Cloning apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: a complete guide with risks and life hacks

Cloning apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is a useful feature for those who want to use multiple accounts in the same messenger, games or social networks without buying a second phone. But not everyone knows that the standard tool Dual Apps from Xiaomi does not work with all programs, and third-party methods can violate the stability of the system. In this article, we will discuss three working methods of cloning (including hidden settings MIUI), warn against typical errors and show how to circumvent the manufacturer’s restrictions.

The Redmi Note 8 (codenamed ginkgo) features a stripped-down MIUI firmware for budget models, where some features are hidden. For example, the global version lacks built-in cloning for WhatsApp Business or Telegram X, although Chinese firmware supports them. We tested all methods on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and Android 10/11 — the results are summarized in the comparison table below.

Important: cloning through informal tools (for example, Parallel Space or 2Accounts) can lead to a ban on social networks or games due to suspicion of multi-account. VK and Facebook database actively blocks clones created through obfuscated APKs. If you need to separate work and personal profiles, use the official Dual Apps or Shelter virtual machine.

1.Official method: Dual Apps in MIUI

The most secure method is the built-in Dual Apps feature, which creates a second instance of the application with a separate data store. On the Redmi Note 8, it is available for a limited list of programs (see the table below), but it can be activated for any APK through a hidden menu.

How to turn on:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Dual Apps.
• 🔍 In the list of supported applications, find the desired one (if not, see the method below).
• 🔄 Click on the switch and confirm the creation of the clone.
• 📌 The new app will appear on the desktop with the Double icon (e.g., WhatsApp (2)»).

If your app isn’t listed, follow these steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and enter into ADB Adb shell settings put global multi_app_clone_support_all true
4. Restart the device – now all installed programs will be displayed in Dual Apps.

⚠️ Note: Once the hidden mode is activated, some applications (e.g. banking) may block the clone due to a security breach.SberBank Online and Tinkoff define Dual Apps as an “unsafe environment” and require reinstallation.

Backup your data in Mi Cloud

Check the vacant space (clone takes +10-15% of the original)

Disable battery optimization for a cloned application

Make sure that MIUI version is no lower than 12.0.3 (on older notification bugs)

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2. Third-party launchers: Parallel Space and analogues

If Dual Apps doesn’t support the right app or you want to isolate the clone in the sandbox, use specialized launchers.

• 🪟 Parallel Space – creates a virtual space with a separate storage (supports games and social networks, but can lie on the weak hardware Redmi Note 8).
• 🔄 2Accounts — Easy alternative with minimal resource consumption (no advertising, but limited list of supported applications).
• 🛡️ Shelter is open source, works through Work Profile (most secure for banking applications).

Instructions for Parallel Space:

1. Download the app from Google Play or APKCombo (if you don’t have access to Google services).
2. Launch the launcher and add applications to the virtual space via the + button.
3. Configure permissions: Parallel Space settings → Permissions management → Enable everything.
4. Launch a clone from the launcher's main menu.

⚠️ Note: Parallel Space launchers are often defined by anticheats in games (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, as "unacceptable modifications." If you're banned, try Shelter or create a clone through a mobile phone. ADB (see next section).

Parallel Space

2Accounts

Shelter/Island

Not using.

Other (write in the comments)

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3. Advanced cloning through ADB (without root)

If you want to clone an application that is not supported by Dual Apps or launchers, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works without superuser rights, but requires a PC connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone (see section 1).
3. Connect the Redmi Note 8 to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (should appear the device with the serial number).
4. Click the app with a command (replace com.example.app with your application’s batch name): adb shell cmd package install-existing --user 999 com.example.app
5. Restart the phone – the clone will appear in the app menu.

How to find out the package name of the application:

• 📲 Install App Inspector.
• 🔍 Find the desired application in the list and copy the value of the Package Name.

💡

If the app doesn’t start after cloning through ADB, clear its cache: Settings → Apps → [Clone Name] → Clear the cache.

Important: clones created through ADB are not automatically updated through Google Play. To update such an app, first remove the clone, update the original, and then repeat the cloning procedure.

4 Problems and Solutions: Why the Clone Doesn't Work

Even after successful cloning, you may encounter errors, and let's look at the typical problems and ways to solve them:

If a Telegram or WhatsApp clone can’t send an SMS to confirm the number, try:

• 📵 Temporarily disable the original application.
• 📡 Switch to mobile data (Wi-Fi may be blocked).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.

5. Alternatives to cloning: virtual machines and multi-profiles

If cloning is not appropriate (for example, due to the risk of a ban or lack of resources), consider alternative ways to split accounts:

• 🖥️ Virtual machine (e.g. virtual machine, VMOS) — Android inside Android. minus: requires 4+ GB of free space and strongly drains the battery.
• 👤 Chrome Multiprofile – to separate Google accounts, VK, Facebook in the browser.
• 📱 Second user (beginning with the MIUI 12): Settings → System system → Multiplayer mode.
• 🔑 Hardware solution – buying a low-cost second phone (e.g. Redmi) A1 post 5-7 thousand.).

For the Redmi Note 8, the best option is a second user, as it requires no additional resources and completely isolates data.

• ❌ No access to SMS/call-ups of second-user.
• ❌ Some apps (like Google Pay) only work on the main profile.
• ❌ When you change the user, all applications are restarted.

💡

If you only need to share messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), use Dual Apps or Shelter. For games and banking applications, it is better to create a second user or buy a separate phone.

6 Risks and safety: what to fear

App cloning is not a harmless procedure, and here are the key risks that are rarely warned about:

• 🚫 Account Ban: Social media and games are actively fighting multi-accounts, such as Facebook blocking clones created through Parallel Space, and Facebook is actively fighting multi-accounts. PUBG Mobile bans for using virtual spaces.
• 🛡️ Data breach: Launchers like Parallel Space have access to all clone data, and 1.5 million users of the app leaked in 2022.
• 🔋 Overheating and battery discharge: Virtual machines and clones increase the load on the Snapdragon 665 processor in the Redmi Note 8, leading to trottling.
• 🔄 Update conflicts: Clones created through ADB, It may break down after the original app update.

How to minimize the risks:

1. Use the official Dual Apps for social networks and Shelter for banking applications.
2. Do not clone games with anticheat (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile).
3. Regularly clean the clone cache in Settings → Storage.
4. Turn off auto-update for cloned applications.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8 firmware MIUI Global cloning of Google Play Services ADB If you accidentally cloned this component, remove the clone by command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 999 com.google.android.gms

FAQ: Frequent questions about cloning on Redmi Note 8