Smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, becoming a digital repository of our personal and working lives. Owners of the popular Redmi 9C model often face the need to delimit access to applications and files without buying a second gadget. The MIUI Second Space feature allows you to create a full-fledged isolated clone of the system, accessible by a separate password or fingerprint.
The implementation of this feature on budget devices has its own nuances related to the optimization of resources. Virtual environment on Xiaomi Redmi 9C is stable, but requires a competent configuration to ensure smooth operation of the interface. In this article, we will discuss in detail the activation process, profile settings and methods for solving typical errors that occur when creating an isolated environment.
What is the technology of the second space?
Technically, this feature creates a separate user profile on the Android operating system that is completely isolated from the main one. For the system, it looks like launching a new user with its own settings, applications and file system. On Redmi 9C, this allows you to have two instances of the same application, for example, two accounts on WhatsApp or Telegram, working simultaneously without the need to use third-party clones.
The main advantage is a high level of data security, and even if the main profile is unlocked, access to the second space is protected by a separate biometric key or a separate biometric key. PIN-Encryption of data in each profile is carried out independently, which makes it impossible to access hidden files without authorization in the second space.
It is worth noting that creating an additional profile consumes some of the device’s internal memory. Since Redmi 9C often comes with limited storage, you need to evaluate the free space in advance.
- 🔒 Complete isolation of main and guest profile data.
- 📱 The ability to run two copies of the same application at the same time.
- 👤 Different wallpaper, themes and interface settings for each mode.
- 🔋 Independent management of notifications and background processes.
Redmi 9C Preparation for New Profile
Before starting the procedure, it is important to make sure that your device is ready to work with additional profiles. First of all, check the version of the operating system in the Settings → About menu. The feature must be present in the MIUI 12 shell and later, which is preinstalled on most current versions of the Redmi 9C.
☑️ Pre-launch check
The critical point is the availability of free space. For the second space to work comfortably, it is recommended to have at least 2-3 gigabytes of free internal memory. If the storage is crowded, the system may refuse to create a profile or work with serious delays.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to create a second space if the battery charge is below 20%.The inicialization process of the new profile is energy intensive, and a sudden shutdown of the device may damage system files.
You can also decide on the way to unlock, you can use the same fingerprint as the main sign-in, but assign it a "second space transition" action, or set up a separate digital password, and biometric protection greatly speeds up the switch between profiles.
Step-by-step instructions for activating the function
The process of launching virtual space on Xiaomi Redmi 9C is as simple as possible for developers and takes no more than a minute. Open the main settings menu and scroll down to the section "Special features", which is where the profile management tool we need hides.
Inside the menu, find the "Second Space" option and click on the "Enable" button, and the system will prompt you to see a brief description of the features, after which the process of creating the environment will begin, and you will be asked to configure the transition method: through a separate fingerprint or through a special password.
Settings → Special features → Second space → EnableIf you have chosen to log in from a fingerprint, the system will ask you to attach your finger to the scanner, which will now lead directly to the second profile when you lock the screen, and you will need to use the main finger or enter the main unlock password to exit back into the main profile.
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Use different wallpaper for the desktop in each space – this will help you not to visually confuse what profile you are in at the moment.
Set-up of parameters and data transfer
Once you have successfully created a profile, you will find yourself in a clean interface that resembles a smartphone you just bought. The first step is to set up the switch in the notification curtain. To do this, lower the curtain down and find the icon with two rectangles - it allows you to instantly change profiles without entering a password if you are already inside the system.
You can migrate applications through the built-in migration mechanism, go to the settings of the second space (the gear icon at the top of the screen) and select Data Transfer, where you can copy contacts, images, audio files, and even installed applications from the main profile.
| Type of data | Transfer method | Copying time. | Occupied seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | < 1 min | Minimum |
| Photos | Selective | Depends on the volume. | High. |
| Annexes | Cloning | 2-5 minutes | Average. |
| Files. | Manually. | Depends on size. | Depends on the file. |
It's important to understand that when you migrate apps, they're reinstalled in the second space, which means you'll have to log in to social media and messengers again, and cache data and correspondence history aren't automatically transferred for security purposes unless you choose to back up.
Notification and confidentiality management
One of the key features of working with two profiles on Redmi 9C is control over notifications. You can configure the system so that notifications from the second space either appear in the main profile or are hidden completely.
To hide the fact that the second space is being used, you can turn off the display of its icon in the main profile notification curtain, in which case you can only learn about the message that has arrived after switching to a hidden profile, which provides maximum privacy in situations where the phone may fall into the wrong hands.
How to hide the switch icon?
There's also a hidden app feature, which is that even in the second space, you can hide certain programs from the general list, making them available only through a search bar or secret code, which creates an additional layer of protection for sensitive data.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the stability of MIUI, Redmi 9C users may face a number of challenges, most often the lack of a Second Space option on the menu, which may be due to regional firmware (e.g. Global Beta) or the limitations of a particular shell version.
In some cases, the system may give an error when creating a profile, indicating a lack of resources, the solution is to clear the cache and remove unused applications, and also helps to restart the device before you try again to activate the function.
⚠️ Note: If the smartphone is slow after the second space is created, try to limit the background activity of the apps in the second profile.
If you forget the password from the second space, it is impossible to restore access to it without resetting the data for security reasons. The only way out is to completely delete the profile through the main account, which will lead to the loss of all data inside the hidden environment.
- 🔄 Restart the device if the interface is running with delays.
- 🗑️ Remove heavy applications in the second profile to speed up work.
- 📲 Check for system updates in the About Phone menu».
- 🔓 Use the primary password to delete the forgotten profile.
Removal and resetting of the Second Space
If you don't need to use an isolated profile, you can easily delete it, and then go to the second space settings and select "Delete the second space" and the system will warn you that all data, photos and applications will be permanently deleted.
The deletion process takes a few seconds, after which the device will return to the state of one main profile, the freed up space on the Redmi 9C drive will be available for use, it is recommended to check before deleting whether there are any important files in the second profile.
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Deleting the second space is an irreversible operation. All data inside the profile will be destroyed, so back up important files in advance.
There is also the option to simply exit the second space without deleting it, in which case the profile is saved with all the data and settings, but does not consume the CPU resources in the background until the next login, which is convenient for temporary use.