Xiaomi smartphone owners often use the “Second Space” feature to separate personal and work information, but over time, it becomes necessary to combine data back, which is analogous to cloning the system, creates an isolated environment that works like a separate phone inside your device, but the process of exiting it can be difficult for users who are not familiar with the nuances of the MIUI or HyperOS shell.
There are two main scenarios where intervention is required: the planned removal of an unnecessary profile or the situation where you forgot the password from the login. It is important to understand that the complete removal of the second space will lead to the irretrievable loss of all the data stored inside it, including photos, contacts and installed applications. If your goal is simply to switch between profiles, the procedure will be safe and fast.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithms for both cases, look at superuser rights and answer frequently asked questions. Xiaomi has several layers of protection, so some steps may require confirmation through a Mi Account. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid locking the device or losing important information.
Deletion through system settings
The easiest and safest way to exit the second space is to use the built-in functionality of the main profile. To do this, you need to have access to the main settings menu, where the switch between spaces is hidden. Go to Settings and find the "Second Space" item or search by settings by typing in the corresponding query.
Once you log into the profile management menu, the system will prompt you to switch to the main profile if you are in a secondary one. Data deletion occurs only after confirming the action and entering the password of unlocking the screen or the pattern lock, a protective mechanism that prevents inadvertent cleaning of confidential information by attackers or children.
In some versions of firmware, the process may look a little different, requiring you to switch to advanced settings. If the standard path doesn't work, try finding the "Delete Second Space" item at the bottom of the profile switching screen.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
⚠️ Warning: Before starting the deletion procedure, be sure to back up important files. MIUI do not allow the second space to be merged into the first automatically, all data will be destroyed.
What to do if you forget your password or pattern lock
The situation where the user forgets the password from the second space is one of the most common. Unfortunately, resetting the password through standard Google account recovery in this case is often impossible due to the isolation of the environment. The only working method is the complete removal of the secondary profile along with all the data.
To initiate the deletion process without knowing the password, you will need to enter the wrong access code several times in a row. After 5-10 unsuccessful attempts, the system blocks the input for a certain time, but may offer the option “Forgot the password?” or “Delete the space.” If such a button does not appear, try to log into the main profile settings and forcefully delete the secondary from there.
In cases where access to the main profile is also limited or the system requires a password from a second space to delete it, a more radical approach may be needed. Xiaomi's technical support in such cases recommends a complete reset of the device to factory settings, which will delete all data from the phone.
Can I recover my password?
Using ADB for Advanced Users
For users with technical knowledge, there is a method to remove the second space through the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which allows you to bypass some graphical interface limitations, but requires a connection to the computer and install drivers. You will need a Platform-tools package and included debugging over USB in the menu for developers.
Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute a command to get a list of installed packages. The second space is often hidden as a system component, but its data can be forcibly cleared. Use the command adb shell pm clear com.android.second.space (the name of the package can vary9 depending on the version of MIUI).
adb shell pm list packages | grep second
adb shell pm clear com.miui.secondspaceAfter executing the cache and data clearing command of the system application responsible for splitting, the phone can restart or suggest reconfiguring profiles, a method considered most effective for cases where the system interface is getting stuck or not working properly.
| Method | Difficulty | Risk of data loss | A PC is needed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through settings | Low. | Only 2nd space. | No. |
| Password reset | Medium | Complete removal of 2nd | No. |
| ADB team | Tall. | Depends on the team. | Yes. |
| Hard Reset | Medium | The phone. | No. |
Alternatives: Guest mode and app cloning
If your goal is simply to hide some apps from prying eyes, consider alternative solutions that are easier to manage.Guest mode allows you to temporarily provide the phone to another person without access to your personal data, but it does not create a separate file system.
To separate your work and personal accounts on social networks or messengers, you should use the app cloning feature, which is available from the Settings menu → Apps → app cloning, which creates a label for a second copy of the program that works independently of the main one, but does not require switching between spaces.
Another option is Hiding Apps, which removes the icons of selected programs from the menu and search. To get into hidden applications, you need to enter a special gesture or code in the dialer. This is less reliable than the second space, but much more convenient for everyday use.
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Use the Hide Apps feature to quickly access private photos or files without creating a separate system profile.
Transfer data before deleting profile
Since there is no automatic transfer of data from the second space to the first, this operation will have to be performed manually. Before deleting the profile, open the file manager in the second space and copy important documents, photos and videos to an external drive or to the cloud storage.
For contacts and calendar, make sure that sync with your Google account or Mi Account is enabled. Once you delete the second space and log in to your main profile, the data will pull up from the cloud automatically. Backup is a critical step, ignoring which will lead to loss of information.
If you have the option, use the “Mi Drop” feature to quickly transfer large amounts of data between spaces, if the system allows you to switch between them without deleting. Otherwise, downloading to Google Drive or Yandex.Disk will be the most reliable option.
⚠️ Note: Bank and government applications may require re-authorization and biometrics setup after data transfer or space change.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often experience a situation where the delete button is inactive or the process freezes during the password check phase. In such cases, try restarting the device in Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button, and then hold your finger on the "Switch off" item on the screen for a long time.
Sometimes the problem is that the device has a crowded memory, so if the space is less than 1 GB, the system can block operations to change the structure of the profiles, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files to free up resources for the system processes.
If nothing works, and the system cycles for a password you don't remember, it's just a hard reset. Press the volume and power buttons to log into Recovery Mode and select Wipe Data. Remember, this will remove everything from your phone.
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If the system blocks deletion due to an error, try to turn off the internet first to prevent license checks or synchronization that could cause crashes.