Modern Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful hardware that often allows you to perform several tasks simultaneously without losing performance. Many users wonder how to set up a second screen on Xiaomi to share workflows or create an isolated environment for personal data. The second screen in the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem is usually understood as a “second space” function (Second Space) or split screen mode (Split Screen), each of which solves its own unique tasks.
Activating additional workspaces makes your gadget a versatile tool, allowing you to hold a separate set of applications for work and entertainment. It is not just a convenience, but an important aspect of digital hygiene and data security. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods of organizing the interface, from creating a full-fledged virtual device to the elementary separation of the display into two parts.
It’s important to understand that the interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware. However, the basic principles of customization remain unchanged throughout the years of development of the Redmi and Mi line. We will look at the nuances that will help avoid typical errors in the configuration of the system.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
The feature, known as Second Space, is a software emulation of a second independent smartphone inside one physical enclosure. When you switch between the main and second profiles, the system actually changes the user account, hiding all the apps, photos and contacts of the first profile from the eyes of the second one, the perfect solution for those who want to separate work from their personal lives without buying a second phone.
The technology is justified in situations where you need to hand over a device to a child or colleague, but you do not want to give access to your personal correspondence or banking applications. System resources are allocated so that the background processes of the isolated space do not interfere with the main work, although they consume a certain amount of RAM.
⚠️ Note: Creating a Second Space takes up extra storage on the internal drive. If you have a 64GB model or less, keep an eye out for the free space as the system will create duplicate system files for the new profile.
The key advantage is that you can install different versions of the same applications, for example, the main profile can be a regular version of the messenger, and the second one is a modified or corporate version, and the data is separated at the file system level, which ensures a high level of privacy.
Step-by-step instructions for launching the Second Space
The process of activating this feature in the MIUI shell is standardized and takes no more than a minute. First, you need to go to the main menu of the device settings. Find the section, which is usually called “About the phone” or “Advanced”, depending on the version of the interface, and select “Second space”.
☑️ Preparation for the creation of space
The system will offer you to configure access options, and you can choose whether to switch between spaces through the notification panel, a special shortcut on the desktop, or with a fingerprint, and the latter option is most convenient: assigning a specific finger to enter the second profile, you will instantly be in the right environment immediately after unlocking the screen.
After initial setup, you will open an interface identical to the smartphone you just bought, which requires you to re-sign in to your Google or Mi Account if you plan to download apps from the Play Market, and don’t skip this step, as without an account binding, many services may not work properly or require permanent authorization.
Hidden Switching Settings
Setup of split screen modes (Split Screen)
If you thought the second screen would be two apps simultaneously, then this is Split Screen, which lets you run your navigator and messenger at the same time. To activate, open the menu of running apps (swipe from the bottom up and hold or hold the Menu button).
Once the mode is activated, the top of the screen is occupied by the first application, and the bottom one suggests selecting the second one. The boundary between the windows can be moved by changing the proportions of the information displayed. This is especially useful on devices with a large screen size, where the standard interface allows you to comfortably use multi-touch control in both windows.
- 📱 Mode support depends on the optimization of a specific application by the developer.
- ⚙️ Some system services may block screen splitting for security reasons.
- 🔄 To exit the mode, it is enough to drag the dividing line to the end of the screen.
It's worth noting that not all programs are properly displayed in a smaller format, video players or games can go full-screen or distort the picture, and in such cases, the system often suggests running the application in standard mode, ignoring the separation request, which is a limitation of the Android operating system itself, not a defect of the smartphone.
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Tip: If the app doesn’t support native split screen, try enabling “Fullscreen Mode” in the display settings to force the interface to scale.
Managing Notifications and File Access
One of the most subtle settings is to manage the visibility of content between profiles. By default, the second space is completely isolated, but you can configure the display of notifications from the second profile in the first one. This is done through the Second Space management menu, where the Notification Settings item is located.
The file system also has its own features: direct access to photos and documents from one space to another is closed; you need to use special porting tools built into the control menu or cloud storage to transfer files; when moving files through the system tool, the originals can be deleted from the source, so be careful.
It’s important to keep privacy in mind: if you allow notifications to be displayed, text messages can be seen on the locked screen of the main profile, which can be a problem if you want to completely hide the fact that you use certain applications.
| Parameter | Main profile | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Access to contacts | Complete. | Only hand-added |
| Use of memory | Shared vault | Shared vault |
| Background work | Priority | Limited by the system |
| Access to the camera | Complete. | Complete (not simultaneously) |
Use of the function "Access in the screen"
Another use case that is often confused with the second screen is Screen Pinning, which doesn’t create a new profile, but blocks the device on one particular app, which is useful if you give the phone to someone to watch a video or game, but don’t want the user to go to the menu or open the gallery.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the security settings and find the appropriate switch. Once turned on, by holding the Home button or swiping from the bottom up in the menu of running applications, you can fix the current window. Out of the fixed state is possible only with the combination of buttons that you set (usually Home + Volume up).
⚠️ Warning: Before you turn on the fix, make sure you remember the unlock combination. Unlock the fix without knowing the code or biometrics of the main owner is almost impossible without fully restarting the device.
This mode is often used by parents to control children's access to a device or in retail outlets to demonstrate the capabilities of a product, and unlike in the Second Space, there is no data separation, but only limited navigation through the interface.
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Screen fastening is a temporary measure of access restriction, not a way to create a complete, isolated environment for data.
Possible problems and methods of solving them
When using virtual spaces, users may experience increased battery consumption, due to the fact that system services operate in the background for both profiles. If autonomy is critical, it is recommended to completely turn off the Second Space when it is not in use, through the control menu.
Another common problem is that push notifications in the second profile are not working properly, often by removing the power saving restrictions for a particular application, going to the battery settings, finding the app, and selecting No Limits mode, which will allow the background processes to run smoothly.
In rare cases, after updating the MIUI firmware, the function may disappear or not work stable, in which case it helps to clear the cache of the system application "Security" or completely reset the Second Space and then create again, the data will be lost, so it is important to have backups.
- 🔋 Check the energy saving settings for all important applications.
- 📲 Make sure that both profiles have an actual time and date.
- 🗑️ Periodically clean the cache of junk files through the built-in cleaner.