Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer users incredible flexibility in managing the digital space, one of the most popular features being the ability to run two copies of the same app at the same time, especially for those who do business and personal correspondence on the same device, not wanting to carry a second phone.
The cloning feature, known as Dual Apps or App Cloning in the MIUI shell, allows you to create independent copies of messengers and social networks. Each copy works with its own account, notifications and settings, making managing multiple profiles as convenient as possible. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate this option, which applications support duplication and what to do if standard methods do not work.
It is worth noting that the implementation of this feature may vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the modification of the HyperOS shell. Understanding the nuances of the system limitations will help avoid errors in configuration.
Dual Apps built-in in MIUI and HyperOS
The easiest and most stable way to start a second account is to use the built-in tools. Xiaomi has integrated this capability deep into the system settings, ensuring high performance and minimal resource consumption. You don’t need to search for third-party programs if your goal is popular messengers.
To activate the mode, you need to go to the device settings menu. Find the Applications section and select App Cloning (or Dual Apps), which will display a list of all supported programs installed on your smartphone. Activation is done by simply switching the slider against the desired name.
Once the feature is enabled, a new icon will appear on the desktop with a distinctive icon of two rings or an orange tag, a full-fledged second application that works independently of the main one, and you can log in under a different phone number or login.
- 📱 Open the settings of your Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone.
- 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Cloning of applications.
- ✅ Turn on the switchboard opposite the desired messenger (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
- 🔔 Check for the second icon on your desktop or in the tool folder.
⚠️ Note: Dual Apps only works with a specific list of applications, which is defined by the system. If the desired program is not in the list, built-in tools will not be able to run its second copy.
It is important to understand that cloned applications can consume additional RAM. If your smartphone has limited resources (for example, 3 or 4 GB of RAM), the system can automatically unload background processes, which can lead to delays in receiving notifications in the second account.
Set up notifications and battery restrictions
One of the common problems with cloned applications is the unstable operation of notifications. MIUI is known for its aggressive battery saving, which can kill the background processes of secondary accounts.
Go to the battery settings and find a list of applications. Select a cloned version of the program (often marked with an orange icon). Set the "No Limits" mode. This will prevent the system from forcibly stopping the process even when the screen is off.
It's also recommended that you stick the app in memory, open the list of running applications (multi-tasking menu), find a clone and press the lock or hold your finger until the lock icon appears, which prioritizes the task for the operating system.
Don’t ignore the importance of permissions. A cloned application requires a separate set of microphone, camera, and geolocation permissions. When you first run a second copy, read the requests carefully and grant the necessary rights, otherwise the functionality may be limited.
- 🔋 In the battery settings, select a cloned application.
- 🚫 Set “No Limits” mode for background activity.
- 🔒 Secure the application in the multitasking menu (lock icon).
- 📡 Check network access and geolocation permissions.
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If notifications still don’t come, try turning off Sleep mode in your Wi-Fi settings or allow auto-run for the cloned app in the security menu.
Use of the second space mode
For those who don’t have enough Dual Apps, Xiaomi offers a more powerful tool called Second Space, which is essentially creating a separate user profile inside a single smartphone, similar to the Guest mode, but with a full set of features.
In the second space, you get a clean desktop, separate galleries, contacts and, most importantly, the ability to re-install any application, which is ideal for full separation of work and personal life, or for handing over the phone to children without access to your data.
Switching between spaces is instantaneous through a password, a fingerprint, or a special widget, and the data in those spaces are isolated from each other, and the photos from the main profile won't be visible in the second one, and vice versa, which provides a high level of privacy.
However, it is worth considering that the inclusion of the second space takes up additional internal memory, as system files and cache are duplicated. On devices with a small amount of free memory (less than 32 GB), this can become critical.
| Parameter | Dual Apps | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of use | Quick launch of the 2nd account | Complete data isolation |
| Supported applications | Only from the system list. | Any applications |
| Memory expenditure | Minimum | High (duplicate data) |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Medium |
⚠️ Warning: Deleting the second space will permanently delete all data, photos and apps installed inside it.
☑️ Checking before creating a profile
Third-party cloning solutions
If the built-in tools don’t support the right application (such as banking clients or specific social networks), third-party solutions come to the rescue. There are many parallelizers in the Google Play store that create a virtual environment for running copies.
Popular options are Parallel Space, 2Accounts or Multiple Accounts, which work in a similar way: they create an isolated container inside which a cloned application runs, which bypasses the system limitations of the MIUI shell.
However, these programs have risks: they require extensive permissions to access your data and can consume a significant amount of CPU resources, and some banking applications may block the operation of such virtual environments for security reasons.
When choosing third-party software, pay attention to the amount of advertising and user reviews. Free versions are often oversaturated with banner ads, which worsens the experience. Paid versions usually offer more stable work and no intrusive advertising.
- 📥 Download the verified parallelizer from Google Play.
- 🛡️ Give the application the necessary access rights.
- ➕ Add the application inside the virtual environment.
- ⚙️ Set up a shortcut on your desktop for quick access.
Why do banks block cloned apps?
Solving Typical Problems and Errors
The cloning process is not always smooth, users may experience crashes, no sound, or no authorization, often with a conflict of versions or cache.
If the cloned application doesn't start, try to clear its data. Go to Settings → Applications, find the clone (usually marked in orange) and select Clear Data and Clear Cache. This will reset the program settings to factory.
In some cases, reinstallation of the main app helps: Remove the original, reboot the smartphone, install the latest version from the official store, and then re-activate the cloning feature, which is especially true after major Android updates.
Also worth checking is the date and time. System time mismatch can cause security certificate errors, which will cause messenger servers to reject the cloned copy connection. Set up automatic time synchronization over the network.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to clone system applications (Phone, Messages, Settings) through third-party utilities. This can lead to unstable operation of the entire smartphone or a cyclical reboot.
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The most common cause of failure is aggressive energy saving, and if the app crashes, 90 percent of the time, it'll help to remove the battery constraints.
Effects of cloning on productivity
Running two copies of resource-intensive apps like Instagram or TikTok puts additional strain on the processor and RAM. On Xiaomi’s flagship models, it’s almost unnoticed, but budget devices may start to slow down.
The impact is particularly noticeable when both accounts are working simultaneously, and if you are actively using the main WhatsApp and simultaneously uploading media to a clone, the system may begin to aggressively close other background tasks, which is normal behavior for optimizing work.
To minimize the impact on performance, it is recommended to regularly clean the cache of cloned applications. They tend to accumulate large numbers of temporary files, which inflates their size and slows down their launch. Use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app.
If you notice that the smartphone started to run out quickly after the clones were activated, look at the battery consumption statistics. Perhaps one of the cloned applications got into a cycle of errors and constantly wakes the processor, in which case it is better to remove the clone and use alternative methods, for example, the web version in the browser.
- 📉 Watch for heating of the body during active work of clones.
- 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly through the App Management menu.
- ⚡ Turn off cloned apps if you don’t need them right now.
- 📊 Monitor battery consumption in system statistics.