Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8T often face the problem of a second space, a duplicate MIUI account that takes up memory, creates confusion in notifications and prevents data synchronization. This feature, originally designed to separate work and personal profiles, is often activated accidentally or remains after experimenting with settings. Delete it is not as easy as it seems: the standard deletion of an account through the Settings menu → Accounts often fails, leaving “ghost” data in the system.
The Redmi 8T (codenamed olivelite) is that the second space is closely integrated with MIUI 11/12, and removing it requires a combination of software and hardware manipulations. In this article, we will analyze three proven methods: through system settings, with ADB and full reset to factory settings — with an emphasis on saving basic data. It is important to understand that improper actions can lead to file loss or even locking the device, so each step is accompanied by warnings and backup recommendations.
If you notice that duplicate apps appear on your phone (like two Gallery or Messages), notifications come in both spaces, and the Quick Settings menu displays a profile switch — a sure sign of activated second space. On Redmi 8T, this feature can turn on automatically after updating MIUI or when connecting to corporate Xiaomi services (like Mi Work).
Method 1: Remove via MIUI settings (no reset)
The safest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable if the second space was created recently and did not have time to “enter” into the system. Importantly, this method does not work if the space was created through Mi Account with reference to another Xiaomi account.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
- Click on the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner and select Remove the second space.
- Enter the password of the main account (if requested).
- Confirm the deletion and wait for the reboot (it will take 2-5 minutes).
If there is no Delete or it is inactive, then the space is password protected or linked to another Mi Account. In this case, try resetting the password through Forgot the password? or move to the next method.
Make a backup of contacts and photos|Remember passwords from the main and second accounts|Check the vacant space (needs to be checked) ≥1GB)|Disconnect your phone from the Mi Cloud during the procedure-->
⚠️ Note: If the second space was created through Mi Work (corporate profile), its removal may block access to work applications. IT-Department, will this cause problems with the account.
Method 2: Removal via ADB (for power users)
If the standard method does not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge. 8T s MIUI 12.5+ Signature verification may need to be disabled MIUI Adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers (for example, through Android Studio) and check the connection with the command: adb devices (the serial number of the device should be displayed).
- Run the command to delete the second space: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.secondspace
- Reboot the phone.
If the team returned the Failure error [DELETE_FAILED_DEVICE_POLICY_MANAGER], It means that the space is protected by the device's policies, and in this case, only a complete reset (method) will help. 3).
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 3: Complete reset to factory settings
The last but most reliable way is hard reset, which is guaranteed to delete the second space, but also erase all the data on the phone, including photos, messages and installed apps. On Redmi 8T, you can reset in two ways: via the settings menu or using a receptacle.
Method 1: Through the MIUI settings
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose to erase all data.
- Enter the password from the main Mi Account (if linked).
- Confirm the reset and wait for completion (10-15 minutes).
Method 2: Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
- In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
⚠️ Attention: After the Redmi reset 8T You may need to enter data from your previous Mi Account (Mi Cloud Lock protection) if you do not remember the password, restore it in advance on account.xiaomi.com, otherwise the phone will be blocked!
Through MIUI | Through ADB| Complete reset |I haven't tried |Another way-->
How to avoid creating a second space
To prevent the problem from returning, follow these recommendations:
- 🔒 Turn off automatic profile creation: go to Settings → Special facilities → Second space → Settings and deactivate the option to automatically create when you connect to Mi Work.
- 📱 Do not use unofficial firmware: custom versions MIUI (For example, Xiaomi.eu may contain bugs that lead to duplication of spaces.
- 🔄 Update. MIUI regularly: in new versions (MIUI 13+) Fixed errors with spontaneous creation of second space.
- 🛡️ Check application rights: Some programs (such as Parallel Space or Island) can emulate a second space.
If you often work with Xiaomi corporate accounts, use guest mode (Settings → System → Guest mode) instead of the second space. It does not create duplicate data and is easily deleted with a single click.
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Before updating MIUI, disable the second space – this will prevent conflicts when installing a new firmware.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
When you delete the second space, Redmi 8T users face typical problems.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to remove space (in settings) | Space is password protected or linked to Mi Account | Reset your password via account.xiaomi.com or use ADB |
| ADB: device unauthorized | Unconfirmed access to debugging via USB | Confirm the request on the phone when connecting to the PC |
| After the reset, there are files of the second space. | Incomplete reset (for example, via Wipe Cache instead of Wipe Data) | Repeat the reset with the choice to erase all data |
| Mi Cloud Lock after resetting | The phone was tied to Mi Account with activated protection | Restore your account or contact Xiaomi for support |
If none of these methods worked, check if the second space is actually a duplicate virus. Some Trojans (like Android.Triada) disguise themselves as system profiles. Scan your phone through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web in safe mode.
Data recovery after deletion
If you delete the second space without a backup, some of the data can be restored. 8T Second Space Files are stored in a folder /data/user_de/0/secondspace, But access to it requires root rights:
- 📁 Photos and Videos: Use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (Plug your phone to your PC in mode) MTP).
- 💬 Messages: Restore from Google Drive backup (if sync was enabled).
- 📞 Contacts: Check sync with Mi Cloud or Google Contacts.
TWRP Recovery can be used for deep memory scanning, but it requires a fastboot oem unlock that will reset all data on the phone. On the Redmi 8T, unlocking takes 72 hours to wait due to Xiaomi's policy.
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If the second space was created through Mi Work, its removal may require confirmation from the domain administrator. IT-Your organization’s department to avoid blocking your account.