Many Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone users use the “Second Space” feature to separate personal and work data, a technology that resembles creating a virtual cloned device inside a single enclosure that allows two sets of apps, contacts and gallery to be held, but over time, the need for such separation may disappear, and the presence of an extra shell begins to occupy precious internal memory.
The process of removing this feature is not always intuitive, because developers have hidden key settings deep enough in the menu. Wrong actions can lead to the loss of important files stored exclusively in an isolated environment. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of how to safely remove the second space, while retaining the necessary information.
It's worth noting that the layout of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS may vary slightly, and we'll look at the current algorithms that will help you completely clear your system of unnecessary profiles. If you're looking for a way to simply hide data rather than delete it, you might want to consider other encryption methods, but if the solution is final, read on.
Why you should consider removing the second space
The main reason users choose to disable the second space is inefficient use of disk space, the system reserves a significant amount of memory for the second profile, even if it is empty, which can critically affect the performance of the device, especially on models with 64 or 128 GB of internal memory.
In addition, having two active profiles puts a constant strain on RAM. The second space background processes consume CPU resources, which can lead to faster battery discharge and heat up the case. If you don't use data separation daily, it makes sense to free up resources for basic tasks.
Another important aspect is notifications: With an active second space, the system must track events in both profiles, which sometimes leads to synchronization conflicts or miss important messages in messengers. By removing an extra profile, you simplify the structure of Android on your device.
- 📉 Release prior to release 5-10 GB of system memory used for cache and data of the second profile.
- ⚡ Reducing the load on the processor and RAM, which increases the speed of the interface.
- 🔋 Increased battery life by disabling background services of excess profile.
Security is also important, as the second space is protected by a separate password or fingerprint, but the presence of a hidden zone attracts the attention of attackers when physically accessing the device, removing the profile eliminates potential vulnerabilities associated with duplicate system libraries.
Preparing for deletion: backup of data
Before you start removing the second space, it is critical to save all the data that is there. Once you confirm the deletion, all the information — photos, contacts, notes and application files — will be permanently destroyed, and the system will not allow you to restore them using standard methods.
The most reliable way is to manually transfer files to the main space, using the File Manager Explorer built-in, open files in the second space, select the files you want, and copy them to a shared folder or to an SD card if it is installed and available to both profiles.
⚠️ Note: Transferring application data (such as WhatsApp correspondence or game progress) by simply copying files is often impossible due to encryption. Use the built-in backup features of the apps themselves or cloud services for this data.
☑️ Checklist before removal
It is also recommended to back up your contacts. Even if they are synced with your Google or Mi Account, make sure that the sync is successful for contacts in the second space, and you can check this by logging into the web version of your account from your computer.
If you plan to migrate apps, just delete them in the second space and reinstall them in the first space by logging in to your account, which ensures that all services and updates work correctly in the future. APK-Hand-held files unless you are sure of their origin.
Standard method of removal through settings
The official and most secure method of removing the second profile is in system settings, which ensures that all system links to the second profile are correctly deleted and memory is freed. First, unlock your phone and go to the main space.
Open the Settings menu and find About Phone or Special Features, depending on the version of MIUI. In newer versions of the shell, the path most often looks like: Settings → Special Features → Second Space. In some cases, the item may simply be called “Second Space” in the main settings menu.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a switch that activates or deactivates the function. However, to completely remove the function, you'll need to find the Remove Second Space button, which is usually located at the top right corner of the screen or at the bottom of the menu as a red cart icon or text link.
| Action. | Location on the menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Switching | A slider on the Second Space menu | Temporary transition between profiles |
| Removal | The "Delete" button in the control menu | Complete cleaning of the second profile data |
| Password. | Security settings | Protecting access to removal |
The system will request confirmation of the operation, warning you of data loss, you will need to enter the screen unlock password or the pattern lock set for the main space, this is protection against accidental deletion of an important profile.
What to do if there is no removal button?
Remove through Settings Search and Command Prompt
In some versions of MIUI, the menu can be hidden or changed. If the standard path doesn't work, search. At the top of the settings screen, there's a search bar. Type in the "Second Space" or "Second Space" request. The system should display direct access to the desired control menu.
For advanced users familiar with debugging, there is the ability to manage profiles via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), however, this requires connecting to a PC and enabling debugging over USB. This method is recommended only if the GUI of the system is damaged.
The command to reset the second space settings via the adb shell can vary depending on the Android version, but most often the deletion occurs precisely through the data cleaning of the system application com.android.second.space. Be careful: improper use of commands can lead to unstable system operation.
adb shell pm clear com.android.second.spaceUsing the command line requires precision. A syntax error can affect the wrong packet, causing crashes, so if you have access to the GUI, it's best to use the standard settings described in the previous section.
- 🔍 Use search in settings for quick access if menus are hidden.
- 💻 Method ADB Suitable only for experienced users with a connected PC.
- ⚠️ Terminal commands carry the risk of system damage if incorrectly entered.
Access problems and forgotten passwords
A common situation is that the user wants to delete the second space, but does not remember the password or pattern lock set to log in to it. Without proof of identity, the system will not allow deletion, as this is a security feature, in which case standard deletion is impossible.
The only way to get rid of the second space with a forgotten password is to completely reset the device to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which will remove all data from the phone, including the main space, so it is highly undesirable without prior backup of the entire device.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will destroy ALL information on your phone, and use this method only as a last resort if the data in the second space is not important and you need to remove the profile.
The reset process is done via the Recovery menu. To do this, turn off the phone, then press the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power) before the Mi logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
If you remember the password from the main Mi Account account associated with the device, in some cases you can try to restore access through Xiaomi services, but for a local second space, this rarely works. Local data is encrypted with a key associated with the graphical profile key.
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Tip: Always write complex passwords from additional profiles to a secure location, or use password managers that are available in both spaces (such as cloud notes).
What is the difference between MIUI and HyperOS
With the release of Xiaomi’s new HyperOS operating system, the menu structure has changed, profile algorithms have become more stringent in terms of security, and in HyperOS, the uninstallation process may require additional authorization through the Mi Account.
In older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12 or 13), deletion was faster and sometimes did not require re-entering a password if the device was already unlocked.
HyperOS has also changed the logic of working with notifications between spaces, and when you delete a profile in the new system, you may need to manually clean the notification cache so that the tails from remote applications do not hang in the curtain of the main space.
| Function | MIUI 12/13 | HyperOS / MIUI 14+ |
|---|---|---|
| Location of the menu | Settings → Additional | Settings → Special Opportunities |
| Confirmation | Lock screen password | Password + Mi Account (sometimes) |
| Removal rate | Quickly. | With integrity testing. |
Owners of HyperOS devices should be more careful when deleting, as the system can spend longer cleaning file tables. Do not interrupt the process, even if the screen is out - background defragmentation is underway.
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The main point: Regardless of the shell version, the essence of the process is the same - find the profile management menu and confirm the deletion with loss of data, the only difference is in the depth of the menu and the level of security.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
During the deletion process, users may be confronted with a message saying, “Not able to delete the second space,” which is often due to the fact that some process or application is running in the second space, and the system blocks the deletion of the occupied profile to avoid damaging files.
To solve this problem, force all applications to close in the second space before you try to delete. Go to it, open the menu of running tasks and click "Clean all." Then go back to the main profile and try again.
Another common mistake is the lack of free memory to perform operations on the file system. Paradoxically, to delete data sometimes requires a little space for temporary logs. Free up at least 500 MB by deleting unnecessary files in the main profile.
- 🔄 Restart your phone if the deletion process freezes in step 90%.
- 🚫 Turn off the Internet for the time of removal so that background synchronization does not interfere with the process.
- 📁 Check if files from the second space are open in the main profile file manager.
If the bug persists, try updating system components through the Security app or Google Play Services, and sometimes the bug is in legacy system libraries that incorrectly handle the request to delete the profile.