Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer users not just standard calls and the Internet, but an ecosystem for managing personal information. One of the most sought-after features of the MIUI shell is the “Second Space” feature, a virtual, isolated environment that works as a separate smartphone inside your main device. Many gadget owners are wondering how to organize the storage of personal photos in this secure section to hide them from prying eyes or simply structure media files.
Moving photos to a hidden partition isn't just copying files, it's creating an extra layer of security for your data. The second part is completely separate from the main part, has its own apps, accounts and, most importantly, its own set of photos. Unlike a simple "Hidden" folder that requires you to enter a password every time you log in, the isolated environment simulates the operation of an independent device, which makes access to files even more invisible.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the nuances of working with the media library in the context of dual profiles, learn about the ways of transferring, possible limitations and best practices to ensure the safety of your images. It is important to understand that when you remove the main space, all data from the second profile will be irretrievably lost, so the correct organization of files is critical here.
What is a second space and why hide a photo?
The Second Space feature in Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is an implementation of Android Multi-User technology. It allows you to create a full second profile with its own set of applications, settings and files. When you switch between profiles, the system completely changes the context: open windows, notifications and accessible files become different, it is the perfect solution for separating work and personal data or for creating a guest mode.
The main purpose of using this feature for photo work is privacy. If you hand an unlocked phone to someone to make a call or watch a YouTube video, the person will not see your personal pictures if they are in a different profile. The gallery in the second space only shows those images that were taken or saved directly in it.
It's also convenient for organizing content, for example, you can use the main space for family photos and travel, and in the second profile you can store working scans of documents, checks or materials for projects.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Second Space with the Hidden folder in the Gallery.The Hidden folder hides albums inside the main profile, requiring a password to access. The second space is a separate environment, which is logged in through a special password, fingerprint or switch in the notification curtain.
Using an isolated environment also helps in testing applications: You can install questionable software in a second profile, give it access to photos there, and it won't be able to read your main gallery. It's a powerful security tool that ordinary users often underestimate.
Preparing for file transfer and checking the storage
Before you start mass-moving photos, you need to make sure your device is ready for this operation. Creating a second profile and filling it with media content requires free space on the internal drive. The system treats files in the second space as occupying space in the phone's shared memory, so overflowing storage can lead to copying errors.
Check your memory status beforehand, and go to the settings and find the storage section, make sure you have a few gigabytes of storage, especially if you plan to carry high-resolution video or large series. RAW-snapshot.
☑️ Pre-transfer check
Also worth noting is the operating system version, which, while it works consistently on most versions of MIUI and the new HyperOS, may have been bugs in older builds that restrict access to the file system between profiles.
Another important aspect is having a Mi Account, which is not always necessary to create a profile, but it is highly desirable to synchronize settings and restore access in case of password problems, without which you risk losing access to the second space along with all the photos if you forget the unlock code.
Step-by-step: how to move a photo through the Gallery
The easiest way to move photos is to use the Gallery's own built-in menu, which does not require third-party file managers and works natively on the system.
To start, open the Gallery app in your main profile. Select the album or individual snapshots you want to migrate. Click on the "More" button (usually three dots in the corner of the screen) and select "Hide" and then the photos disappear from public access. Then you need to switch to the second space, find the hidden album menu there and "disclose" them, but this path does not always work directly between profiles due to isolation.
The more reliable method inside the gallery looks different.
- 📸 Open the right photo in full screen.
- 📤 Press the "Share" button».
- 🔄 In the list of applications, select “Save to Files” or similar system dialog.
- 📂 Specify the storage path available to both spaces (e.g., internal memory, root folder).
However, the most effective way is to use the cloning function or direct import via the second space settings, if your version of MIUI supports direct data exchange. In some versions of the shell, when the second profile is first run, the system itself offers to import contacts and photos from the main one.
⚠️ Note: When moving files through clipboards or temporary folders, make sure you copy the original, not the compressed preview version. Check the resolution of the file after transfer, it must match the original (for example, 4000x3000 pixel).
Use of a conductor for mass transfer
For those who are used to working with file structure directly, the built-in Explorer (or File Manager) application will be an indispensable assistant, which allows you to move hundreds of photos and entire folders at a time, which is much faster than manually transferring through the gallery, and also gives you full control over the paths to the files.
The algorithm is this: First, open Explorer in the main profile, find the DCIM/Camera folder or the one where your original images are stored, select the desired files with a long press, and select the option "Copy" or "Move" from the bottom menu.
Then you need to switch to the second space. Open Explorer there. You'll see that the folder you copied the files to may not be visible immediately if you've used the system hidden folders. So the best thing to do is to create a new folder at the root of the internal memory, call it, for example, Transfer, and put the files there from the main profile. After switching to the second profile, just take them out.
The table below shows a comparison of transfer methods:
| Parameter | Through the Gallery | Through the Conductor | Through Mi Drop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Low (one by one) | High (packet) | Medium |
| Metadata preservation | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Risk of loss | Minimum | Medium. | Low. |
Using Explorer also allows you to rename files on the fly, which is useful for sorting. You can create a structure for the 2026, Documents, Projects folders already inside the second space and distribute files accordingly.
Alternative methods: Mi Drop and cloud services
If the built-in methods seem inconvenient or unstable, you can use wireless data transfer technologies. Mi Drop (or its ShareMe analogue) allows you to transfer files between profiles, since it looks like transferring between two different devices to the system.
To do this, run the application in a second space, create a group or access point. Then switch to the main profile, run Mi Drop there, and find the recipient device. The good thing about this method is that it bypasses some system restrictions on file system access between isolated environments.
The nuances of Mi Drop work between spaces
Another option is to use cloud storage, upload photos to Google Photos, Yandex.Disk or Mi Cloud from your main profile, then install the same cloud application in the second space, log in and download files.
It has its advantages: it creates an additional backup on the Internet, but it requires a stable Internet connection and can consume traffic if you don't have unlimited rates, and free cloud space is often limited.
⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, make sure you log out in the second space after uploading your photos, unless you want new images from that profile to sync with the main cloud.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Users may face a number of common challenges in the process, the most common being the disappearance of thumbnails (previews) of photos in the second space, because the system does not scan the second profile library in the background as actively as the main one to save resources.
To solve this problem, you just need to open the Gallery app in the second space and wait a few minutes while the system indexes files. If this does not help, you can try to reboot your smartphone from the second profile.
Another common error is to say “Not enough memory” when trying to copy, even when there seems to be space, which may be due to file system fragmentation or cache, and cleaning the cache of the Explorer and Gallery applications in the application settings often solves this problem.
💡
If the photos in the second space are displayed in black square, try clearing the Media Storage app cache in the second profile settings, which will force the system to rescan the memory and build thumbnails.
Also worth mentioning is the problem with file formats: Some older versions of MIUI may not display HEIC or RAW photos correctly in the second space unless the appropriate codecs or gallery plugins are installed, in which case it is recommended to convert the photo to a standard JPG before transferring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I recover a photo from the second space if I forget my password?
Do the photos in the second space take up space in the Mi Cloud?
Will the person I give the phone to see my photos in the second space?
How to remove the second space and all the photos in it?
💡
The second space is a powerful isolation tool, but it requires discipline: remember passwords and regularly check that important files have indeed been copied before you delete the originals.