How to find second space on Xiaomi phone: hidden features MIUI

Have you ever wondered why your Xiaomi suddenly disappears when you haven't installed anything, or would you like to split your phone into work and personal areas without buying a second device? MIUI It allows you to create an isolated partition of memory with separate applications, settings and even wallpaper. But where to look for this option if it does not appear in the menu? In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate the second space, from standard settings to hidden commands for advanced users.

It's important to understand that the second space is not just a folder on a disk, but a full-fledged virtual environment with its own storage. MIUI However, in recent updates, Xiaomi has been hiding this feature for some regions, causing confusion among users.+, POCO X5 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra – and ready to share working solutions.

What is the second space and why is it necessary?

Second Space is a unique function. MIUI, It allows you to create two completely isolated user profiles on one phone:

• 📱 A separate desktop with unique wallpaper and widgets
• 🔐 Own accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks)
• 📁 Isolated storage (photos, documents, application cache)
• 🔄 Different system settings (sound, network, notifications)

The main advantage is the ability to use one phone for work and personal purposes without mixing data, for example, in the first space you can store corporate email and instant messengers, and in the second you can store personal photos and games, and both spaces work in parallel, you can quickly switch between them through the notification panel or gesture on the lock screen.

Important: The second space is not a full-fledged multiplayer system (as on Android tablets), both profiles are tied to the same physical device and one Mi Account, but the level of isolation is sufficient for most tasks, such as hiding personal data from colleagues when showing a screen.

The official way: where to look for settings in MIUI

On most Xiaomi models (except for the European market), the second space feature is available via the standard menu.

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities
2. Scroll down to the Second Space section (on some models, Double Space)
3. Click Create a Second Space and Follow the Instructions

If this is not the case, try an alternative route:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)


Settings → Additional → Second Space

- Make sure the version MIUI less than 8.0

- Check the firmware region (Global/EU/China)

Update your phone to the latest version of the software

- Try to change the language of the system to English.-->

On firmware devices MIUI EU (European version) the second space feature is often disabled at the request of Google, in which case only manual activation through the Internet will help. ADB Or installing Chinese/global firmware. Both methods will be discussed later.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F3, Redmi 10) may be lost after the second space is created NFC It's a known bug. MIUI 13, which is fixed only by resetting settings.

Hidden methods of activating the second space

If the standard method didn’t work, try these alternative methods. They require a little more effort, but work on 90% of Xiaomi devices:

Method 1: Through the Engineering Menu (code ##)

This method works on firmware. MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the phone app and type in: ##6484###
2. In the menu that appears, select MIUI Second Space
3. Activate the function and restart the phone

Method 2: Through ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If the engineering menu is not available, use a computer and ADB:

adb shell settings put global second_space_enabled 1


adb shell am start -n com.miui.secondspace/.SecondSpaceMainActivity

After you execute the commands, the second space will appear in the settings. If not, check if debugging is enabled. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 taps) → For developers.

Method 3: Through Recovery Mode (for unlocked bootloader)

This method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to Enter Recovery
2. Choose Advanced → Second Space
3. Confirm the creation and wait for the reboot

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro) attempting to log in to Recovery via a button combination can result in a data reset.Use the official method via Fastboot from your computer.

How to use the second space: basic functions

Once you successfully activate the second space, you'll have two completely independent environments.

Features of the work:

• 🔄 Both spaces can work in parallel, for example, you mostly watch videos and check your email in the second.
• 📶 Mobile data and Wi-Fi are shared between the two spaces
• 🔋 Battery charge is used faster when using two spaces
• 🛡️ Security: Applications from one space cannot access data from another

💡

To quickly distinguish spaces, set different wallpapers and themes, for example, in the workspace use a minimalist theme, and in the personal one - bright colors.

Problems and mistakes with the second space

Despite the convenience, the second space function sometimes doesn't work well, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

1. The second space is not created ("failed to initialize")

Causes and solutions:

• 📱 Insufficient memory: free up at least 5GB of internal storage
• 🔄 Conflict with other features: disable dual apps in settings
• 🛠️ Damaged system files: reset settings via Recovery

2. applications in the second space are not updated

This is because Google Play is treating the second space as a separate device.

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google Play Store
2. Clear the cache and data
3. Restart your phone and check for updates

3. Incorrect operation of gestures or sensors

On some models (Redmi) K50, POCO F4) After the second space is created, it can be sluggish:

• 👆 A gesture of backing
• 🔍 Approximation sensor
• 🔊 Volume control

Solution: Turn off Optimization MIUI In the developer settings or calibrate the sensor through the engineering menu (#64663##).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS interface, the second space function may conflict with the concentration mode. If notifications are missing after activation of the second space, check the focus settings in Control Center.

How to remove the second space completely and free up memory

If you don't need the second space anymore, you can delete it and get it back, and the important thing is that all the data will be permanently erased.

Method 1 (via settings):

1. Go to Settings. → Second space
2. Select to delete the second space
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot

Method 2 (through ADB, if the standard method does not work):

adb shell settings put global second_space_enabled 0


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.secondspace

After removal:

• 📉 Free from 3 to 8 GB of memory (depending on the number of installed applications)
• 🔄 Some system applications may not work as well – a restart is required
• 🔐 If you have used different Google accounts, you will have to log in again.

💡

Removing the second space does not affect the main profile – all data from the first space will remain intact.

Alternatives to the second space on Xiaomi

If the second space function is not available on your model or is not running smoothly, consider these alternatives:

“Dual annexes” function

Allows you to clone messengers and social networks without creating a full-fledged second space:

• 📱 Supports: WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram
• 🔐 Application data is isolated (different accounts)
• ⚡ Lighter in weight (does not take up extra gigabytes)

Activated in Settings → Annexes → Dual annexes.

2. Virtualization applications (Island, Shelter)

These utilities create an isolated work profile based on standard Android features:

• 🛡️ Island: Open Source, Xposed Integration
• 🏝️ Shelter: easier to set up, works without root
• 🔧 Requires Android for Work activation in settings

3. User accounts (Android Multi-User)

The standard Android feature available on some Xiaomi models:

1. Open the Settings. → System system → Multiplayer mode
2. Add a new user or guest profile
3. Switch through the notification panel

The difference from the second space is that there is no storage isolation – both users see the same files in shared memory.

Comparative table of alternatives

FAQ: Frequent questions about the second space on Xiaomi