Owning a modern smartphone, especially popular models from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, often requires multiple accounts on the same messengers. This may involve separating work and personal contacts or using different profiles for business. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful built-in tools to solve this problem without the need to install third-party software.
The process of creating copies of programs on devices of this brand is much simplified compared to many competitors; the user does not need to look for complex solutions or have programming skills to run a second WhatsApp or Telegram in parallel with the main one.
However, despite the simplicity, there are nuances that can confuse an inexperienced owner: Some system applications may not support default cloning, and in other cases, special developer modes are required to be activated. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods, from standard settings to using advanced utilities to create isolated environments.
Built-in function of cloning applications
The most reliable and energy-efficient way to run a second copy of the program is to use the native shell functionality. In the Xiaomi settings menu, this tool is called App Twin, which allows you to create full-fledged duplicates of social networks and instant messengers that work independently of each other, have their own notifications and settings.
To activate the function, you need to go to the Settings section and find the "Applications" option. Inside this menu, you should select the "Cloning of Applications" option. The system automatically scans the installed software and forms a list of programs that support creating duplicates, usually popular messengers such as Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram and social networks.
Once you turn on the switch in front of the app, you'll see a copy of the app on your desktop with a two-ring icon or an orange tag, which is a visual difference that helps you avoid confusing the main account with the secondary one. It's important to note that the cloned version requires a separate phone number or service-specific account to work.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings and go to the "Applications" section".
- 📱 Find and select "Cloning Applications" in the list of features.
- 📱 Activate the switchboard in front of the desired messenger or social network.
- 📱 Wait for the second icon to appear on the main screen of the device.
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Before activating cloning, make sure you have access to a second phone number to receive the cloning. SMS-Confirmation code when entering the duplicate of the application.
If your device has less than 4 GB of RAM installed, the simultaneous operation of two heavy programs can lead to more frequent unloading of background processes, in which case the system can automatically limit the background activity of duplicates to save battery power.
Use of the “Second Space” regime
If built-in cloning is not enough or complete data isolation is required, Xiaomi offers a "Second Space" feature, which is not just a copy of the application, but the creation of a separate user profile within a single device, in fact, the smartphone is divided into two independent worlds, each with its own photos, contacts, applications and settings.
This is ideal for those who want to completely separate work from their personal lives. You can install any number of applications in the second space, and they won't conflict with programs in the main profile. Switching between spaces happens instantly through a special shortcut on the lock screen or in the notification curtain.
To set up, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Second Space. The system will prompt you to create a separate password or fingerprint to log into a new profile, which provides a high level of privacy, since without biometrics or code, you can not access the data of the second space.
What is the difference between Cloning and Second Space?
The feature of this mode is the ability to install different versions of the same application, for example, in the main space can be a stable version of Instagram, and in the second one - a beta version for testing functions, which makes the method indispensable for developers and advanced users.
| Characteristics | Cloning of applications | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Data isolation | Partial (Annex data only) | Full (separate gallery, contacts) |
| Memory consumption | Low. | High (Duplicate system files) |
| Number of copies | One copy per appendix | Unlimited number of applications |
| Notifications | Come in the common curtain | Only when entering the second space |
Cloning through third-party utilities
In some cases, standard MIUI tools may not be enough, such as if you want to run three instances of a single messenger or clone an application that is not supported by the default system, and here specialized parallelizer programs like Parallel Space, 2Accounts or Dual Space come to the rescue.
The way these gates work is by creating a virtual environment (sandbox) that runs cloned applications, which looks like a single running process, but runs independent copies of programs, which bypasses the Android operating system's limits on how many installations a package can install.
However, using third-party software has its own risks: such programs often require extensive permissions to access your data, which can affect privacy, and they can consume a significant amount of power, as they constantly keep the virtual environment active in the background.
- ⚡ Download the selected parallelizer from the Google Play Store.
- ⚡ Provide the application with the necessary permissions to work.
- ⚡ Add the desired application to the list of cloned inside the utility.
- ⚡ Run the clone through the interface of a third-party program.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party cloners, banking applications may stop working or be blocked by security systems due to suspected hacking of the runtime environment.
Another downside is the availability of advertising in the free versions of these utilities. Developers often monetize their product through intrusive banners that can appear every time a cloned application is launched.
Set up notifications and energy saving
Once you have created a copy of an application, it is important to set it up in the background correctly. The aggressive MIUI and HyperOS energy saving system can kill the processes of cloned applications, which means that you will not receive notifications of new messages until you manually open the program.
To avoid losing messages, you need to go to the battery settings, find a cloned application (it may have a prefix "(2)" or a separate icon) and select "No restrictions" mode, which will prevent the system from forcibly shutting down the process to save energy.
It's also worth checking the notification settings. Make sure that pop-ups and beeps are enabled for the cloned version. Sometimes the system defaults to disable the duplicate sound to avoid creating noise pollution, but this is easy to fix in the Notifications menu and status bar.
☑️ Set-up of notifications
In the security menu, look for the "Out-Start" section and make sure that the switch in front of the cloned application is active, which ensures that the program starts immediately after the phone is turned on and is ready to receive incoming calls or messages.
Problems with cloning banking applications
Many users try to clone banking apps or Google Pay to use different cards in different profiles, but there are often difficulties. The banking sector is strictly monitoring security, and running an application in a cloned environment or in the Second Space can be regarded as an attempt to hack or use an emulator.
In such cases, the app may simply not start, giving an error, or require a reset of the phone’s settings, because security systems (Google SafetyNet or Huawei Mobile Services) detect a change in system integrity or the presence of root rights, which are often used by third-party cloners.
If you need two banking apps, try using the Second Space feature instead of just cloning, and the chances of success are higher because it's a native Android feature that some banks consider safe, but there's no guarantee, and each bank sets its own rules.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to bypass security checks on banking applications with modified versions of the software – this may result in your accounts being blocked by the bank’s security service.
Alternatively, you can use fast payment widgets or add different bank cards to one app if you support it, and some smartphone makers have special secure folders, but Xiaomi has this feature through the Second Space.
Deletion and management of cloned data
When the need for a second account is no longer necessary, it is important to properly remove the cloned application to make room and leave no junk files. Simply moving the icon to the cart is not enough, since the data can remain in the system.
For complete removal, go back to the Settings menu → Annexes → Application cloning. You just have to turn off the switchboard in front of the corresponding program, and the system will warn you that all data from the cloned application will be deleted without recovery.
If you used Second Space, you need to switch to it to delete, delete unnecessary applications in the standard way, and then disable the Second Space function in the basic settings, which will completely clear the virtual partition of memory.
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Proper removal through settings ensures that space is freed up in memory and prevents conflicts when the application is re-installed in the future.
Cleaning unwanted clones regularly helps keep your smartphone running. Cache files from dozens of copies that have been launched can take up gigabytes of space, slowing down the file system and increasing interface response time.