Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often use the “Second Space” feature to separate work and personal files. It is a really handy tool to create an isolated environment on one device. However, sometimes there are situations when the user forgets the password, loses access to the main profile or simply decides to abandon this feature to make room.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the existing ways to switch between profiles, as well as methods for completely removing Second Space. You will learn how to restore access to data, what to do with forgotten passwords and how to avoid losing important information in the process. Careful study of the instructions will help you regain full control of your gadget without having to contact a service center.
It is worth noting that the procedure may differ depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. Interfaces change, but the logic of the security system remains the same.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
The second space is a full-fledged virtual copy of your smartphone, embedded right in the operating system, and it's basically like having two different phones in one case, each space has its own desktop, its own apps, its own gallery and its accounts, and the isolation of data here is very high, because files from one profile are not visible in the other without special portability.
It's most commonly used to separate work and personal life, with co-worker messaging and corporate email in one profile, and social media and gaming in another profile, which helps keep focus and keep information flowing, and the second space is often used by parents to restrict children's access to certain apps or hide their personal photos from prying eyes.
⚠️ Note: Deleting the Second Space will result in a complete cleanup of all data stored inside it.Photos, contacts and files not transferred to the main profile will be lost without the possibility of recovery.
Despite the obvious advantages, the feature has a downside: it takes up additional internal memory, as some system resources are duplicated, and users sometimes forget the password or pin code set for login, which creates serious difficulties with accessing the device.
Standard way to switch between profiles
If you have access to the system and you just want to switch from one space to another, you can do it through the standard settings menu, which is suitable for regular situations where you remember passwords and just want to change your active profile, the process takes only a few seconds and requires no special knowledge.
To switch, you need to open the device settings. You should find the option on the menu that is responsible for additional system functions. In different versions of the firmware, it may be called differently, but most often it is in the About Phone section or in the Advanced Settings category.
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Use your fingerprint to switch quickly. Set different fingers to enter Main and Second Spaces in the security menu so you don't enter passwords every time.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
- 🔍 Find the Second Space section (often under the Apps or Special Features submenu»).
- 🔄 Click the Switch button or use the profile switch icon.
- 🔐 Enter a password or use biometrics to log in to the desired profile.
Once you've successfully authorized your smartphone, it's going to change completely, changing the wallpaper, the app set, and the widgets, and you're going to be in a clean environment where you don't have access to the main user's files, and that's the kind of isolated mode that many people are looking for to protect privacy.
How to remove Second Space through Settings
If you have decided to completely abandon the use of an additional profile, it must be deleted. This action is irreversible, so once again reminding you of the importance of backup, the deletion is made exclusively from the Main Space, as it is the "owner" of the system.
First, you need to make sure that you are in the Main Profile. If you are in Second, switch first. Then go to the Space Management menu, where the deletion option will be available, which will start the data cleanup process.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
The removal process looks like this:
- 🗑️ Go to Settings. → Second space.
- ⚙️ Click on the menu (three dots or gear) in the corner of the screen.
- ❌ Select the item Delete Second Space.
- ✅ Confirm the action by entering the screen unlock password.
The system will alert you that all data will be destroyed, and once confirmed, a process will begin that can take anywhere from seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the amount of memory you have, and the phone will return to the state of one primary profile.
Solving Forgotten Password Problems
The most difficult situation is when the user forgets the password, pin or pattern lock of the Second Space, in which case the standard switch becomes impossible, and the device blocks access to the isolated environment. Fortunately, MIUI provides a reset function through the Mi Account account.
If you have a few failed password attempts, you should have "Forgot your password?" or a similar option on your screen, and clicking on it will redirect you to the login page, and you will need to enter the username and password from your Mi Account, which was tied to the device when you created the space.
| Situation | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Remember the Mi Account password | Recovery through the lock menu | Access restored, data saved |
| Mi Account password is forgotten | Reset via i.mi.com | It takes time to wait (72 hours) |
| Account untied | Complete reset of the device (Hard Reset) | Losing all data on your phone |
⚠️ Note: If you don’t remember the Mi Account password and have not tied it, the only way to get out of lock is to completely reset your phone’s settings (Wipe Data), which will delete all the contents of the device.
It's important to understand that data security in Xiaomi is rigid, and without the owner's confirmation through the account, you can't unlock the space, because that would be a security hole, so always keep your account data up to date.
Use of fast switching and widgets
For those who use both spaces all the time, there are faster ways to navigate, not having to go into the deep settings menus every time, and the MIUI and HyperOS shells have special widgets and shortcuts that make life much easier.
One of the most convenient ways is to add a Space Switch widget to your desktop, which looks like a standalone icon, and you click on it, and you instantly go to another profile, which is especially useful when you need to quickly check private messages while you're in working mode, or vice versa.
Secret switching menu
You can also use a control panel (curtain), and in the extended Quick Settings menu, there is sometimes a profile switch button, and if you don't, you can add it through the button editor in the upper right corner of the notification curtain, which allows you to change modes with one swipe.
Another nuance: when installing apps, the system can ask you what space to place them in, you can install the same program (like WhatsApp or Telegram) in both profiles at the same time, and they will work independently with different phone numbers.
Technical nuances and data recovery
When you exit or delete a Second Space, it is important to consider the technicalities of the file system: the data does not flow automatically; if you simply delete the profile, all photos, documents and correspondence inside it disappear forever; before the final action, you need to perform a data transfer.
The Space Management menu has a Data Transfer feature that allows you to select files (photos, videos, contacts, documents) and copy them to the Main Profile, then they will appear in the corresponding Home Space folders, and they can be safely left there before being deleted.
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Always double check for important files in the Main Profile before the final deletion of the Second Space, and a cloud backup is your best friend in such situations.
If the phone starts to work incorrectly after removing the space (icons disappear, errors occur in applications), it is recommended to clear the system cache. To do this, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup or use the built-in Security app. In rare cases, you may need to completely reset your phone settings to factory if a conflict of profiles has violated system files.
Also worth mentioning is compatibility: Some heavy games or specialty banking apps may not work properly when running in Space Two due to Android security limitations. If you run into app problems after you quit mode, try reinstalling the problem software in the Main Profile.