Modern smartphones like the Redmi 9 often store a huge amount of personal information that owners choose to hide from prying eyes.The second MIUI shell space feature allows you to create an isolated environment that works in parallel with the main profile. It is the perfect tool for separating work and personal data or for safely transferring the device to children.
Many users have difficulty starting this feature without knowing where the switches are hiding. In this article, we will look at the steps of activating, configuring, and quickly switching between profiles, and how to make logging into the second space as easy and as invisible as possible.
It's worth noting that using this feature correctly greatly increases privacy, and a guest mode or a full-fledged second profile requires a proper setting of access parameters, and let's figure out how to turn your smartphone into a secure double-bottom tool.
What is the second space in MIUI?
The second space is a virtual copy of the operating system embedded in the MIUI shell, which is technically a separate user profile with its own applications, gallery, contacts and file system, and the data in these two worlds are completely isolated from each other, which ensures a high level of security.
The use of this feature is not only relevant for business: parents can customize a profile for a child by restricting access to certain applications and content. System resources are allocated efficiently, so Redmi 9 copes with the two profiles without significant loss of performance.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the second space, all the data stored in it (photos, contacts, installed applications) will be irretrievably lost.
It is important to understand the difference between the second space and the simple guest mode: Guest mode is most often reset after exit, while the second profile stores all changes, settings and passwords until it is forced to be deleted by the owner of the main account.
Step-by-step activation of the function through settings
To get started, you need to find the appropriate section in the system menu, the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI installed on your Redmi 9.
- 📱 Open the Settings menu and find the About Phone section or scroll down to Special Opportunities.
- 🔍 In the list of options, select Second Space (sometimes hidden in the Password Submenu and Security).
- ✅ Click the button Enable the second space and wait until the system is ready.
After pressing the activation button, the system will create the necessary files and prompt you to configure the input settings. The initialization process can take from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on the speed of the internal memory of the device.
☑️ Preparation for profiling
In some versions of the firmware, access to this feature may be hidden. If you don't find an item on the menu, try searching by settings by typing in "Second Space." This is the fastest way to Locate the desired option in Xiaomi's confusing menu.
Configuring entry methods and biometrics
The key to using a dual profile is how to switch between the two, and the system offers a few options, the most convenient of which is to use different fingerprints, so you can assign your right thumb to the main profile and your left to the hidden one.
To set up the biometrics, go to the security menu and select Unlock by fingerprint. You add a new fingerprint and select which space it will work for in the menu that appears. You can also make the unlock password unique to each profile, which will add an additional layer of protection.
What to do if the print is not read?
An alternative method is to use a pattern lock or PIN-When you enter a certain code, the smartphone will automatically go to the corresponding profile, which is convenient if you do not want to change your finger on the scanner every time or if the fingerprint sensor is damaged.
Remember that Face ID on Redmi 9 can also be customized for different profiles, but is less reliable in low light conditions. For maximum security, it is recommended to combine biometrics with a pattern lock.
Application and data management
Once you enter the second space, you'll see a virtually empty desktop, all applications need to be re-installed or migrated from the main profile, and the second space's settings menu has a Data Transfer feature that allows you to clone selected applications.
Note that not all programs support cloning: Social networks and instant messengers usually work without problems, while banking applications may require re-authorization or block work in a virtual environment for security reasons.
| Type of data | Access to the main profile | Access to the second profile | Synchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Complete. | Only your own. | No. |
| gallery | Complete. | Only your own. | Through the cloud |
| Calls/SMSs | Complete. | Separate history | No. |
| Files. | Complete. | Only your own. | Through the menu |
To share files between profiles, you use a special feature in the second space management menu, so you can select a photo or document and send it to another profile where it appears in the corresponding folder, which works as a secure clipboard.
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Use the Hide Second Space function in the settings to make the app icon disappear from the desktop, and you can only log in through settings or a special code.
Shortcut creation and fast switching
For ease of use, it allows you to create a switching shortcut right on your desktop, and it's a shortcut application that you click on, and you'll instantly find it in a different profile, and you can find it in the menu of all the apps, usually called Second Space.
However, if your goal is maximum stealth, you should not create a shortcut, so you can switch through the notification panel (if the display is enabled) or through settings, and the fingerprint method described above, which is the fastest, also works.
Redmi 9 owners can use the sidebar (if activated in your MIUI version) for quick access. Add the profile switch widget to the sidebar, and switching between work and personal mode will take a fraction of a second.
To avoid this, configure the notification options in the second space management menu, preventing the content from being displayed on the locked screen.
Addressing Access and Entry Issues
Sometimes users forget their password or encounter bugs when the system doesn't let them into the second profile, and if you forget your password, you can only restore it through the Mi Account account associated with the device, and when you reset your password, the second space will be deleted.
In case of software failures, when the login button is inactive or has disappeared, try clearing the Security app cache or updating system components through the GetApps store. Often the problem lies in a conflict of versions of system services.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting your smartphone to the factory settings will remove both spaces completely, and it won’t help restore access if you forget your password, but it will destroy all data.
If the problem is that your fingerprint has stopped opening your profile, remove it from your biometrics settings and add it again, paying special attention to the edges of your finger when scanning, which often solves the problem of poor reading.
Security and Profile Deletion
When the second profile is no longer needed, it must be removed correctly, and you can only do this from the main space, go to the settings of the second space and select "Delete the second space".
The system will warn you that all data will be erased. Confirm the action by entering the password to unlock the main screen. After that, the phone will return to standard mode with one user profile.
To improve security, it is recommended to periodically check which applications have access to both spaces, and in the privacy settings, you can see the list of permissions and revoke access from suspicious programs.
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Deleting the second space is the only way to completely erase the hidden profile data without losing the information in the main account.