Xiaomi Redmi mobile devices have long since ceased to be just phone calls, becoming powerful multimedia centers where a huge part of our digital life is stored. One gadget often intersects work documents, personal photos, banking applications and entertainment content, which creates the need for competent separation of information flows. Second Space is the perfect solution for those who want to separate work from leisure or simply hide certain data from prying eyes without buying a second smartphone.
This technology creates a complete, isolated environment on your device that runs parallel to the main profile, has its own settings, wallpaper, Google accounts and installed applications. Activating this mode does not require root rights or complex reprogramming, since it is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS at the kernel level of the system, the user gets virtually two independent smartphones in the same case, switching between them in seconds using a password or fingerprint.
In this article, we will discuss the configuration process in detail, look at the nuances of working with files between spaces and answer frequent questions that arise from owners of Redmi Note and other models. Understanding the principles of isolated profiles will allow you not only to increase the level of privacy, but also to optimize the use of CPU resources, unloading the main interface from the background processes of unnecessary programs.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
The Second Space concept is based on the principle of virtualizing user data, allowing you to create a clone of the operating system inside the main interface. When you switch to this mode, the smartphone looks like you just turned it on and configured it from scratch: there are no old photos, contacts or browser history from the main profile, it is the perfect tool for parents who want to control what their children see, or for business people who share corporate and personal correspondence.
One key feature is the independence of the installed apps: You can have two copies of WhatsApp, Telegram or Instagram with different phone numbers without using third-party clones or "double apps." Moreover, notifications from Second Space will not pop up while you are in the main profile, which helps to keep your focus and not be distracted by work chats on the weekend.
From a security perspective, the data in the second profile is encrypted separately, and even if someone accesses your unlocked phone, they can't navigate to a hidden partition without knowing a special password or a biometric key, and the system hides the existence of the second profile, making it completely invisible to the average user who doesn't know the secret unlock code.
- 🔒 Complete isolation of files, photos and contacts from the main profile.
- 📱 The ability to run two copies of the same application with different accounts.
- 🎨 Independent configuration of registration, calls and system preferences.
- 👁️ Hiding the presence of the second profile from prying eyes.
Compatibility check and system preparation
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your Xiaomi Redmi model supports this feature, as some global firmware or stripped-down versions of the shell may not have it. This option is usually available on all devices running MIUI versions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS, but in the budget Redmi A or Go Edition series, the functionality may be limited. You can check the presence of the feature through a search in the settings by entering the “Second Space” query.
It is important to understand that creating a new isolated profile requires a certain amount of free memory. The system will reserve space for system files, cache and future application installations, so it is recommended to have at least 2-3 GB of free space for comfortable operation. If the memory is crowded, the creation process can end in error or work extremely unstable, causing interface lags.
It is also worth taking care of backing up important data in advance, although the process of creating a second space does not usually affect the main profile. However, any manipulation of system partitions carries minimal, but existing risk, so saving a backup of contacts and photos in the Mi Cloud or Google Photos cloud will be a reasonable precaution.
⚠️ Note: On devices with modified firmware or unlocked bootloader, the Second Space function may not work properly or may be completely unavailable due to security concerns.
Step-by-step instructions for activating the function
The process of enabling the second profile on Redmi smartphones is as simple as possible and takes only a couple of minutes. To start, open the standard Settings app and scroll down to the second space item (often under Advanced Settings or Special Features depending on the shell version). Click on this item and you will see a welcome screen with a description of the features where you need to agree to the terms of use.
The system will tell you to choose how to switch between profiles, you can use a separate fingerprint to enter a second space, or you can come up with a special pattern lock/pin code. For example, unlocking the main finger opens a personal profile, and the thumb of the left hand opens a working one, which is the most convenient and quickest method for everyday use.
Once you have chosen the authorization method, you will start creating a virtual environment, and you will see a progress indicator on the screen, and in 10-20 seconds the system will prompt you to set up a new space as a new phone: select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and log into your Google account, at which point you can immediately set up the necessary privacy settings.
☑️ Preparation for profiling
It is important to note that when you first start up, the system may request permission to access certain core profile resources for ease of data transfer, but you have every right to reject these requests for maximum isolation.
Access settings and switching methods
Xiaomi’s flexibility allows you to configure multiple hidden profile access scenarios, making it as convenient as possible to use the feature in different life situations. The main method is using different biometrics: you can assign different fingerprints to different spaces. This means that by putting a specific finger on the scanner (or area on the screen), you instantly find yourself in the desired profile without even seeing the lock screen of another profile.
If you don't have biometrics or a sensor, you can use short codes or graphic keys, and the logic is simple: one password opens the primary profile, another password opens the secondary one, and that's convenient because the phone is always in lock-out mode, and you don't have to go into the settings to switch every time.
For quick manual switching without locking the screen, a special shortcut appears in the notification curtain or settings, which allows you to go to another profile with one touch if the device is already unlocked, and in the settings you can also activate a floating button that always hangs on the screen, providing instant access to the change of mode.
| Access method | Description | Convenience | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint. | Different fingers for different profiles | High. | Tall. |
| Password./PIN-code | Different entry codes | Average. | Tall. |
| Label in the curtain | Switching from an open system | High. | Low (unlocking required) |
| Floating button | The button on the screen | High. | Low (unlocking required) |
Data portability and application installation
Once you create an isolated environment, you have to fill it with content, and it provides a convenient tool to move data from your main profile, so you can choose the photos, videos, music and documents you want to copy, and the system will duplicate them in the second space, and it's important to understand that these are the copies that take up extra space on the drive, not the movement of files.
The situation is more interesting with apps, and when you go to the Second Space, you'll see a blank list of programs. To install the right application, you can use the built-in import tool that will show you a list of programs installed in the main profile and ask you to install them. Alternatively, you can just go to Google Play Market or GetApps inside the second profile and download everything again, which is often cleaner and more correct in terms of separation logic.
You can use the "Move Data" feature in the Second Space settings to share files in real time, which allows you to transfer photos or documents back and forth without making extra copies if necessary. However, remember that messengers and social networks require separate authorization, since they do not "see" each other's sessions between profiles.
⚠️ Note: When you delete an application in the second space, the copy of the main profile remains intact.
Memory management and profile removal
Using two full profiles inevitably leads to faster consumption of device resources. Each service running in the second space consumes RAM, which can affect the performance of budget models of Redmi. If you notice that the phone has started to work slower, it makes sense to close the background applications in both profiles or periodically restart the device to clean the cache.
If the second profile is no longer needed, it can be easily removed by returning all occupied space, and you need to go to the Second Space settings (located in the main profile) and select “Delete the second space” and the system will warn that all data, photos and applications inside the hidden profile will be irrevocably destroyed.
The deletion process takes a few seconds, after which the device will return to the state of one main profile. It is important to make sure that you have saved all important files from the hidden profile before deleting, since it will be impossible to restore them with standard means after deletion, this is the final step that completely clears the traces of use of the function.
- 🗑️ Removal frees up space on the internal drive.
- 🔄 Resets system settings to the state of one user.
- 🚫 Does not affect the main profile data.
- ⏱️ The removal process takes less than a minute.