Using the Second Space feature on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, such as the popular Redmi Note 9 Pro, was originally conceived as a convenient way to separate personal and work information. Users often create an additional profile for games, children or sensitive applications, not wanting to have a second phone. However, over time, this feature can become a burden, consuming precious gigabytes of internal memory and significantly reducing the autonomy of the device.
Many owners are faced with a situation where standard methods of deletion do not work, or the system offers only a reset, but not a complete deletion of the profile. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of deactivation of this feature, from standard settings to radical methods that are guaranteed to clean the system of unnecessary data.
You'll learn how to properly prepare your device for the procedure so you don't lose important contacts and files, and why sometimes you can't delete it without completely resetting your settings. Removing the second space through the standard settings menu doesn't automatically delete the data inside it without confirmation, which often causes memory overflows. Let's figure out how to get your smartphone back to its original speed.
Preparation of the device before deleting the profile
Before you start any action with system profiles, it is critical to keep your data safe. The process of deactivating Second Space on MIUI often involves completely erasing all files, photos and applications inside that isolated environment. If you simply delete the profile without checking its contents, it will be impossible to restore information.
It is recommended to transfer all necessary documents, photos and videos from the second profile to the main or cloud storage in advance, you can use built-in Mi Cloud tools or third-party file managers with access to both spaces. Ignoring this stage can lead to irretrievable loss of work correspondence or important scans of documents.
⚠️ Warning: The process of removing the second space is irreversible. Make sure you copy all the files you need, as once the operation is confirmed, the system will destroy all the additional profile data without the possibility of recovery.
It is also worth checking the battery charge of your Redmi Note. 9 Pro. Although the operation does not require much power, a sudden shutdown of the device at the time of restructuring system files can lead to software errors. 40-50% before manipulation.
Standard method of removal through MIUI settings
The most secure and recommended method of deactivation of the additional profile is performed through the operating system settings menu, which ensures that all system links are deleted correctly and free up occupied space. First, unlock your smartphone and go to the main application menu.
Find and open the Settings app. In the settings list, you need to find the section that is in different versions of the firmware. MIUI It can be called "Second Space," "Special Features," or it can be classified as a separate "System Applications" category, usually high on the list of major settings.
Once you log into the profile management menu, the system will offer you several options, you will need to select the option of deletion, the interface may suggest switching to the second profile to clean up the data or perform deletion directly from the current one, follow the prompts on the screen, confirming your actions.
- 📱 Open Settings and find the Second Space.
- 🗑️ Click on the control button (often three dots or a gear) and select Remove the second space.
- ✅ Confirm the operation by entering the unlock password or pattern lock.
Importantly, some versions of the MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 shell installed on the Redmi Note 9 Pro may have slightly different interfaces. If you don't see the delete button right away, try switching to the second profile through the top notification curtain and then going back to the main profile settings to complete the procedure.
What to do if the removal button is inactive?
If the delete button is gray or inactive, it may mean that the second space has processes running or applications open. Switch to the second profile, close all working programs and try again. Also check if the second space has system applications that require special access rights installed.> Using the switch in the notification curtain An alternative and faster way to manage profiles is available through the notification panel. This method is convenient for quick switching, but also contains the functions of managing the space itself. On the main profile desktop, lower the curtain down to open the quick settings panel. Among the icons, you should find additional images on the first page, if you have to open the right page, or the image on the first one. Clicking on this switch allows you to instantly change the active profile, but to remove you need to pinch this icon or press it for a long time. Long-press often opens the control menu where you can find a link to the full settings of the function. There is also an option to turn off or remove. This method is especially useful if the settings menu is not working correctly or hangs when you try to enter the deep layers of the system. Action Short press Long-press Single tap Switch between profiles Opening the settings Panel Quick settings. This is also available. This method is used quickly to check the access to the index, the second tool is available now. To completely remove it, you still have to go to the deep settings menu, but this widget serves as a convenient indicator of the state of the system. In situations where standard removal methods do not work, the system gives errors or the removal button is missing, the only reliable option remains - a complete reset of the device to factory settings. This method is guaranteed to remove the Second Space along with all its contents, as it erases the entire user data section. → The phone. → Settings reset. You can select Erase all data here, and the system will alert you that all files, including photos, contacts and apps from both profiles, will be destroyed. ⚠️ Warning: Hard Reset removes all data from your phone. Make sure to back up important information to your computer or the cloud before you start the procedure. Once reset, the phone will look like new, just out of the box. Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. Once completed, you will have to reset your original Android setting, enter a Google account, and restore data from the backup.This is the only way to completely dispose of the residual files if the second profile was corrupted. 💡Expert advice: Before a full reset, use the Local Backup feature in the Advanced Settings menu to save folder structure and lists of installed applications. Users often notice that even after successfully removing the second space, the amount of free memory does not increase as much as expected. This is due to the peculiarities of the Android file system and the mechanism of MIUI. Residual files, cache and logs can take up space for a while. To solve this problem, it is recommended to use the built-in Security application and start the Cleanup function. The system will analyze the storage and suggest removing temporary files, remnants of remote applications and unused data packets. Often this allows you to free up a few more gigabytes. In addition, it is worth checking the MIUI folder in the root directory sometimes there are hidden data from the second folder. They can be manually removed through the file manager, but this should be done carefully, removing only those directories that clearly relate to the remote space. 🧹 Launch the Security app and press Cleanup. 📂 Check the folder. Android/data Remains of applications from the second profile. 🔄 Reboot the device so that the system can recalculate the file index. If after all the manipulations, the memory is busy, maybe the problem lies in the media cache. Gallery and music players often store thumbnails and previews of files that were in the second space. Clearing the cache of these applications through the Settings menu → The impact of the second profile on autonomy The presence of an active second space significantly affects the life of the Redmi Note. 9 Pro from a single charge. The system has to keep two sets of system services running, which leads to increased battery consumption and processor heating. Even if you don't use the second profile right now, background processes like email synchronization, widget updates or Push notifications continue to work. This puts a constant strain on RAM and CPU, which is especially noticeable on models of the past. Removal of an excess profile often becomes the "secret ingredient" to extend the life of the smartphone. After cleaning, users note smoother interface performance and lower frequency of slowdowns. For owners of the Redmi Note 9, with its new pro, this may not be a decisive factor. 💡Removing unused second space is the most effective software way to extend the battery life of an old smartphone without replacing the battery, so if you don’t use the space sharing feature daily, it’s wise to remove it. Not only will this free up space, but it will also bring the device back to its former agility, eliminating the need for the processor to serve unnecessary background tasks. Can you restore the remote second space? No, you can't restore the remote second space with the data. Delete means completely erasing the data partition. If you need this feature again, you'll have to create a new profile from scratch, installing apps and configuring them again. Will your Google account be deleted when you delete the second space? When you delete the profile through the settings, only the profile and data inside it are deleted. Your primary Google account in the first space will remain intact. However, when you completely reset (Hard Reset), all accounts are deleted, and after you turn on the phone you will need to enter the password from the main Google account to unlock the device (FRP protection). Why is the second space deletion button inactive (gray)? This can happen for several reasons: in the second space, system processes are started, Do not disturb mode for this profile is set parental control restrictions. Try to switch to the second profile, close all applications and exit it, then try to delete. Does the second space take up if it is empty? even the second space under the second disk space is empty space, even the disk space is under the disk space of the system space? In addition, it continues to consume RAM to maintain background services, which can slow down the main interface.