Owning a modern smartphone, especially popular models from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, often requires two accounts on the same services, which may be due to the need to separate work and personal contacts or the desire to participate in messenger promotions that require registration for different numbers. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful built-in tools to solve this problem without the need to obtain root access rights.
The process of creating a copy of a program may seem difficult to a beginner, but in fact it takes only a few seconds. You do not need to install dubious software from unverified sources, since the system functionality is completely secure and optimized to work with the resources of the device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from standard settings to advanced options for power users.
It's worth noting that the effectiveness of each method may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific model of your gadget, but the basic principles have remained unchanged over the past years of the development of the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem.
Built-in function Cloning applications
The easiest and most reliable way to run a second copy of a social network or messenger is to use a regular utility integrated directly into your system settings, a technique called App Cloning, which is available on the vast majority of your brand devices, and it allows you to create a full-fledged duplicate that will work independently of the main one, with its own notifications and authorization settings.
To activate this option, you need to go to the settings menu of your device. Usually the path is: Settings → Applications → Apps → Cloning. In the list that opens, you will see a list of supported programs installed on your smartphone. Just switch the slider opposite the desired application, such as WhatsApp or Viber, and a copy of it with a characteristic icon will appear on the desktop.
⚠️ Note: After cloning, the second copy of the app will appear with a small yellow icon in the corner of the icon, which helps distinguish it from the main version.
The cloning functionality is constantly updated by the company's engineers. The latest versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS add the ability to clone not only messengers, but also some gaming platforms and banking applications, although the list of the latter may be limited for security reasons.
It is important to understand that cloned applications consume additional RAM and battery power. Two running processes require more CPU resources, especially if both applications actively use geolocation or background data synchronization.
Use of the Second Space Mode
A more radical and isolated approach is Second Space, which, unlike simple cloning, creates a virtually separate user profile inside your phone, which is like having two different smartphones in one case: each space has its own desktop, its own wallpaper, its own galleries and, most importantly, its own installed apps.
To activate this mode, follow the Settings → Second Space → Enable Second Space, and the system will suggest setting up a fingerprint or pin code to quickly switch between profiles, ideal for those who want to completely separate their personal lives from their work, hiding one app from another.
- 🔒 Complete data isolation: applications in the second space do not see the files and contacts of the first space.
- 📱 Desktop: You can customize a unique theme and icon location for each profile.
- 🔋 Autonomy: Background processes in the second space may be limited to save energy.
Switching between spaces is instantaneous through a notification curtain or a special widget on the lock screen. You can set different passwords to log in, which increases privacy, but it is worth considering that notifications from the second space may not come while you are in the first one, unless the appropriate permissions are configured.
Impact on the battery
Third-party cloner applications
If Xiaomi’s built-in tools can’t clone a particular application (such as a rare bank or a specific messenger), third-party solutions from the Google Play store come to the rescue. There are many programs, such as Parallel Space, Dual Space or 2Accounts, that emulate the environment for running a second instance.
The way these gates work is to create a virtual container, where you install one shell application, and you run the programs you want inside of it, and it bypasses the limitations of the system, but it has its drawbacks, and it often involves ads, requires extra permissions, and can drain the battery more because of unoptimized code.
When using third-party cloners, it is important to pay attention to access rights, many of which request access to contacts, microphones and storage, and data security is in question in such cases, so it is not recommended to log into cloners through accounts with critical financial information.
However, for games or secondary social media accounts, this is a workable option, and some advanced cloners even allow you to run more than two copies of the app at once, which is impossible to do with standard Android tools.
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When choosing a third-party cloner, pay attention to the number of installations and recent reviews. Older versions of popular programs may contain security vulnerabilities.
Cloning through Mi Turbo and Game Turbo
Gamers who own Xiaomi smartphones often face the need to have multiple accounts in one game, which includes Game Turbo (formerly known as game acceleration), while primarily designed to improve performance, it also allows apps to be added to game mode, where sometimes cloning is available.
However, it is worth clarifying that direct cloning of games is most often done through the standard menu "Cloning applications" described above, Game Turbo is used to optimize the work of already running copies, adding the game to this mode allows you to adjust performance, disable notifications and use floating windows.
Some regions and firmware versions have Accelerate Games, which allows you to run a second copy of the game in a window on top of other applications. This is not a full-fledged cloning, but a convenient way to quickly switch between accounts without closing the current game. To access these settings, open the Security app and search the Game Turbo section.
The use of game accelerators is especially relevant for multiplayer projects, where every millisecond of response is important.
Comparison of cloning techniques
To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method, which will help you to understand which option is best for your tasks, whether it is work, games or privacy.
| Method | Level of isolation | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloning of applications | Low (shared files) | Average. | Low. |
| Second space | High (separate profile) | High. | Medium |
| Third-party annexes | Medium (virtual container) | High. | Low. |
| Guest mode | Maximum | Depends on the use | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, standard cloning is the middle ground for most users, it requires no in-depth knowledge and provides a sufficient level of functionality, and the second space is best chosen by those who want to completely hide their data from prying eyes or share the context of using the device.
Third-party applications should be seen as a temporary solution or last resort when embedded tools fail to do a specific task, often less stable and may conflict with MIUI security.
☑️ Pre-cloning testing
Solving problems and mistakes
Users may face various difficulties in setting up, such as a cloned application not receiving notifications or crashing when it launches, often due to Xiaomi’s aggressive energy-saving system, which seeks to “sleep” background processes to save charge.
To fix the notification problem, you need to go to the battery settings for a specific cloned application. Select No Limits mode and allow auto-run. It is also recommended to pin the application to the list of recent tasks by pulling it down so that the system does not unload it from memory.
⚠️ Note: If a cloned application (such as a banking application) refuses to work, claiming that the device is infected or has root rights, this may be a false alarm. USB developer menu. 8p> Another common problem is that applications cannot be cloned, a limitation that can be imposed by the developer or Google’s security policy. In such cases, no system settings will help, and you will have to look for workarounds or put up with having only one account, sometimes after updating the firmware, the cloning settings can get lost. In this case, it is recommended to re-activate the function or, in extreme cases, delete the clone and create it again. 💡The stability of cloned applications depends on the right energy saving settings. Remember to allow background activity for important messengers. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I clone an app more than twice on Xiaomi? MIUI HyperOS supports only one copy (two copies to be made) and requires third-party cloners, such as Parallel Space, to run three or more copies. Will notifications from the cloned app come if the phone is locked? Yes, notifications must come in correctly. However, if this does not happen, check the notification settings for the second copy and make sure it does not have background activity restrictions in the Battery and Performance section". Do cloned applications take up double memory? The installation file (APK) takes up space only once because the common system code is used. However, the data (cache, media files, databases) is stored separately for each instance. So the occupied space will be equal to: the size of the application + (the size of the original data + the size of the clone data). Can bank applications be cloned? Many banking applications have protection against cloning and operation in the modified environment. The built-in function of application cloning can work with some banks, but often they block the launch in the second copy or in the Second space for security purposes? What will be deleted from the folded applications? Make sure to back up important correspondence and files before reset, as it may not be possible to recover them separately for the clone.