How to completely disable app cloning on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The app cloning feature in MIUI (Xiaomi’s branded shell) allows you to create duplicates of messengers, social networks and games for different accounts. This is convenient if you need to separate work and personal profiles in the same application. However, over time, duplicates begin to load the system, take up excess memory and create confusion in the menu, and some applications (such as banking) can block work in cloned mode due to security policies.

In this article, you will find the most current ways to disable cloning on all versions. MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS, and solutions for cases where standard settings do not work, ADB-commands and even hidden engineering menus – taking into account the features of popular models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and others.).

Why App Cloning May Get Into the Way

At first glance, the duplication function seems harmless, but in practice it creates several problems:

• 📱 RAM overload: Each clone works as a separate application, consuming memory and CPU time. on budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5) This can lead to slowdowns.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: background activity of duplicates increases power consumption by 10-15% (based on tests on Xiaomi 12 Lite).
• 📁 Busy memory: cloned apps store individual cache and data, which eats up to 1-2 GB of internal storage.
• 🔒 Security problems: some banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) block the entrance to cloned versions due to the risk of phishing.

And duplicates are often confusing, with users accidentally opening the wrong social media account or sending messages from a different profile, and if you sell a phone, forgotten clones can be a source of identity leaks.

Method 1: Disable cloning through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for most models on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Go to App Duplicates (or Cloning Apps in New Versions).
3. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) Next to an unnecessary duplicate or select Delete Everything.
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

If the Duplicate Apps section is not in the menu, try an alternative path:

1. Launch Security (Shield icon).
2. Go to Optimization → Battery and Performance → Duplicate applications.

Important: Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for POCO F4) has the option hidden, in which case resetting the Security application settings (see Method 4) will help.

Method 2: Remove clones through the app menu

Not everyone knows, but duplicates can be removed directly from the launcher:

1. Find the cloned app icon on the home screen (it is marked with an icon) ⧉ lower-right).
2. Keep your finger on the icon until the context menu appears.
3. Select Remove Duplicate or Application Information → Delete.

If the option to delete the duplicate is not available:

• 🔧 Try dragging the icon to the top of the screen (to the inscription Delete).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the menu appears after the reboot.

💡

On some models (Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 11T), cloned apps are hidden in the Duplicates folder on the home screen. Check it before you delete it!

Method 3: Disabling the Cloning Function Completely

If you don't use duplicates at all, you can deactivate the function at the system level, which will prevent the accidental creation of new clones:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → MIUI functions.
2. Find the option Duplicate applications and move the slider to the off position.
3. Confirm the shutdown by pressing Yes in the dialog box.

On HyperOS (for example, on Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70) the path is different:

1. Settings → Applications → Advanced settings → Duplicates of applications.
2. Turn off the Allow Cloning slider.

Warning: Disabling the function does not remove duplicates already created – they must be manually removed (see methods 1 and 2).

Method 4: Removing clones via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you’ll need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including those where the cloning function is sewn into firmware (for example, Black Shark 5 or Xiaomi Mix Fold 2).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to press the version → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Run the command to remove all duplicates: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.dualcamera adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.dualspace
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

If the clones are left after the reboot, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings put global multi_app_clone_enabled 0

💡

ADB commands only remove the system components of cloning, not the duplicates of the applications themselves. Once they are executed, you need to manually uninstall the clones through the settings!

Attention: ⚠️ Misuse ADB Do not change other system settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

Method 5: Reset the settings of the "Security" application

On some firmware (especially MIUI China), cloning is controlled through the Security app. If previous methods have failed, try resetting it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Security (Shield icon) and open its settings.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The cloning function will be disabled, but the duplicates already created will remain.
• 📌 You may need to reconfigure permissions for applications (e.g., access to a camera or microphone).

Attention: ⚠️ Nana POCO-device (POCO X3 Pro, POCO F5) Security can be called Security Center, and some features (like Game Turbo) may be lost after a reset, but they are restored after a reboot.

Comparison of methods for disabling cloning

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after cloning is disabled, users are faced with nuances, and here are the most common situations and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Clones reappear after update MIUI: This is due to automatic resetting. Before updating, back up through Settings. → The phone. → Backup, then manually remove duplicates after installing a new firmware version.
• 🚫 Application Duplicates option is not available in the settings: On some models (Xiaomi Pad 5, Redmi) K50) It's hidden. Try using it. ADB Or install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that shows all apps, including clones.
• 🔒 You can’t remove a clone of a banking application: Some applications (e.g. Sberbank Online) block the removal of the duplicate due to security, in which case only a complete reset of the phone to the factory settings will help.
• ⚠️ After removing the clone, the main app stopped working: This happens if the duplicate was "tied" to the main profile.Reinstall the app from Google Play or Mi App Store.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📋 Version MIUI: beta-fixed (MIUI Beta) cloning function may not work smoothly.
• 🛠️ Root rights: If the phone is rooted, clones can be protected from being deleted.Use Root Explorer to force them to be removed from the folder /data/app.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions