How to clone an app on Xiaomi Mi 9: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s smartphones, including the popular Mi 9, are famous for their MIUI shell, which offers users a huge set of features out of the box. One of the most sought-after features for many owners is the native app cloning feature, which allows you to run two copies of the same app at the same time using different accounts, which is especially true for instant messengers and social networks.

Unlike many other Android devices, where this task requires third-party programs or obtaining superuser rights, the Xiaomi Mi 9 has a built-in mechanism that works at the system level. This ensures stability, no excess battery consumption and high speed switching between accounts. You do not need to be an expert in the Android world to set up this feature in a few minutes.

In this article, we will go into detail all aspects of creating copies of applications on your device. We will look at standard configuration methods, possible system limitations and alternative solutions for those programs that are not supported by the built-in tool.

Why you need to clone Android apps

The modern rhythm of life often dictates its rules, requiring a person to be constantly connected. Many people use two or more phone numbers: one for personal contacts, one for work or business. Previously, you had to carry two devices with you, which was inconvenient and cumbersome. The cloning function solves this problem elegantly, allowing you to combine both worlds in one body.

The main purpose of duplication is to separate the flow of information. Messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber allow you to link an account to only one phone number. Without cloning, you would have to constantly log out of one profile and into another, wasting time and missing important notifications. Having two icons on your desktop eliminates this confusion.

And separating accounts is also useful for those who want to separate work from personal without having to set up a SIM card, so you can set up different notification sounds for the main and cloned versions to immediately understand where the message came from, which increases productivity and helps maintain work-rest balance.

• 📱 The ability to use two numbers in one device without switching SIM-map.
• ⏰ Saving time to constantly log in and out of different profiles in applications.
• 🔔 Flexible notification settings: different sounds and vibrations for work and personal life.
• 🛡️ Enhancing privacy by sharing data in isolated spaces.

⚠️ Note: Clone applications operate as independent processes, which means they can consume additional RAM and battery power, although on the powerful Snapdragon 855 processor installed in the Mi 9, this is almost invisible in everyday use.

Built-in “App Cloning” function in MIUI

Xiaomi’s MIUI shell includes a special module called App Twin, which is integrated deep into the system and optimized for the brand’s hardware. On the Mi 9, it works consistently and supports most popular social networks and instant messengers.

The principle of system cloning is to create an isolated container that emulates the environment for running the second copy of the program. The process is transparent to the user: he sees just a second icon with a characteristic icon, usually in the form of an orange ring or a label indicating that it is a copy.

The activation of the function is through system settings. The path to the menu may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. You do not need to download any files or access system files. Everything is done through a graphical interface that even a beginner understands.

It's worth noting that the list of supported programs is created by the shell developers, usually the most popular services, and if you install an application that's not on the list, the cloning function may not be available to it through the standard menu, but we'll talk about this in the section on alternative methods.

Step-by-step: how to create a copy of the application

The process of activating a second copy of the program on Xiaomi Mi 9 takes literally a few seconds. First, make sure that the main application is already installed on your smartphone and you are authorized to it (or ready to do so after you create a copy).

First, open the main settings menu for your device. Find a section called "Applications." In some firmware versions, this item may be called "Applications and Notifications." Inside this section, you need to find a subsection called "Application Cloning." If you don't see it right away, search by settings by typing in the corresponding query.

Settings → Applications → Cloning of applications

Once you log in, you'll see a list of all the programs that you've installed that support duplicate creation, and you'll have a switch next to each application, and you'll activate the switch in front of the service you want, like WhatsApp, and you'll be alerted to create a new desktop icon. Confirm.

Now, a second icon will appear on the desktop or on the menu of all apps, and it will look exactly like the original icon, but with a slight visual difference (usually an orange icon in the corner), click on it to launch a clone. You will need to enter the phone number of the second SIM card or login account. Once you have successfully logged in, you will be able to use both accounts simultaneously.

Working with Second Space: An Alternative Method

If embedded cloning doesn’t support the app you want, or you want to create a completely isolated environment with a different set of programs and even a different Google account, Second Space is a more radical method that creates a second smartphone inside one.

Second Space is a separate user profile with its own settings, wallpaper, passwords and apps, and switching between the main and second spaces is done through a special shortcut on the lock screen or through settings, ideal for those who want to divide work and personal life, or for parents who want to restrict their children’s access to certain data.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Second Space. The system will prompt you to create a new profile. You will need to set a password or a graphical key to log in. Once created, you will be in a clean interface where you will need to re-download all the necessary applications. This will take longer than simple cloning, but will give you complete isolation.

⚠️ Note: Deleting the Second Space will result in a complete cleanup of all data stored inside it.Photos, contacts and files from the cloned profile will not be transferred automatically to the main one, so backups are made regularly.

Using Second Space on the Mi 9 is especially warranted if you need to test apps, run games on other accounts, or provide your child with a phone without showing them your personal details. MIUI.

Third-party cloning solutions

There are times when standard MIUI tools fail, such as if you want to clone an application that is not on the supported list, or you need to run three or more copies of one program, and in such cases, third-party cloners from the Google Play store come to the rescue.

The most popular solutions are Parallel Space, 2Accounts or Multiple Accounts, which create a virtual environment (sandbox) in which you can run any application, and the principle of their operation is similar to an emulator: you install one “container”, and already inside it you run as many copies of WhatsApp, Facebook or games.

However, this method has its drawbacks: Third-party cloners often contain ads, require additional permissions and can be more loading than the native solution from Xiaomi, and they can incorrectly work with push notifications, requiring the application to constantly keep active in the background.

When installing such programs, the MIUI system can aggressively close their background processes to save energy, and to avoid this, you need to manually configure autorun and remove the battery restrictions for the cloner application in the smartphone settings.

Optimization and possible problems

Despite the system optimization, running two heavy apps at the same time, such as messaging apps with multiple media files, can affect performance. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 with its 6 or 8GB of RAM, this is rarely a problem, but owners of versions with less RAM should be more careful.

One of the common problems is the lack of notifications in the second cloned app, which is because Android and MIUI are looking to "sleep" background processes to save charge.If you don't get messages in the second copy of WhatsApp or Telegram, check the battery settings.

To solve the problem, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find a cloned application (it will be marked with a clone icon). Go to Battery and select No Limits mode. Also make sure that the Auto Run menu ticks against this application.

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For stable operation of cloned applications, add them to the list of exceptions of the antivirus and memory cleaner MIUI, so that the system does not terminate their processes forcibly.

Another nuance is the update: cloned apps are updated through Google Play regardless of the main ones. Sometimes, after updating the program itself, the cloning function may temporarily stop working before the MIUI update is released, but such cases are rare and quickly fixed by developers.

Comparison of cloning methods on Xiaomi

Choosing a cloning method depends on your specific needs, and if you just need to split personal and work chats in popular messaging apps, the built-in feature is the perfect choice, and if you want complete isolation or cloning of specific software, you have to resort to more sophisticated methods.

The table below compares the main characteristics of different approaches to solving the problem on Xiaomi devices.

Use only the built-in MIUI tools for everyday tasks to ensure the maximum speed and autonomy of your Xiaomi Mi 9.

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The native cloning function in MIUI operates at the core level, making it the most energy efficient and stable way to run two accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)