Two desktops on Xiaomi: how to set up and use

Why do you need two desktops on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi’s current MIUI-based smartphones offer a unique feature, the ability to create a second desktop. It’s not just visual screen separation, but full-splitting of space for apps, widgets, and even accounts. Imagine one screen with personal photos, instant messengers, and games, the other with work documents, email and calendar, without having to buy a second phone or constantly switch between accounts.

This is especially true for people who work with their personal lives on the same device, such as freelancers who can separate orders and personal correspondence, and parents who can create a separate “child” profile with limited access to applications. But how does this work in practice? In this article, we will discuss all the ways of setting up, nuances of use and hidden features of the “Second Space” feature (as it is called in the official MIUI firmware).

It’s important to understand that this isn’t about Windows-style virtual desktops or macOS, but rather a full-fledged sharing of the Android environment with separate settings, wallpapers, and even passwords, both of which work in parallel and take literally a second to switch between.

Which Xiaomi models support the second desktop feature?

The "Second Space" feature is available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 8 and later.

• 📱 Flagship models (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mi 11, Mix 4): Factory firmware support, including enhanced privacy settings.
• 💰 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12T): The feature is present, but it may not be possible to link different Google accounts.
• 🔥 Budget devices (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5): limited functionality – only basic application separation without separate settings.
• ⚠️ Outdated models (Xiaomi Mi) A1/A2, Redmi 5/6): The function may be absent or may not work smoothly.

To see if your device supports the second space, check the MIUI version in settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version). If the version is below 8.0, update the firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

⚠️ Note: On Android One devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3) The second space function is missing, which is basically a firmware restriction, not a hardware restriction, and attempts to install it through modified firmware can lead to loss of warranty and unstable system operation.

Step-by-step: how to create a second desktop on Xiaomi

The second space setting process takes no more than 5 minutes. Follow the instructions carefully - some steps depend on the version of MIUI.

1. Open Settings and go to the Special Features section (on some models – Additional).
2. Select Second Space (or Duplicate Applications on older versions of MIUI).
3. Click Create a second space and confirm the action. The system will prompt you to select the type of space: 🔒 Protected – with a password or fingerprint. 📱 Normal - without additional protection.

Wait until the setup is completed (it can take 1-2 minutes), after that, a switch between spaces button will appear on the lock screen.

Now you have two independent desktops to switch between them.

• 🔄 Swipe with two fingers on the lock screen (on some models).
• 🔑 Enter your password (if the space is protected).
• 📲 Use the notification bar: swipe down and click on the icon Second Space.

Check the MIUI version (should be 8.0 or later)

Free up at least 2 GB of memory

Remember the password from the main space

Shut down. VPN (may interfere with synchronization)-->

Setup the Second Space: Personalization and Security

So, creating a second space is half the job, and now you have to customize it to your own needs.

1. Separate wallpaper and themes. Each space can have a unique appearance. To change the wallpaper:

1. Move to second space.
2. Click the empty space on the main screen → Wallpaper.
3. Select an image (you can use different wallpaper for each space).

2. Application installation: Applications installed in the main space are not automatically duplicated to add them to the second space:

• 📥 Go to Play Market in the second space and install the apps you want again.
• 🔄 Some system applications (e.g. Camera or Gallery) are automatically duplicated, but their data (photos, videos) remain separated.

3. Security settings. To protect the second space:

• 🔐 Set a separate password: Settings → Screen locking → Password of second space.
• 👆 Add a fingerprint (if supported): Settings → Fingerprints.
• 📵 Hide notifications: Settings → Notifications → Hide contents for the second space.

💡

If you use a second workspace, set up a separate Google account in it, allowing you to separate your email, calendar and Google Drive documents without the risk of confusing personal and work files.

Synchronization of data between two spaces

One of the key benefits of the second space is that it isolates the data, but sometimes you need to share files between them.

1. Through the file system manager:

1. Open Files (app) MI File Manager).
2. Go to the Second Space section (will appear after creation).
3. Select files and click Copy or Move.

2. Through cloud services:

• ☁️ Upload a file to Google Drive or Mi Cloud from one space.
• 📥 Download it in the second space (you will need authorization in the same account).

3. Through third-party applications:

• 📎 Use Telegram (send the file to yourself in Save Messages").
• 📧 Send the file to your email and open it in the second space.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp or Viber) do not support simultaneous operation in two spaces with the same phone number. SIM-card.

Problems and Errors When Using Two Desktops

Although convenient, the second space function sometimes works in an unstable way.

If the second space starts to slow down, try:

1. Reboot your smartphone (hold the power button → Reboot).
2. Clear the cache: Settings → Apps → App management → Clear the cache.
3. Reset the second space (Warning – data will be deleted!): Settings → Second space → Reset.

💡

If the second space is gone after the MIUI update, check the settings in Settings → Special Features. Sometimes the function is turned off automatically and requires re-enablement.

Alternatives to the second space on Xiaomi

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t support second space or you need advanced features, consider alternatives:

Parallel Space (and analogues) Cloning apps allow you to run two copies of the same application (for example, two WhatsApp on the same phone).

• ⚠️ Risk of blocking accounts (especially in messengers).
• 🐢 Slowing down the smartphone.
• 🔓 Potential security vulnerabilities.

2 Guest mode. MIUI has a guest profile feature (Settings → System → Multiple Users) that is less flexible than the second space, but is suitable for temporary sharing of access.

3. Shelter (for advanced users) is an open source application that creates an isolated user profile based on Android Work Profile.

• 🔒 Complete data isolation (like in corporate phones).
• 📱 No need for root rights.
• 🔄 Support for most applications.

The downside is the difficulty of setting up for beginners.

4. Two. SIM-map + If you only have to separate messengers and email, you'll have to:

1. Insert two SIM-map.
2. Create a second Google account.
3. In the application settings, choose which SIM and account to use.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Two Desktops on Xiaomi