Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often use the “Second Space” feature to separate work and personal data, however, sometimes there is a need to abandon this separation: a return to the main profile may be required when selling a device, transferring a gadget to another user or simply because the dual system is no longer convenient.
It is important to understand that the transition between spaces is not just a tab switch, but a change in the context of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. All applications, photos and files created in the second profile are by default isolated and not visible in the first. So before you decisively remove the additional space, you need to make sure that important data is safe, since when uninstalled, it will be irretrievably lost.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the standard methods of removing Second Space, consider the features of working with forgotten passwords and explain why standard resetting does not always help solve the problem of splitting profiles.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Rejected?
Second Space creates a virtually independent operating environment on your device with its own suite of apps, Google and Mi Account accounts, and unique security settings. It’s like having two different phones in the same enclosure. Users often activate this option to create a “digital detox,” hide personal photos, or separate work tasks, but over time managing two sets of apps becomes onerous.
The main reason users are looking for a way to get back to the first space is the difficulty of managing notifications and batteries. The dual system consumes more resources, and constantly switching between profiles through the sidebar or settings can be annoying. In addition, some banking applications or enterprise services may not work properly in an isolated Second Space environment, requiring root rights or specific permissions that are difficult to configure.
⚠️ Note: Deleting the Second Space will completely erase all the data inside it. If you haven’t backed up photos or contacts, it won’t be possible to restore them after deleting your profile, even through special utilities.
Also, the refusal to separate profiles is often associated with the need to sell the device. Buyers tend to prefer a clean system without unnecessary “layers” and settings of the previous owner.
📊 Why did you use the second space?
For the separation of work and rest
To hide personal photos
For testing applications
Never used it.
Staff method of removal through system settings
The safest and most correct way to return to the main profile is to use the built-in MIUI tools. This method ensures that the system files are not damaged and the transition is correct. First, you need to log in to the Second Space you plan to delete, since its life cycle is managed from the inside.
Go to the settings menu of your smartphone. Find the Second Space section. At the top of the screen, there's usually a gear icon or Control that gives you access to the current optional profile, and that's where the key option for uninstallation is.
- 📱 Open Settings and select Second Space.
- 🔍 Click on the settings icon (cog) in the upper right corner of the screen.
- 🗑️ Select the option to Remove the second space at the bottom of the list.
- ✅ Confirm the action by entering the unlock password or the main profile pattern lock if the system requests verification.
Once confirmed, the system will begin the process of cleaning the data, which can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of information accumulated, during which time do not interrupt the process and do not try to turn off the phone, as this can lead to software errors of the file system.
What to do if you forget the password from the second space
The situation where a user cannot log out of the Second Space due to a forgotten password is one of the most difficult.Standard methods of resetting through Forgot Password often require access to a linked Mi Account or phone number that may have been changed or lost.If you are locked inside an additional profile, direct deletion through settings will become unavailable.
In this case, the only standard solution is to completely reset the device to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which will remove all data from the phone, including both the First and Second profiles, returning the smartphone to the state of “out of the box”, and it is important to understand that after that you will have to reconfigure the device and restore data from the cloud if it was made in advance.
Reset algorithm via Recovery
Turn off the phone completely. Press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold until the Mi logo appears. In the Recovery menu (manage volume buttons, select power button) select Wipe Data -> Wipe All Data -> Confirm. Once you're done, select Reboot. There's a myth that you can bypass a password through ADB (Android Debug Bridge, but on modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 12-14 This is not possible without pre-installed debugging. USB, And that's the default thing in Space Two, so don't waste your time looking for the magic codes on the Internet, because they just don't exist for the current versions of security. ⚠️ Warning: After resetting via Recovery (Hard Reset), the phone may have protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: You will need to enter the username and password from the Google account that was synced with the phone before blocking. Mi Account issues and device locking When returning to the first space or deleting the second profile, questions often arise related to the Mi Account binding. Xiaomi's security system tightly links profiles to the owner's account. If you are trying to delete Second Space, the system may require a password from the account it was registered to, even if you are in the main profile. If the phone was bought with hands and it has left “tails” from someone else’s account in Second Space, it will not be possible to legally delete it without the password of the previous owner. Any instructions to "hack" or circumvent this protection are illegal and often result in the device being completely inoperable (turning into a "brick: 🔐 Remember or restore access to Mi Account through the official website. 📱 Make sure that in the main space you are authorized under the same akka.unt. 🌐 Check the status of the device in the “Find the device” section of the Mi Cloud website. If you forget the password from the Mi Account, use the recovery procedure via email or the phone number specified during registration. Without this step, you can’t go back to the clean first space, because server verification blocks the removal of protected profiles. If you remember passwords, if you have access to your main profile, and if data is safe, here's a table that will help you determine the best way to solve the problem. Data Security Method Difficulty Through Settings (Standard) 1st Space Data saved Yes (from 1st Space) Low Hard Reset (Recovery) Complete Deletion of Everything No (but Google Account required) Average User Change Data saved Yes (pattern lock/Fointprint) Low As seen from the table, if your goal is to just switch to show someone a photo in the main profile, it is enough to use the Switch function in the settings or through the notification curtain, without removing the Second Space at all. Deletion is only required to completely eliminate the profile. Use of the Hard Data is only justified in the case of the Reset, the new access to the system, which the new one is completely justified by the Reset. After you successfully returned to the first space, you may find that some applications are not working correctly or there are not enough certain files that were previously synced only in the second profile. First of all, check Google Photos and Mi Cloud. If sync was enabled, your photos could automatically upload to the cloud. To restore contacts and calendar, you just add the same Google account in the first space settings and enable sync. Apps that were installed only in the second profile will have to be downloaded again from Google Play or GetApps. Note that progress in them is only saved in Google Play Games or Facebook Play Games. It is recommended to perform the following actions immediately after the return: 🔄 Check system updates in the About Phone section. 🛡️ Scan the device for viruses with built-in antivirus Security. 💾 Create a fresh backup of the now unified space. 💡The main conclusion: The most reliable way to return to the first space is to permanently delete through settings. Hard Reset only if access to the system is completely lost. Can you restore the remote Second space? No, once the Second Space is confirmed, the data is permanently erased, no user-level data recovery software can return the deleted profile, as the encryption keys are also destroyed? No, using and removing regular MIUI features like Second Space is not a breach of warranty obligations. It's a regular function of the operating system. Why does the phone run slow after the second space is removed? This may be due to background optimization processes after removing a lot of data. It's recommended to reboot the device and give it 10-15 minutes at rest to complete system tasks. Should Second Space be deleted before flashing? When completely flashing (Clean Install), all data is deleted automatically. However, if you do the upgrade "over" (without of data loss), it's best to delete the Second Space in advance to avoid conflicts of system file versions.