Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where access to the main system profile, known as the first space, is required, a feature that allows you to create isolated desktops with different passwords, sometimes becomes a trap for the user, especially if credentials are forgotten or a system failure occurs. Understanding the structure of MIUI and HyperOS is critical for successful return to factory access settings.
Many users mistakenly believe that switching between profiles is a simple swipe, but in reality, the architecture of Second Space is built on deep data isolation. Deleting the second space without first transferring data will lead to the complete loss of all files stored in an isolated profile, so before any manipulation, you need to clearly understand the risks and choose the right method of solving the problem.
In this article, we will look at all the legal ways to navigate, including standard methods through settings and emergency measures to reset the system.We will not consider password circumvention through vulnerabilities, as this violates security policy, but will help you regain control of the device by legitimate methods.
What is the first and second space in MIUI?
Second Space was introduced by Xiaomi to separate personal and work data, essentially creating a second independent user within the same Android operating system, the first space being your primary profile, where you log in immediately after you turn on your phone, where all the major apps and accounts are stored.
The second profile works as a separate smartphone inside your device, with its own galleries, its contacts, its own installed apps and, most importantly, its own screen unlock password, switching between them either through a special shortcut in the notification curtain or through the input of an alternative pin or pattern lock on the lock screen.
⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the first space, but remember the password from the second, you can enter the second, but access the data of the first space without reset will not work due to the encryption of Android data.
Technically, both spaces share the same file system, but access to the folders of the first space from the second is limited to Linux access rights, which means that even with root rights, it is not always possible to transfer files without special utilities.
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The first space is the main administrator profile, the second is the guest mode with limited access to the system files of the main profile.
Standard way to go through settings
If you have access to a smartphone interface and you just want to switch from one profile to another in a regular way, it's done through the settings menu, which is suitable if you're in the second space and want to go back to the main one, or vice versa.
You need to open the Settings app and find the section that will handle the extra functions of the system. The path may vary slightly from firmware to firmware, but the logic remains the same. You need to know the password from the space you want to go to if you have a different typer method on the lock screen.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open the Settings menu on your Xiaomi device.
- 🔍 Find the Additional or Advanced Settings section (depending on version) MIUI).
- 🔄 Select the second space item.
- 🔑 Click the Go to the first space and enter the required password.
Once confirmed, the system will switch context and you will be on the desktop of the main profile. If the transition button is inactive or requires a password that you do not remember, the standard transition method becomes unavailable.
Using a fingerprint to change profile
One of the most convenient ways to move to Xiaomi's first space is to use biometrics, which allows you to attach different fingerprints to different spaces, which means that by putting a finger registered for the main profile, the phone unlocks immediately into the first space, bypassing the password entry screen.
To set up this feature in advance (if you are not already locked), you need to go to the security settings. In the Fingerprint section, you will see a list of all registered fingers. Next to each fingerprint, you will tell which space it is tied to, you can change the binding by adding a new finger or reassigning an existing one.
| Action. | Wherever | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Add a print. | Settings → Passwords and security | Access to current profile |
| Change the profile when unlocking | Lock screen (finger input) | Pre-tuned finger |
| Remove the binding | Fingerprint settings | Password of the current space |
| Resetting all prints | Security settings | Password of Mi Account or device |
If you haven't set up different prints in advance, this method won't help you right now, but if you have access to at least one of the spaces, it's a good idea to set up biometrics for both profiles immediately to avoid problems in the future.
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Use your left thumb for the first space and your right for the second, and it allows you to instantly switch between profiles, just changing the grip of the phone.
What to do if you forget the password from the first space
The situation where the user forgets the password from the main profile is the most difficult. Android has a high degree of data protection, and it is impossible to simply "go" or "remove" the password without losing data. If you are in the second space, you are technically a guest in the system and do not have administrator rights to reset the host password.
The only working way to get back to the first space in this case is to completely reset the device to the factory settings (Hard Reset).This action will remove all data from the phone, including photos, contacts and apps from both spaces. Before starting the procedure, make sure you have a backup of important files if they are synced to the cloud.
The reset procedure through Recovery Mode looks like this:
- 🛑 Turn off the Xiaomi smartphone completely.
- 🔘 Press the buttons Up and Power at the same time.
- 📟 Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release.
- 👆 In the Recovery menu (manage volume buttons, select power button) select Wipe Data.
⚠️ Warning: After resetting, the phone will require you to enter a Google account or Mi Account that was previously synced with the device (protection) FRP). Without this data, the phone will not be able to turn on.
There is a myth that you can go to the first space through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) if the phone was enabled debugging over USB. However, modern versions of Android block the execution of ADB commands on a locked screen or user selection screen without authorization, so this method works extremely rarely and only under specific conditions.
Can data be recovered after resetting?
How to Remove the Second Space and Stay First
If your goal is not just to move, but to completely get rid of the second space to free up memory and make it easier to use your phone, you can do it with regular means.
To do this, go to the settings of the second space (if you are in it), or use the switch to get to the first. In the settings of the first space, find the Second Space menu. There will be a button to Delete the second space. The system will warn you that all data in the second profile will be destroyed.
The deletion process takes a few minutes, during which time the system clears the memory sections occupied by the second profile and rewrites the configuration files, and once completed, the phone can restart.
☑️ Checklist before removing the second space
If the delete button is inactive or the system is in error, the second space may have system processes running. Try to force all applications in the second profile to close before you try to delete. It is also worth checking for system updates, as older versions of MIUI have encountered bugs that block the deletion of the profile.
Switching problems and system errors
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the transition button disappears, or the phone freezes when trying to change space, this can be caused by overflow of RAM or conflict of versions of applications between profiles, in which case the standard transition through the menu may not work.
If the interface responds but the transition doesn't occur, try clearing the cache of the system application "Security" or "Settings." To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find MIUI system services and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with "Clean Data" as this can reset your settings.
In rare cases, safe mode helps. Restart your phone to safe mode (usually by pressing the off button on the lock screen or through a combination of buttons at start, depending on the model) In safe mode, third-party applications do not start, which can remove the conflict that prevents switching.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to delete second-space system files through root-righted file managers manually, this is almost guaranteed to result in a cyclic bootloop and the need to flash your phone.
If nothing works and the phone is not behaving properly, all that remains is a complete reset, as described above, and the stability of user partitions is a critical part of the system, and breaking it requires radical measures.
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System switching errors are most often solved by clearing the cache of system services or restarting in safe mode, rather than deleting files.