Xiaomi’s smartphones, particularly the popular Redmi Note 8 Pro, feature a unique MIUI feature that allows you to create a digital copy of the device inside the phone itself. It’s not just an incognito or guest profile mode, but a full-fledged, isolated environment with its apps, photos, contacts and settings. Device owners often look for a way to separate their work and personal lives without buying a second gadget, and it is the Second Space that becomes the ideal solution for such tasks.
Using this option allows you to keep two accounts in the same messenger, hide personal files from prying eyes or even transfer the phone to a child without worrying about your data. The activation process does not require root rights or complex programming, but has its own nuances that are important to consider on the Android shell MIUI. Below we will discuss each step in detail so that you can correctly organize the digital space of your gadget.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
Essentially, this feature creates a virtual machine inside the operating system of your Redmi Note 8 Pro. When you switch to this mode, the phone looks like you just turned it on and reconfigured it: the desktop is empty, the apps are not installed, and the gallery is empty.This provides a high level of privacy, since the data in the two spaces do not intersect or are visible to each other without special switching.
The main purpose of using it is to separate the contexts of smartphone use, for example, you can install corporate messengers and email in the main space, and leave all entertainment apps, games and personal chats in the second, and notifications will come depending on which profile is active at the moment, which helps to keep the focus on work or, conversely, on leisure.
⚠️ Warning: Second space takes up extra memory on the internal drive. If your Redmi Note 8 Pro has a lot of heavy games installed or a lot of video stored, the free space may run out faster than usual.
Another important aspect is security: you can set a separate password or pattern lock to log into the second space, so if someone takes your unlocked phone, they can't accidentally (or deliberately) get into your hidden files by simply switching a profile without knowing the code, which makes it useful to protect personal data from prying eyes.
Preparing the device before creating a profile
Before you start setting up, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro is ready to work with two profiles at once. Although the feature is built into the system, it requires certain resources to work steadily. First of all, check the version of the MIUI operating system, as in very old builds the menu interface may be different or the function is missing.
Free space is critical. Since you create an actual copy of the system libraries and application space, it is recommended to have at least 3-5 GB of free memory. If the storage is crowded, the system may not allow you to create a profile or will work with serious delays, which will ruin the experience.
☑️ Readiness check Redmi Note 8 Pro
You also need to think ahead about what data you want to migrate, and it will suggest you copy some settings and applications from your main profile when you create a new one. If you plan on complete isolation, you can skip this step, but if you want to just clone messengers, automatic porting will save you time manually installing the software.
Step-by-step instructions for activating the function
The process of including the second space in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is as simplified as possible by developers and takes no more than a minute. All the necessary tools are in the standard settings menu, so you do not need to look for them in the hidden engineering menus.
First, open the main settings menu of your device. Scroll down to the section that is usually called About Phone or Special Features, but current versions of MIUI have the item in a separate category. Find the "Second Space" line and click on it. The system will show a welcome screen with a description of the features.
Press the "Enable Second Space" button, and the preparation process will begin, which can take anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on the speed of the drive, during which time it is not recommended to run heavy applications or interrupt the process so as not to damage the system configuration files.
Settings → Second Space → EnableOnce you've finished your preparation, you'll be greeted with a lock screen similar to the main one, and the system will suggest you set up your login method: you can use the same pattern lock as the main profile, but with the addition of additional action, or set a completely new pin code, which is key to ensuring the security of your isolated environment.
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Use different passwords for the main and second spaces, but write them down in a safe place. Forgotten password from the second space is almost impossible to recover without resetting data.
Setup and transfer of data between profiles
When you first log in to a new profile, you'll see a clean desktop, no old photos, contacts, or games you've installed, and to avoid customizing everything from scratch, MIUI offers a convenient data portability mechanism, you can copy apps, contacts, music, and even wallpaper from the main space, which greatly speeds up the adaptation process.
To move applications in the second space settings (swipe right or system settings) there is a "Data Transfer" option. Select a category, such as "Apps", and tick the programs you need in isolation. The system will automatically install copies of them without affecting the main profile data.
| Type of data | Possibility of transfer | Duplication of data | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annexes | Yes. | Complete (single data) | You can have two WhatsApps. |
| Contacts | Yes. | Yes. | Synchronization with Mi Account |
| gallery | Partially. | No (isolated) | Manual export/import required |
| Calls/SMSs | No. | No. | Common use is made of SIM-map |
It's important to understand that data inside apps is not automatically synchronized. WhatsApp in the second space will be kept separate from correspondence in the main. If you want to migrate your message history, you'll need to back up your main profile and restore it to the second, which is standard procedure for Android systems.
Application management and cloning
One of the main reasons for the popularity of the feature on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is the ability to run two instances of one application, which is especially true for messengers like Telegram, Viber and WhatsApp. In the second space, you simply install the application again and log in under a different phone number, getting a full second account.
However, it is worth distinguishing between the “Second Space” and the “Dual Apps” function: cloning creates a label for the second application directly in the main profile, whereas the Second Space is a separate environment, using the Second Space is preferable if you want to completely hide the presence of the second account or if the application does not support official cloning.
⚠️ Note: Some banking applications may not work properly in the second space or require re-binding of the device, due to enhanced security measures by financial institutions that may regard the environment as an emulator.
To manage installed programs, use the standard application manager inside the second profile. Deleting the application here will not affect its version in the main space. This gives flexibility: you can delete the game in the second profile to make room, and it will remain in place in the main profile.
How to hide the switch icon?
Switching between spaces and shortcuts
Navigating between the two worlds on your Redmi Note 8 Pro is done through a special label on your desktop that looks like a human silhouette or key, and clicking on it instantly changes your profile, but if you want to hide the presence of the second space, you can remove the shortcut, leaving only the ability to log in through your password or fingerprint.
There is a convenient way to switch quickly without using on-screen buttons, and you can set the second space to run by long pressing the home button (if you use button navigation) or by gesture, making the transition between work and personal mode almost invisible to others.
When an incoming call or notification is sent, the system shows where it came from, and if the phone is locked, unlocking with a certain finger (if multiple fingerprints are set up) or password will immediately open the desired space, bypassing the main profile lock screen, which ensures high access speed and ease of use.
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The fastest way to switch is to use a designated fingerprint for each of the spaces, and set different fingers for the main and second profiles in the security menu.
Solving and removing profile
Like any complex system function, Second Space can run into bugs. Xiaomi users sometimes report that the profile is not created or freezes during the initialization stage, most often solved by clearing the cache of the system application "Second Space" through the application management menu or rebooting the device.
If you decide you don't need the feature anymore, you can delete it completely. When you delete all the data in the second space will be irrevocably destroyed, so back up important files in advance. From the profile management menu, select "Delete the second space" and confirm the action.
In case you forget the password from the second space, and the deletion function requires you to enter it, the only way out is to completely reset the phone settings (Hard Reset), which will delete all data from the device, returning it to factory state, so be extremely careful when installing access codes.