The second MIUI shell space was created to separate personal and work information, allowing applications and files to be hidden behind an additional password. However, over time, many users are faced with a situation where this option becomes unnecessary, takes up precious memory or simply interferes with easy navigation through the system.
The main difficulty is that the standard settings menu doesn’t always offer an obvious “delete” button, especially if you forgot the password from the hidden profile. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios from standard deletion through settings to forced data cleanup.
Before we get to the technical side, it's important to understand that MIUI sees the second space as a complete, isolated part of the system, and it's not just a folder, it's a separate environment with its own settings, accounts and cache, so you can't turn it off like a normal switchboard, because it requires a deletion or reset procedure.
What is the second space and why is it removed?
Second Space is based on creating a virtual copy of the operating system, which, to the user, looks like a separate desktop, where you can transfer banking applications, personal photos or games that are closed to you with a pin code or fingerprint, which is a powerful privacy tool, but it has its drawbacks.
A common reason Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO owners want to remove this feature is a lack of internal memory, the system reserves space for the second profile data, even if it is empty, which can prevent the installation of large updates, and the presence of two active profiles may slightly affect the autonomy of the device, since background processes can be duplicated.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting the second space will permanently erase all apps, photos, contacts and messages that were inside the profile, and it is impossible to transfer them to the main profile with regular means before deleting them.
Users also often forget the password set when they created it and find themselves trapped: the second profile is closed and the system does not delete it through the standard menu without confirming the identity of the owner of the hidden partition, in which case more radical methods of interfering with the MIUI operation are required.
Standard removal through MIUI settings
If you have access to the main profile and you remember the password from the second one (or it is not installed), you can remove it through the standard menu. This is the most secure and correct method from the point of view of the file system. To begin, open the Settings application and find the About the second space or Second space in the list of main functions.
Inside the profile management menu, the system will suggest switching between them or changing settings. You will need to find the Remove the second space button, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the option menu (three dots in the corner), the system will request confirmation of the operation, warning about the loss of data.
Once confirmed, the cleanup process will begin, depending on the amount of files accumulated, the system will deactivate the isolated environment and free up space, and it is important not to interrupt this process or turn off the smartphone so as not to damage the system files of the main shell.
☑️ Checklist before deletion
Some versions of the firmware may have different paths, so if you don't find an item in the general menu, try searching by settings by typing in "second space." If the system finds an active profile, it will suggest a control menu where the deletion function is located.
Access problems: Forgotten password or pattern lock
The situation when the user forgets the password from the second space is one of the most common. Xiaomi's standard interface in this case is powerless: without the correct authorization, the delete button is often inactive or hidden.
There is a method of resetting through the associated Mi Account. If you have enabled the recovery option when creating a profile, after several incorrect attempts to enter the password, the link "Forgot your password?" will appear on the screen. By clicking on it, you can log in through the Xiaomi account and reset access.
⚠️ Attention: If the Mi Account was not tied or you do not remember the password from it, you will not be able to restore access to data inside the second space by official means.
Trying to get a password brute-force on modern versions of Android and MIUI is almost useless due to built-in delays and protection against selection. Don’t waste time guessing if you don’t remember the combination – it is better to immediately proceed to the procedure of a complete reset, if the data in the second profile is not critical.
Removal through the Security App
In the MIUI shell, many privacy-related features are handled by the System Security app (green shield icon), which is where the second space settings are often duplicated. Open the app and scroll down to the Second Space section.
Inside this menu, you'll see the activity status of the function. If you've created a profile, you'll see a Remove button or a gear icon for settings, and the good thing about this is that it works even if the second space shortcut has been hidden from the main profile desktop.
Sometimes, the system may request a lock password on the main profile screen to confirm administrator rights, which is standard verification, and once the data is successfully entered, the virtual environment will be uninstalled.
What to do if the removal button is grey?
It is worth noting that newer versions of HyperOS (the successor to MIUI) can change the layout of items.Look for sections related to Privacy or Data Protection, as the functionality of the second space often migrates to these categories.
The Radical Method: Full Reset (Hard Reset)
If none of the soft methods worked, or if access to the main profile is lost, the only guaranteed way to remove the second space is to completely reset the device to factory settings, which wipes all data from the phone, returning it to the "out of the box" state.
To do the reset, you need to go to the Recovery menu. Turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the key combination: usually Volume Up + Power Button. Hold them until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears.
In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons and select with power buttons. Select the language, then the Wipe Data, and confirm the Wipe All Data action. The system will alert you to the loss of information. After you complete the process, select Reboot.
| Parameter | Normal removal | Full reset (Hard Reset) |
|---|---|---|
| Main profile data retention | Yes. | No (all removed) |
| Necessity of password from the 2nd profile | Often required | Not required |
| Implementation time | 1-2 minutes | 10-15 minutes. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium |
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A complete reset is the only way to remove a second space without knowing the password, but the price of this method is the total loss of all data on the smartphone.
Features of removal on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The interface and logic of the system change with each update. On older versions of MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, deleting often required you to enter a password from the second profile, even if you had access to the main one, this was done for maximum security.
Newer versions, such as MIUI 14 and the newest HyperOS, have made the algorithms more flexible, allowing you to delete through your Mi Cloud account if you were online, and improving memory, allowing you to optimize your location after deleting your virtual profile without requiring manual defragmentation.
Users of the Redmi Note series and Xiaomi flagships should consider that on devices with a large amount of RAM, the second space can work more stable, but also “weigh” more because of the cache. Therefore, after deleting on such smartphones, it is recommended to clear the system cache through the Security → Cleanup menu.
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After removing the second space, restart the smartphone, which will help the system to properly redistribute the file system and free up the reserved memory blocks.