Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, which run MIUI and HyperOS shells, offer users a unique feature that many other devices don’t have: creating a full-fledged second space. This feature allows you to divide your gadget into two independent zones, each with its own settings, applications, gallery and accounts. In fact, you get two phones in the same case, which is ideal for separating work and personal life or for increasing data privacy.
Many users confuse this feature with simple app cloning, but Second Space works at a deeper system level. When you switch between spaces, not only does the set of icons on the screen change, but also file access, browser history, and even widgets, which creates a strong barrier for prying eyes, allowing you to keep important documents or personal photos in an isolated container protected by a separate password or fingerprint.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the activation process, the finer setup and the features of using this feature on current models of Redmi Note. You will learn how to allocate memory resources correctly to make the system work quickly, and what limitations the Android architecture imposes on the operation of isolated environments.
Principle of operation and advantages of system separation
Technically, the second space is the creation of a new user profile in the Android operating system, similar to the one implemented in the desktop versions of Windows or macOS. However, in the implementation of Xiaomi, this process is as simple as possible for the end user. The system creates a virtual partition behind which a separate application database is stored. This means that the messenger installed in the second space will not “know” the existence of the same messenger in the first.
One of the key benefits is that you can use different Google accounts, and if you're logged in to your personal inbox in the main space, you can log in to your corporate account or create a new one to test services, and the synchronization between these worlds is disabled by default, which guarantees that data is safe, and even if you decide to reset one of the spaces, the second one will remain completely intact.
⚠️ Attention: Creating a second user profile increases the load on the device’s RAM. On models with less than 4GB of RAM, this can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications from memory.
And the separation of spaces allows you to use different wallpapers, themes and system fonts. You can set up a strict, minimalist interface for work and a bright, personalized one for relaxation. Switching between them takes literally a second and can be done either through a special application or with a fingerprint, if this feature is supported by your smartphone model.
Preparation of the device before activation
Before you start creating an isolated environment, you need to make sure that your device is ready for this operation. Although the function is built into the system, it requires certain resources for stable operation. First of all, check the free space in the internal storage. The system will require space not only to install the profile itself, but also for the cache of applications that you plan to run there.
It is recommended to have at least 2-3 GB of free memory. If overcrowded, the creation process can be error-prone or extremely slow, and make sure that your version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell is updated to the latest available version, as old builds may have bugs associated with managing user profiles.
☑️ Checking the readiness of the smartphone
Backup is an important step, and while the process of creating a second space is safe for your current data, any system manipulation is minimal. Keep important contacts and photos to the Mi Cloud or your computer, and this is especially true if you plan to move data between spaces in the future, since direct access to the file system of the first space from the second space is closed.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a second profile
The process of activating the second environment on Redmi Note smartphones is standardized, but the path to the menu may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. Most often the desired option is hidden in the additional settings section, you need to open the main settings menu and find the item responsible for special features or advanced system functions.
The next step is to follow the algorithm carefully so you don't miss the important steps of setting up security, and the system will prompt you to create a password or link biometric data for quick access, and don't ignore this step, because it's the one that keeps your second self private.
- Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
- Go to the Additional Features section (in some versions of MIUI, this may be called "Special Features").
- In the list, find and select the second space.
- Press the button Activate the second space or Add.
- The system will offer to configure the switching method: choose the option convenient for you (via the application, password or fingerprint).
- Wait for the initialization process to be completed, after which the new space will open.
Once you've set up, you'll be on a clean desktop, no old apps, no contacts, no photos, no blank sheets that you can fill out as you please, and you'll be able to return to the main space with a custom-built icon or a previously configured quick activation method.
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Use different wallpapers for each space to visually understand what mode you are in right now, which will help to avoid accidentally sending work files to a personal chat.
Setting up security and switching methods
Data security in the second space is a priority. Xiaomi offers some flexible protection and switching techniques. The most convenient way is to use a fingerprint. You can assign different fingers to enter different spaces. For example, the thumb of the right hand opens a personal profile, and the thumb of the left hand opens a working one, which allows you to instantly change the context of your phone use, just by putting your finger on the scanner on a locked screen.
If biometrics don't work for you, you can use a digital password or a pattern lock, and when you enter a password on the lock screen, the system automatically knows which space you want to enter, based on the number combination or shape you type.
| Access method | Convenience | Level of security | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint. | High. | High-pitched | Perfect for daily use |
| pattern lock | Average. | Medium. | For devices without fingerprint scanner |
| Digital password | Low. | High-pitched | For maximum data protection |
| Switching icon | High. | Low. | Only if the device does not leave your hands. |
And you can also hide the fact that it exists in the second space settings, in which case the switching app icon disappears, and you can only get there through the lock screen with a special password or fingerprint, which creates an additional layer of stealth mode for your data.
Installation of applications and data transfer
Once you activate the second space, you'll have to install the software you need, and unfortunately, you don't automatically clone all the apps from the first space, you have to install each program separately, and you can do that through the built-in Google Play store or GetApps, logging in with the right account.
You can use a tool to transfer files like photos, documents or music, and in the second space, you have the option to Move data, and you can select files in the main profile and copy them to the second one, and you can also do the reverse, but you have to consider that when you copy, you create a duplicate file, which takes up extra space on the disk.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the second space, all data, applications and files inside it will be permanently destroyed.
Some system applications, such as a phone book or messages, can run independently in each space, allowing you to have two different SIM cards (if your phone supports eSIM or you use virtual numbers) or simply separate message streams. Contacts are also synchronized separately, eliminating confusion between personal and business numbers.
Why do some banking apps not work in the second space?
Resource management and deletion of profile
Long-term use of the second space requires attention to resource consumption. As mentioned earlier, having a second profile affects the operation of background processes. If you notice that the smartphone has started to run slower or discharge faster, it makes sense to analyze which applications are running in the second space.
If the second profile is no longer necessary, it can be easily deleted, and then you need to go to the settings of the second space (either in it or through the main settings menu if you have access) and select Delete the second space. The system will warn you about the loss of data and ask you to confirm the action, after which all data will be erased, and the space will return to the shared memory pool.
It's important to note that removing the second space doesn't affect the main one, so your personal photos, apps and settings will stay safe, and that makes it safe to experiment, so you can roll back changes at any time without risking the main system.
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The second space is not just a folder with a password, but a full-fledged isolated user profile that requires separate application installation and takes up additional system resources.