Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to use two accounts in the same messenger. Whether it is splitting work and personal chats or managing multiple game profiles, the regular functionality of the MIUI and HyperOS system offers an elegant solution to this problem. Instead of installing third-party programs that can slow down the device, you better use built-in optimization mechanisms.
Creating a clone of an application is a duplication process in which the copy works independently of the original, has its own settings and binding to the account. Android system based on shells from the Chinese manufacturer allows you to do this natively, which guarantees stability of work and the absence of unnecessary advertising banners. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail.
We will look at the standard method through the settings menu that is suitable for most popular social networks, as well as touching on more complex cases that require the use of debugging over USB. Understanding these processes will allow you to maximize the capabilities of your gadget without risking data security.
Cloning through system settings
The easiest and safest way to run the second app is built directly into the MIUI or HyperOS shell, a feature called App Cloning, and is available for most popular instant messengers and social networks. To activate, you need to go to Settings → Apps → App Cloning.
And what you'll see in the list that you'll see is all the programs that the system supports for duplication, which is usually WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Facebook, and popular Chinese instant messengers, and if the app you want isn't on the list, you can't actually clone it, and you'll have to find workarounds.
When you turn on the tumbler next to the program name, you'll see a copy of the program on your desktop with a two-circle icon, and it'll be completely autonomous, so you can delete the original and the clone will continue to work, or vice versa.
☑️ Pre-cloning testing
It’s worth noting that some system limitations can prevent clones from running on very old versions of Android. If the feature is blocked, it’s possible your device lacks RAM to keep two instances of a heavy app running at the same time.
Advanced cloning through ADB
If the desired application is not in the list of supported for cloning, you can use the toolkit of the developer Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to force a clone for almost any installed package, even if the developer of the shell has not added it to the white list.
Then, in the developer menu, activate the “Debug by USB” option. You will need to connect the smartphone to your computer and install the drivers, as well as the ADB utility itself. Once connected, execute a command to view a list of all installed packages to find the exact name of the desired application.
adb shell pm list packagesOnce you find an identifier (e.g. com.example.app), use the command to create a clone. The system will create a second user profile for that particular application. However, this method requires caution: not all applications work correctly in forced cloning mode, there may be failures with notifications or authorization.
Risks of using ADB
Managing clones created through ADB may require a third-party file manager with access to system folders or reuse of the command line, making the method less convenient for everyday use, but it is indispensable in complex cases.
Use of the Second Space
Second Space is a unique feature of MIUI that creates a completely isolated environment inside a single smartphone, in fact, you have two phones in one, and you switch between the main and second spaces through a password, fingerprint, or a special shortcut.
Unlike simple app cloning, Second Space has its own gallery, contacts, settings and most importantly, its own installed apps.You can install WhatsApp in a second space and it will assume it is standing on a completely different device.
- 🔒 Complete data isolation: applications in the second space do not see the files of the first.
- 📱 Separate settings: you can set different wallpaper, volume and screen parameters.
- 👤 Google accounts: perfect for separating work and personal life.
To activate, go to Settings → Second Space and follow the instructions of the setup wizard. This method consumes more battery and RAM resources, since the system actually serves two user profiles at the same time.
Comparison of Copy Creation Methods
The choice of method depends on your goals and the model of the smartphone: regular cloning is suitable for fast work with instant messengers, the second space is for complete isolation, and ADB is for advanced users.
| Method | Difficulty | Data isolation | Support for all applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff cloning | Low. | Partial | Only from the list. |
| Second space | Medium | Complete. | Yes. |
| ADB team | Tall. | Depends on the team. | Yes (forced) |
| Third-party software | Low. | Low. | Yes. |
If you just need to have two WhatsApps, you don’t have to make life difficult by creating second spaces, but if you’re testing apps or want to hide certain data from the main user, Second Space is the best choice.
Problems with notifications and their resolution
One of the frequent problems with using clones is the unstable operation of notifications.The cloned application may not receive messages in the background due to the aggressive energy savings built into MIUI. The system seeks to save battery power by completing background processes.
To fix this, you need to configure autorun and access rights for each clone separately. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the clone (it is usually marked with an icon) and go to the battery settings.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the app clone is in the “No Limits” Battery Mode. In standard mode, the system can block background activity and you will miss an important message.
Also check permissions. The clone should have access to the network, microphone and storage if necessary for its operation. Sometimes it helps to clear the cache of the cloned application through the settings menu.
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Keep the original: Do not delete the original app immediately after the clone is created.Make sure the clone is stable, logged in and receives messages before removing the original.
Data security in cloning
Using clones means storing data from two or more accounts on a single device, which increases the risk of losing a phone or getting hacked, and data encryption in MIUI is high, but human error remains a weak link.
Set separate passwords or use biometrics to access important apps inside the clone.Many messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, allow you to set an additional password in their internal privacy settings.
- 🛡️ Use different passwords for your primary and cloned accounts.
- 🔐 Enable two-factor authorization wherever possible.
- 🚫 Do not install clones of dubious applications from unknown sources.
If you transfer the phone to another person, make sure that cloned apps don't fall into the wrong hands.In guest mode or when you lock the screen, the contents of notifications can be seen unless privacy rules are set up.
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The security of cloned apps depends not only on the system, but also on the privacy settings you set within each account.