Duplicate applications on Xiaomi MIUI 12: a complete guide with nuances

Duplication of apps on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 shell is a useful feature for those who want to use multiple accounts in the same messenger, social network or game without having to buy a second phone. For example, you can have two WhatsApp, two Telegram or even two Instagram on one device, completely isolated from each other. However, in MIUI 12 this process has its own features, which are important to consider to avoid errors.

Unlike newer shell versions (e.g. MIUI 14), where the duplication function is integrated into system settings, MIUI 12 can hide it or require additional manipulation. Furthermore, not all applications support cloning - some (e.g., banking or two-factor authentication) can block the work of the duplicate. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, including the official method through Settings → Duplicate applications, workarounds for incompatible applications and possible risks.

If you are using a device with MIUI 12 based on Android 10 or Android 11, the instructions below will be suitable for most models: Redmi Note 9/10, Poco X3, Mi 10/10T and others. For older versions (for example, MIUI 11) or newer versions (for example, MIUI 13/14), the process may be different – we will also mention this.

Official method: duplication through the settings MIUI 12

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in App Duplication feature (aka Dual Apps or App Cloner), which is available on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12, but can be hidden depending on the firmware region.

1. Open the settings on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Apps (or Apps) section.
3. Select Duplicate Applications (if not, see the next section).
4. In the list, tick the apps you want to duplicate (for example, VK, Facebook, WhatsApp).
5. Click Create and wait for the process to be completed.

After that, the second icon of the selected application will appear on the home screen marked Duplicate or Clone, and you can log in to it under another account - the data will be completely isolated from the original application.

Make sure that the device has enough free memory (the duplicate takes up the same amount of space as the original)

Check if the app supports cloning (some banking or enterprise apps block this feature)

Update MIUI to the latest available version for your model (in older builds, the feature may not work well)

Backup important data (in case of failure)

-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12 Global for European region) Duplicate applications may not be available:

• 🔍 Use search in the Duplicate or Dual Apps settings.
• 📱 Switch to version MIUI 12 China (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• 🛠️ Install third-party cloning software (see next section).

Alternative methods: if the official method does not work

If your version of MIUI 12 doesn't have a duplicate feature, or the desired application is not supported, you can use third-party solutions.

1. Parallel Space or 2Accounts application

These programs allow you to create isolated sandboxes to run duplicate applications, and they work on most Xiaomi devices, but require additional permissions:

• 📥 Download Parallel Space from Google Play or 2Accounts (china-fix).
• 🔧 Provide all permissions requested (including access to contacts, storage and notifications).
• ➕ Add the desired application to the “sandbox” and log in under another account.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as banking or screenshot protection) can detect launches in Parallel Space and block operations.

2.Use of ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can manually create a duplicate of an application via the command line, which works even on firmware without built-in cloning, but requires a connection to a PC:

adb shell pm install --user 0 -i "com.example.app" /path/to/apk


adb shell pm create-user --profileOf 0 CloneUser




adb shell pm install --user 10 -i "com.example.app" /path/to/apk

Where:

• com.example.app is the batch name of the application (you can find out through the App Inspector).
• /path/to/apk — path APK-Application file (you need to download separately).
• CloneUser is the username for the duplicate.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This method is recommended only for experienced users.

Official function of MIUI

Parallel Space or analogues

ADB-team

Don't duplicate applications-->

Limitations and problems with MIUI 12 duplication

Even if you managed to create a duplicate of the application, you should consider a number of limitations specific to MIUI 12:

Important: On some devices with MIUI 12 (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), app duplication can lead to conflicts with Google services. If Push notifications stop working after the clone is created, try disabling battery optimization for duplicate in the settings.

How to remove duplicate application

If you no longer need a duplicate, you can remove it without affecting the original application in two ways:

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Duplicate applications.
2. Find the desired application in the list and uncheck the tick.
3. Confirm the removal of the duplicate.

Method 2: Manually through the launcher

Tap and hold the duplicate icon on the home screen, then drag it to the cart (similar to removing a regular app).Duplicate data will be deleted, but the original app will remain intact.

⚠️ Note: If you used Parallel Space, removing the duplicate through the launcher will not clear the data from the sandbox. To completely remove all traces, go to the Parallel Space settings and manually delete the application from there.

Comparison of duplication methods: what to choose?

Each of these methods has its pros and cons, and to make it easier to choose, we have compiled a comparative table:

💡

If you need to duplicate a messenger or social network, start with the official MIUI method. For banking applications or games with multi-account protection, it is better to use Parallel Space in incognito mode.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you duplicate applications on MIUI 12, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🚫 Error "Failed to create a duplicate": Reason: Not enough memory or the application does not support cloning. Solution: Free up space on the device or try another method (for example, Parallel Space).
• 🔄 Duplicate is constantly restarted: Reason: Battery Optimization Conflict Solution: Disable Duplication Optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🔔 Notifications do not arrive in duplicate: Reason: Limitations MIUI Solution: Enable notifications manually in duplicate settings.
• 📱 Duplicate disappeared after the update MIUI: Reason: Reset settings after the update.Solution: Re-enable duplication in settings or restore data from backup.

If none of the methods worked, check to see if the antivirus or built-in Security App from Xiaomi blocks the work of the duplicate.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

💡

If you use duplicate apps frequently, consider buying a smartphone with official multi-profile support (such as Samsung Knox or Huawei App Twin), a more robust solution for multi-accounting.