The modern smartphone has become a digital extension of the owner's identity, storing both work documents and personal secrets. Owners of Xiaomi devices often face the need to share these flows of information without buying a second gadget. MIUI It allows you to create a completely isolated environment within one enclosure.
This technology works as a separate user account on the Android operating system, and it will have its own settings, its desktop, its own apps and gallery, which do not overlap with the main profile, and the transition between them is instantaneous through a password or a special widget.
Using this separation enhances data privacy and helps preserve digital Zen, so you can remove work notifications while you’re away or hide personal correspondence from colleagues, and in this article, we’ll go into detail about how you activate, configure, and manage this unique feature.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
So basically, Second Space is a virtual container inside your phone, and when you're in it, the system acts like it's a brand new device, just out of the box, and all the data here is encrypted separately, and you can't access it from your primary profile without a special password.
Why would a regular user want this? First of all, to separate work and personal, so you can set up messengers to work in the second profile and not get notifications when you're in mostly personal mode, which helps to keep the work-rest balance.
Another important feature is privacy, where you can hide certain apps, photos or documents in the second space, and if someone picks up your phone, they'll only see the main screen with the usual apps and they won't know there's a hidden zone.
It's also a great place to test new applications, and if you're in doubt about the security of the software or want to try the beta version of the software, install it in the second profile, and if you crash or get a virus attack, the main profile will remain clean and secure.
- 🔒 Complete data isolation: files and photos from one profile are not visible in another.
- 📱 Dual accounts: the ability to run two instances of the same app (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) at the same time.
- 🎮 Clean UI: The ability to create a profile only for games or entertainment without working distractions.
- 👶 Child safety: You can create a space with a limited set of apps for your child without giving them access to your data.
It is worth noting that creating a second profile does not duplicate the space occupied in memory one to one, but still requires resources. System files are common, but the cache and application data will take up space in both profiles independently of each other.
Preparation for the creation of an isolated profile
Before you start setting up, make sure your device supports this feature.While Xiaomi has implemented this option for quite some time, on some budget models or in early versions of MIUI it may be called differently or not.
It is critical that you remember your Mi Account. When creating a second space, the system may require proof of identity, and also make sure you have a strong screen unlock password, as it will serve as the basis for generating a password for logging into the second profile.
⚠️ Warning: Before activating the function, make sure to back up important data. While the creation process is safe, any manipulation of system partitions carries minimal risk of failure.
The second space is constantly being improved, and new versions of MIUI 12, 13 or 14 can be fixed bugs that prevented the correct operation in previous builds.
Step-by-step: how to turn on the second space
The activation process in the MIUI shell is standardized and takes no more than a minute. Open the standard Settings app (cog icon). In the top search box, type the phrase "Second Space" or find this item in the advanced settings.
An alternative path through the menu is to go to the Additional Settings section, then scroll down to the Second Space item, and on some firmware versions, this item may be immediately in the main settings menu if you use the Classic Menu mode.
Click on the "Enable Second Space" button, and the system will alert you that a new profile will be created. Click "Continue" and then you will be prompted to configure how to switch between profiles.
☑️ Checklist before launch
You'll be asked to create a fingerprint or a pattern lock for quick login, which is the most convenient way: one finger opens the main profile, the other one opens the second one, and if you don't set up a quick sign-in, you'll have to enter a password every time, or use a widget to switch.
Once you've set up, you'll see the transition animation, and the new space desktop will appear on the screen, and it will look almost empty, with a basic set of applications, and you're now inside an isolated environment.
Setting up quick access and switching
The most important aspect of use is the ease of navigation, and by default, a special switching app is used to navigate between spaces, which looks like two intertwined circles, but there are faster ways.
The ideal option is to have a fingerprint attached. Go to the settings of the second space (via the menu or notification curtain) and select "Change the transition shortcut." Here you can assign which finger will open the hidden profile, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the main profile, and the thumb of the left one opens the second.
If biometrics don't work for you, you can use an additional password. When you lock the screen, entering one password will open the main profile, and entering another (pre-set) will immediately switch the system to the second space, bypassing the main screen.
There's also a desktop widget available. In desktop editing mode, add the Second Space widget. Clicking on it will instantly take you to the right profile, which is relevant for those who use a pattern lock and don't want to get confused in passwords.
- 👆 Fingerprint: The fastest and most inconspicuous way to switch.
- 🔢 Pin code: Entering alternative code on the lock screen.
- 🖱️ Widget: button on the desktop for manual switching.
- 🔔 Notifications: In some versions MIUI switch available in the control panel.
It is recommended to test all available methods and choose the one that seems most intuitive to you. Remember that the fingerprint for the second space should be added specifically in the settings of this profile, even if the finger is already registered in the system.
Application portability and data management
Once you create a profile, the question is, how do you move apps? Unlike some of the other apps, there's no "Clone All" button, you have to go into the second space, open the built-in GetApps store or Google Play store, and download the programs you need again.
But Xiaomi has an import feature, and in the second space settings, there's a data port option, where you can select apps from the main profile and copy them to the second one, and the system will create a copy of them, saving the data if possible.
Files are similar. To transfer a photo or document from the main profile to the second, use the built-in Explorer or File Transfer feature in the second space menu, and the files are copied to the corresponding hidden profile folders.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting an application in the second space won't remove it from the main profile, and vice versa.
Use a built-in cleaner to manage your memory, which will show how much space each space takes up separately. If your phone has limited memory, watch the messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp) because in the second profile they will download media files again.
| Parameter | Main profile | Second space | General resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Separate base | Separate base | No. |
| gallery | Photos of themselves. | Photos of themselves (hidden) | No. |
| Installed annexes | Your kit. | Your kit. | System libraries |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Preserve. | We need to re-enter. | No. |
| System settings | Independent | Independent | Brightness, sound (partially) |
*Note: In newer versions of MIUI, Wi-Fi passwords can be synced through Mi Cloud if the option is enabled, but the network will have to be reconnected by default.
How to delete Second Space and return data
If the hidden profile is no longer necessary, it can be easily removed. To do this, go to the settings of the second space (either inside it or through the main settings menu in the main profile).
The system will warn you that all data in the second profile will be permanently destroyed, including photos, correspondence and installed applications, and if you want to save any files, first transfer them to the main profile through the export function.
The deletion process takes a few seconds, and once confirmed, the phone will clear the hidden partition and return the space to the shared memory pool, and there will be no trace of the existence of the second space on the device.
What happens if you forget the password from the second space?
It's important to understand the difference between deletion and temporary shutdown. There's no "disable" feature in MIUI without deletion. There's only deletion. So if you're planning to take a break from use, just don't switch there, but don't delete the profile if the data is important.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I run the same app in two spaces at the same time?
Do apps in the second space see my main contacts?
Does the second space take up a lot of memory?
Can I take a screenshot in the second space?
Does Google Pay/Mi Pay work in the second space?
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Tip: Use different wallpapers for the main and second spaces, which will help you visually and psychologically immediately understand what mode you are in, and not send a personal photo to the work chat by mistake.
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The second space on Xiaomi is a full-fledged second smartphone inside the same case, ideal for separating work and personal life without buying an additional device.