remote management of corporate data, if you install an application on QR-According to the code from the employer, it will fall into this profile, allowing the administrator to remotely erase corporate data without affecting your personal photos and correspondence.
How to turn on the working mode on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones
Activation of the feature on Xiaomi devices may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. In some regions and firmware versions, this option is built into standard settings, in others it requires minimal preparation through Google Play.
First, make sure your device is running Google Play services. Go to Settings, look for Password and Security or Advanced Settings. If it doesn't have a Work Profile or Mode, use the official Google app.
- 📲 Download the Work Profile or Iceland app from the Google Play Store.
- 🔐 Launch the application and follow the instructions for creating a profile, confirming the rights of the device administrator.
- 🏢 After setting up, a portfolio icon will appear in the notification curtain, and a separate tab or tagged icons will appear in the application menu.
- ⚙️ To manage, go to Settings → Password and security → Confidentiality → Special access → Applications with device administrator rights.
Once activated successfully, the system can suggest setting up notifications, and it's important to properly allocate rights so that personal and work messages don't mix chaoticly, and in the notification settings, you can choose which apps on your work profile might be disturbing you with sound or vibration.
Setup of notifications and cloning of applications
The main goal of creating an isolated environment is to control digital noise, so in your work profile you can install the same messengers as your personal one, but register them to other numbers or accounts, like one Telegram for friends, another for work.
Cloning doesn't require the built-in App Cloning feature, which creates duplicates in the same profile, but instead, just open Google Play from your work profile (portfolio icon) and install the app you want. It will appear with a tag.
The notifications are set up via the standard Android menu:
- Press the icon of the working application.
- Select About App.
- Go to the Notifications section.
- Set up the importance categories for each type of message.
When you want to rest, just swipe the notification curtain down and tap the portfolio icon.All applications in your work profile will go into sleep mode: they will stop making sounds, vibrating and displaying banners, although background email sync may continue (depending on the battery settings).
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To quickly switch between personal and work mode, add the Work Profile widget to the home screen, which allows you to turn on and off mode with one touch, without reaching for the notification curtain.
Comparison of data sharing modes on Xiaomi
To determine which tool is right for you, let’s compare the specifications of the available options. Understanding the differences will help to avoid confusion and choose the best use case.
| Characteristics | Working profile | Second space | Cloning of applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of separation | User Profile (Android Enterprise) | Full user account | Inside the same profile |
| Switching | Instant (through the curtain) | Requires password/fingerprint input | No need (separate icons) |
| Notifications | Global Shutdown with a Single Click | Only in active space. | Work independently |
| Resources | Minimum | High (duplication of processes) | Average. |
As you can see from the table, the work profile benefits from everyday usability through switching speeds, and is ideal for freelancers, students, and those who want to clearly separate work time from personal time without creating complex password structures.
However, if you need complete isolation, such as storing sensitive photos or using a second Google Play account with another country, then Second Space will still be a more suitable option, as it emulates a fully independent system.
Can I hide the icons of working applications?
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the stability of the feature, Xiaomi users may face a number of typical issues: Aggressive battery optimization in MIUI sometimes “kills” processes in the work profile, causing notifications of new messages to come with a delay.
To solve this problem, you need to manually configure autorun and energy savings for working versions of applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the desired application (make sure you look at the version with a portfolio tag) and select No Limits mode in the Battery section.
⚠️ Note: If contacts are lost or duplicated after activation, check the display settings in the Contacts app, where you can select a filter: show only personal, only work or all contacts at once.
Another common problem is the inability to delete a work profile: If the Delete button is inactive or the profile is created again, check the list of applications with administrator rights. Sometimes corporate security policies (MDMs) implemented when installing a work application block removal, in which case you first need to remove the initiator application (for example, a corporate email client or a drag-tracking application) from your work profile.
☑️ Diagnostics of Notification Problems
How to completely disable or remove the working mode
If you realize you don't need a feature, or if you want to start setting up again, it can be easily deactivated. It's important to understand the difference between temporary shutdown and complete deletion. Temporary shutdown just hides the icons and stops notifications, saving all the data.
To completely delete all data, follow the following steps:
Settings → Password and security → Privacy → Special access → Applications with device administrator rightsIn the list that opens, look for the Work Profile or the name of the application that created it (e.g. Google Apps Device Policy). Click on it and select Delete Profile or Deactivate. The system will warn that all applications and data within the profile will be permanently deleted.
Once confirmed, the phone can restart. This is normal behavior, as the system rearranges the file structure. If you delete the menu with "ghost" icons, try clearing the launcher cache through Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Search by title (Launcher/Desktop) → Clean up.
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Deleting your work profile erases all the data inside it, and make sure you back up important documents or correspondence before deactivating.