Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi or Redmi is always accompanied by a desire to quickly transfer all data from the old device. Users often look for information on how to clone Xiaomi, meaning either a full copy of the system to a new gadget, or creating exact copies of applications to use two accounts at once. In the ecosystem of MIUI and the new HyperOS, these processes are implemented at the system level, which makes the procedure safe and fast.
However, it is important to distinguish between the two concepts so as not to get confused: cloning a phone can mean completely transferring the backup with all photos, contacts and settings to a new device. In another context, we are talking about the application cloning function, which allows you to run two instances of a messenger (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram) on the same device with different phone numbers, both of which we will discuss in detail in this manual.
Software cloning is not to be confused with physical soldering of memory chips, which is sometimes found in service centers for repair after flooding. Our goal is to work with software and user data without opening the case. Modern methods allow you to make a full "cast" of the system in minutes using wireless protocols or a cable connection.
Difference Between Data Transfer and Application Cloning
Before you start, you need to be clear about what you want to get, and if your goal is to replace your old phone with a new Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 and see the same icons and files on it, you need a data migration tool. It's a process where you create a copy of your user profile, and it affects the gallery, the call logs, SMS and established APK-file.
If you already have a working phone, but you need a second social network or game login, you use App Cloning, which is virtual isolation, where the system creates a second instance of a program with a unique identifier, and it looks like two different applications to the system, although the program files occupy disk space only with a small increment.
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Use app cloning for messengers and social networks only. Cloning heavy games or banking applications can lead to unstable system operation and authorization errors.
There is also a third, rarer scenario, the cloning of IMEIs or system identifiers, which is often required for specific testing tasks or, unfortunately, to bypass locks. Operations with IMEIs in many countries are illegal and can lead to a lockdown of the device at the carrier level.
- 📱 Data migration: Complete copying of the contents of the old phone to the new one (contacts, photos, settings).
- 🔄 App Clone: Launching two accounts of one messenger on the same device.
- 🛡️ Security: Legal methods do not require root rights and do not violate the warranty.
Using the Mi Mover app to migrate fully
The most effective way to clone your old phone to a new Xiaomi is to use the proprietary Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on all devices with a MIUI shell version 9 and higher, and is also available on Google Play for other Android smartphones. This tool creates a direct Wi-Fi channel between devices, ensuring high transfer speeds without using Internet traffic.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the new phone that will receive the data, select Receiver. On the old device from which we will copy, click Sender. QR-code or find the device in the list of available Wi-Fi networks. After connecting, you will see a list of categories of data available for copying.
☑️ Preparing for data migration
Importantly, Mi Mover allows you to clone not only media files, but also folder structure, alarm clocks, notes, and even the location of icons on the desktop. The process can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data. Interruption is not critical — when you start again, the system will suggest to continue from the stop, although it is better to wait for completion.
⚠️ Note: When transferring data from iPhone to Xiaomi via Mi Mover, some file formats (e.g., file formats, HEIC) may require conversion or be incorrectly displayed in the gallery before the indexing update.
Set up a second account in messengers (Clone of applications)
App Twin is a killer feature of the MIUI shell that has been outpacing competitors for years, allowing you to have two WhatsApp, two Telegram, two Facebook accounts, or even two VK accounts on the same phone, and this is done by creating virtual space for a second instance.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Applications → App Cloning. The list that opens will show all the supported programs installed on your device. Just switch the switch opposite the desired messenger to the active position. A second icon will appear on the desktop with a small yellow icon in the corner.
System constraints don't allow all applications to be cloned, usually social networks and instant messengers, and if you try to clone a banking application, the system will issue a warning about a potential security vulnerability, because financial institutions have a strict control over the environment of their software.
- 🔐 Security: For cloned applications, you can set a separate password or fingerprint.
- 🔔 Notifications: The second clone may have different sound and vibration settings than the main one.
- 📉 Resources: Running two instances of a heavy application increases battery consumption 15-20%.
What if the clone doesn't work?
Expanded Opportunities: Second Space
For those who need more than just a clone of one app, MIUI has Second Space, a fully-isolated environment inside your phone that has its own desktop, its own gallery, contacts and apps, and in fact, you get two in one: one phone, but with two different user profiles, between which you can use a fingerprint or pin code.
Unlike just cloning apps, Second Space completely isolates data. Photos taken in the second space are not visible in the first. It's ideal for separating work and personal life, or for giving a phone to a child so that he doesn't see your personal files. Activation is on the Settings path → Second Space.
It takes longer to create a second space than just cloning applications, because the system needs to allocate a separate partition of memory and adjust the basic parameters, but this gives you the maximum degree of privacy, and you can even hide the fact that the second space is there by setting a special password to activate it.
| Function | Apps clone | Second space | Mi Mover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Two accounts in the same app | Complete data isolation and settings | Transferring data to a new phone |
| Difficulty | Low (1 click) | Medium (requires settings) | Medium (takes time) |
| Impact on the battery | Moderate. | High (the two cores of the system are working) | Temporary (only when transferred) |
Technical nuances and work with Google services
When you clone data or create second spaces, you often have questions about how Google services work, and because Google Mobile Services (GMS) is deeply integrated into Android, cloning is different. In Space Two, you'll have to re-sign in to your Google account, which is a normal behavior that ensures that contacts and calendars are synchronized for that profile.
If you use WhatsApp app cloning, remember to be linked to your phone number. You can't clone WhatsApp on the same device with the same number. SIM-The clone needs a second active number to work, which can be in the phone (two-sim mode) or in another device available for receiving. SMS registration.
In the new versions of HyperOS, the memory algorithms have been changed, the system now more aggressively kills the background processes of clones to save energy. If you notice that messages in the second WhatsApp come with a delay, you need to lock the application in memory. To do this, open the menu of running applications, click on the lock next to the clone or select “Stick” in the control menu.
⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to the factory settings (Hard Reset), all cloned applications and Second Spaces will be permanently deleted along with the main data.
Solving the problems of cloning
Despite the fact that processes are fine, users may encounter errors, and one of the most common is “failed to create a clone,” which usually indicates a lack of space in the system partition or a conflict of versions of the application. Make sure you have the latest update for a particular messenger from Play Market or Mi GetApps installed.
Another problem is that notifications are desynchronized, and sometimes the main WhatsApp is ringing and the clone is silent. Check the notification settings specifically for the clone. In MIUI, they can be disabled by default for the second instance, and it's worth checking if the "Do Not Disturb" mode with a schedule that blocks the sound is worth checking.
If Mi Mover is stuck in the data transfer phase, try to turn off the screens of both phones and wait. Sometimes the touch layer interferes with the stability of the Wi-Fi Direct connection. Also helps to reboot both devices before starting the procedure. Do not use cheap USB-C cables if you connect by wire - they often do not support the necessary data transfer speed.
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The stability of cloned applications depends on the amount of RAM. On devices with 4 GB of RAM and less use of Second Space can lead to noticeable interface brakes.