How to clone WhatsApp on Xiaomi: official and alternative methods

Using two WhatsApp accounts on a single Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge for those who share work and personal correspondence, manage multiple business profiles, or simply want to test new features of the messenger without risking the main account. Unlike the iPhone, where cloning requires workarounds, Redmi devices, POCO and other Xiaomi models offer built-in tools for duplicating applications.

In this article, we will look at three proven ways to clone WhatsApp on Xiaomi, from an official solution to little-known tricks for advanced users. We will focus on the nuances of working with MIUI 14/15, the limitations of the messenger and ways to bypass locks. If you have previously encountered errors like “The device does not support multiple accounts”, here you will find workarounds.

1.Official method: Dual Apps function in MIUI

Xiaomi’s most reliable and recommended method is to use the built-in Dual Apps feature (also known as App Cloning), which is available on most devices with MIUI 8 and newer, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T and others, with the advantage of not having to install third-party programs and minimal risk of blocking an account.

To activate Dual Apps:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select Cloning of Apps (Dual Apps).
3. In the list, find WhatsApp and turn on the switch next to it.
4. Confirm the creation of the clone, wait for the installation (may take 1-2 minutes).
5. Launch the cloned application from the menu or from the desktop (the icon will be marked with an icon). 👥).

Once activated, you can register a second WhatsApp account with a different phone number, and note that both accounts will operate independently, but notifications and data (photos, videos) will be stored separately.

Update. MIUI last-minute|Free up at least 500MB of memory|Make sure that the main WhatsApp works without errors.|Connect to Wi-Fi (downloading a clone can weigh) ~100MB)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Dual Apps can be hidden. To find it, search the cloning settings».

2. Alternative method: Parallel Space and analogues

If Dual Apps are not available (for example, on devices with custom firmware or older versions of MIUI), you can use third-party launchers like Parallel Space, 2Accounts or Island, these applications create an isolated “sandbox” where you can run a second instance of WhatsApp without conflict with the main one.

Instructions for Parallel Space:

1. Download Parallel Space from Google Play.
2. Launch the application and provide all the permissions requested (access to contacts, files, notifications).
3. In the main launcher menu, find WhatsApp and add it to the “parallel space.”
4. Launch a cloned messenger and register a second account.

Parallel Space offers additional features such as fingerprint or password locking, but has drawbacks:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption (up to 10-15% per hour of active use).
• 📱 Possible lags on weak devices (Redmi) 8A, POCO C31).
• 🚫 Account lock risk when you switch between spaces frequently (WhatsApp may consider this as suspicious activity).

Dual Apps (built-in) |Parallel Space|Manual cloning (ADB) |Another method-->

3. Manual cloning through ADB (for advanced)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and have basic command-line skills. It allows you to create a full-fledged WhatsApp clone without using Dual Apps or third-party launchers, but requires care – the wrong commands can disrupt the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until the notification “You are a developer” appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB-tools

Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm install --user 0 -i "com.whatsapp" -r /path/to/whatsapp.apk


adb shell cmd app-clone create com.whatsapp

Replace. /path/to/whatsapp.apk downhill APK-The messenger file (download from APKMirror) will be cloned WhatsApp with the prefix "Clone" in the name after the commands are executed.

⚠️ Attention: Cloning through ADB This can lead to notification conflict or sync errors if both WhatsApp accounts use the same phone number.Always register a clone to a new number.

4. Features of working with two WhatsApp accounts

After successful cloning, it is important to consider a few key points to avoid problems:

• 🔔 Notifications: In Dual Apps, notifications for the clone are displayed separately (marked "Clone"). In Parallel Space, they can be manually configured.
• 📁 Data storage: Files (photos, videos, voice messages) are saved in different folders: Main account: /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/ Clone (Dual Apps): /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.whatsapp.wrapper/
• 🔄 Sync: The cloned account is not synced to the main one, and you will have to manually transfer contacts, chats and media files.
• 🚫 WhatsApp restrictions: The messenger can block the account if he notices suspicious activity (for example, frequent change of devices or other information). IP-address).

If you use WhatsApp Business, please note that cloning a business account may result in a temporary blocking due to a violation of WhatsApp policy, in which case it is better to register a second account on a different number through the official application.

💡

To quickly switch between accounts, add both WhatsApp widgets to the home screen. To do this, press the free space on your desktop → “Widgets” → find “WhatsApp” and “WhatsApp (Clone)”.

5. Solving common problems

When cloning WhatsApp on Xiaomi, users often encounter common mistakes.

Error: “The device does not support multiple accounts”

This problem arises if:

• You are trying to clone WhatsApp Business (it doesn't support Dual Apps).
• The device has an outdated version of MIUI (update the software).
• The settings disabled the cloning function for a specific application.

Solution: Check that you have a regular WhatsApp Messenger installed (not Business), and update MIUI through Settings → System Update.

WhatsApp clone is not installed

If the cloning process has stalled or ended in error:

1. Clear the cache of Google Play Services in Settings → Apps → App Management.
2. Reset the device.
3. Repeat the attempt, pre-freed 1-2 GB of memory.

No notifications come in the clone

For Dual Apps:

• Check if notifications for the cloned application are included in Settings → Notifications.
• Open the WhatsApp clone and manually allow notifications to be displayed in the messenger settings.

For Parallel Space:

• Launch the launcher and enable the “Notifications” option in the space settings.
• Add Parallel Space to the battery optimization exception list (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).

💡

If the cloned WhatsApp stopped working after the MIUI update, remove the clone and recreate it. System updates can reset the Dual Apps settings.

6.Security and privacy when using two accounts

Working with multiple WhatsApp accounts on a single device requires a special focus on security, and here are some key recommendations:

• 🔐 Don't use the same number for two accounts. WhatsApp blocks such attempts because they violate the service's rules.
• 📱 Set up application lock. MIUI This is done through settings. → Confidentiality → App lock. Set a separate clone. PIN-code.
• 🔄 Update both accounts regularly.Outdated versions of WhatsApp are vulnerable to hacking.
• 🚨 Avoid suspicious launchers. Some Parallel Space analogues contain adware or spyware modules.

If you use a second account for work, consider switching to WhatsApp Business with official registration, which will avoid the risks of blocking and get additional features (autoresponder, product catalog).

For maximum confidentiality:

• Turn off backup chats in Google Drive for a cloned account (if it contains sensitive information).
• Use a separate one. SIM-a card or virtual number (e.g., via Google Voice) for the second account.
• Check active sessions periodically in WhatsApp Settings → Linked Devices.

7. Alternatives to cloning WhatsApp on Xiaomi

If none of the above methods work, consider using two accounts:

• 📱 WhatsApp Web: Register a second account on another device (tablet, old smartphone) and connect it to the main phone via the web version.
• 🔄 Multiaccounting via Telegram: If the goal is to separate personal and work correspondence, Telegram supports multiple accounts out of the box without cloning.
• 📧 Additional messengers: For business correspondence, use Signal, Viber or Skype in parallel with WhatsApp.

Xiaomi owners with MIUI 12+ also have a “Second Space” feature that creates a completely isolated user profile with separate apps, contacts and settings, a more reliable way to separate personal and work data than simply cloning a messenger.

To activate Second Space:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
2. Follow the instructions for setting up (you will need to create a separate one). PIN-code).
3. After the reboot, select a profile when you turn on your phone.
4. In the second space, install WhatsApp as a regular app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about WhatsApp cloning on Xiaomi