The MIUI and HyperOS Second Space feature is a powerful tool for separating personal and work information, allowing you to create an isolated environment on a single device. Users often wonder how to transfer existing photos from the main system to this hidden partition to secure their data or simply make room in the main gallery. Standard tools for dragging files between spaces do not exist, since they are separated by software security barriers.
To solve this problem, you need to use built-in file manager tools or special methods of hiding, which are provided by Xiaomi developers. The process does not require root rights or install third-party software, but requires carefulness in performing each step. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to migrate media files, and also discuss the nuances of working with the device’s memory when duplicating data.
It's worth noting that moving photos isn't just copying them, it's making a full copy of them in a protected area of memory, which means that the amount of space you take up on the internal drive will double if you don't delete the originals after you transfer them, and understanding the storage architecture in MIUI will help you avoid confusion and loss of important images during the setup process.
The principles of the second space and data isolation
The second space functions as a separate user profile in the Android operating system, adapted by Xiaomi for its needs. Technically, this means that the main and second spaces have different root directories for storing user data, despite the fact that the files are physically on the same drive. When you take a photo in the main profile, it is stored along the path /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera, whereas in the second space the path will look different or be hidden for the main profile.
The isolation is implemented at the permission level: applications installed in the second space do not see the files of the first, and vice versa. This provides a high level of privacy, but creates difficulties when you need to exchange data. Android security system blocks direct access to files of another user without special permissions or tools.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting the second space through settings results in complete erasure of all data inside it, including photos, contacts and installed applications.
To transfer files, the system provides temporary access mechanisms or uses buffer zones available to both profiles, and understanding how HyperOS manages these processes allows you to effectively manipulate files without compromising the integrity of the system.
Preparation for transferring files between profiles
Before you start migrating photos, you need to make sure that the device has enough free space. Since the files will be duplicated, the amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data transferred by at least twice. Check the available space in the Settings → Memory menu, which displays detailed statistics of storage usage.
It is also recommended to update system applications, in particular, Explorer and Gallery, to the latest version through GetApps or Google Play. Old versions of the software may have been bugs that limit the functionality of data exchange between spaces.
☑️ Pre-transfer check
Make sure you know the password or the pattern lock to log in to the second space. Without authorization, you can't access the hidden files, and the transfer process will be interrupted at the initial stage. If you forget the login data, you can't restore it without resetting your profile.
Using the built-in conductor for copying
The most reliable and regular way to transfer photos to the second space is to use the system application "Conductor" with the function of switching profiles. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works stably on all current versions of MIUI.
The action algorithm starts with opening Explorer in the main space. You need to find the folder with images, usually it is on the path Internal drive → DCIM → Camera. Select the necessary photos with your thumbnail clamped, and select the option "Copy" or "Move" in the lower menu.
Next comes a critical step: in the Explorer menu, find the space switch button. It can be located in the side menu or at the top of the screen, often indicated by a two-square icon or profile. After switching to the second space, go to the desired destination folder and click "Insert." The system automatically copies the files to the isolated area.
| Action. | Main space | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Access to files | Complete. | Limited. |
| Visibility of photo | You see it all. | Only copied ones. |
| Deletion of the original | Makes room | Doesn't affect the copy. |
| Risk of loss | Low. | High on discharge |
If the space switch button in Explorer is not active or missing, check the settings of the function. Some versions of the shell require you to explicitly allow the sharing of files in the menu of the second space parameters, this is done to improve the security of user data.
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When copying large amounts of data (more than 1000 photos), it is better to break the process into packets of 100-200 files to avoid hanging the Explorer interface.
Alternative Methods: Hidden Album and Moving
If standard Explorer copying is not available for some reason, you can use the Hidden Album feature in the Gallery, which is closely integrated with the second space, which allows you to move the photo to a secure area, accessible only after you enter a special password or fingerprint.
To activate this feature, open the Gallery, go to the albums and select Hidden Album. The first time you use it, the system will suggest you set a password. Then, when you move the photos to this album, you actually hide them from prying eyes in the main profile. However, additional synchronization may be required to make them available in the second space as normal files.
Another option is to use cloud services as an intermediate buffer: upload photos to the cloud (like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud) from your main profile, then log in to the same account in the second space and download images, which requires a stable Internet connection and load time.
⚠️ Note: When using cloud methods, make sure that original quality synchronization is enabled, otherwise photos can be compressed and lose resolution, which is critical for archival snapshots.
Some users prefer to use third-party file managers with support for multi-profile work, but their functionality may be limited by the security policies of new versions of Android.
Solving Common Problems in Transfer
During the transfer process, users may encounter an error called “Not enough space” even if the memory is formally free, because the file system requires an additional buffer for temporary files when copying, and free up another 10-15% of the memory beyond the amount of data being transferred.
Another common problem is the disappearance of thumbnails or file corruption after transfer, which can occur when the copying process is interrupted, in which case it is recommended to delete the damaged files in the second space and repeat the operation, closing the background applications to allocate maximum resources to the system.
What if the guide doesn’t see the second space?
If files are copied but not displayed in the Second Space Gallery, scan the media files, using the Media Scanner app from GetApps, or simply restarting the device to re-index the contents of the folders.
Optimizing Storage and Removing Duplicates
After successfully transferring photos to the second space, the originals remain in the main profile, which take up space. To optimize storage, manually delete the original files. Before doing this, carefully check that the copies in the second space open correctly and are not corrupted.
Deletion is best done through Explorer, as it shows the real size of the space occupied. After deleting, be sure to clear the Recycle Bin folder in the Gallery, as the files there continue to take up space on the disk for 30 days.
To maintain regular order, it is recommended to use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app, which helps to find similar images and duplicates, which is especially important when working with two spaces.
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Regularly checking the contents of the second space and removing unnecessary copies from the main profile is the key to effective memory management of the Xiaomi smartphone.