The MIUI and the new HyperOS feature, Xiaomi’s “Second Space” feature, is a powerful tool for separating digital content, allowing you to create a virtually separate smartphone within a single device, with your contacts, gallery and, most importantly, a suite of applications, ideal for those who want to separate work correspondence from personal correspondence or hide certain programs from prying eyes.
However, users often find that when the function is activated, the list of available programs for porting is empty or the Add button is simply absent. This is not a bug, but a feature of Android security that requires manual permission to access certain data. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to properly configure this feature and avoid typical errors in the cloning of software.
It should be noted that the transfer process can vary depending on the version of the firmware installed. On older versions of MIUI, the algorithm of actions was more direct, whereas in current builds of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the company has increased privacy measures.
What is the Second Space and Why is it Necessary?
At its core, this technology creates an isolated environment that doesn't overlap with the user's primary profile, and applications installed in the second space operate independently: they can have their own notifications, their social media accounts, and their geolocation access settings, which goes much deeper than just cloning applications, because the data is completely separated at the file system level.
This feature is not just about separating work and leisure, but many users use the second space as a safe to store sensitive information, photos or financial apps, and you can quickly switch to guest mode if necessary, or simply hide the presence of certain programs from children or colleagues.
It's important to understand that the transferred applications take up disk space twice, and if you clone a heavy game or a social network with a large cache, it can significantly affect the free memory of the device, so before mass transfer, it's worth assessing the available storage.
Preparation for the portability of applications
Before you start setting up, make sure that your Xiaomi or Redmi device has the latest operating system available. Old firmware may contain bugs that block the correct operation of isolated environments. It is also recommended to update all system components through the Security app.
The second important step is to check for space, and as mentioned, cloning requires duplication of data, so if your smartphone is 95-98% full, the system may refuse to create new instances of applications or run with significant delays.
☑️ Checklist before setting up
You also need to know your password or graphical key to enter the second space, and for security reasons, the system will require it when you first start up, and don't use simple combinations if you plan to store really important data there.
Standard way of transfer through settings
The most obvious and frequently used method is to use the built-in second space management menu, which usually suggests migrating popular apps immediately after you create a profile, but if you missed this point, you can do it manually.
To start, you need to go to the basic settings of the smartphone. Find the section Special features or additional settings (location may vary depending on the version of MIUI), where you will see the item "Second space", when you enter it, the system will request verification of identity through a fingerprint or Face ID.
Inside the control menu, find the Add Apps button or the plus icon, and you'll see a list of all the programs installed in the main space, and if you select the ones you want, click Move or Add, and then the shortcuts will appear in the second profile menu.
⚠️ Note: If you only see system services in the list of applications available for portability, and the necessary programs (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp) are not available, then they are not granted permission to access the data of the second space.
After successful transfer, it is recommended to open the application in the second space and log in, which will create the necessary cache and allow the system to correctly index the data.
Address: Add button doesn’t work or list is empty
This is the most common problem faced by Xiaomi smartphone owners: Starting with certain versions of the shell, developers have changed the logic of permissions, and now the application can not simply “see” the data of the second space without the explicit permission of the user in a special menu.
To fix this, you need to manually grant access. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the app you want to migrate (like WhatsApp) on the list. Click on it to open the app information page.
In the menu that opens, look for the Permission or Additional (depending on the Android version) button, which should have a switch called Access to Data in Second Space or similar. Activate it.
What to do if there is no switch?
It is worth noting that for some system applications, access may be limited by the manufacturer, in which case it will not be possible to transfer them using standard methods, and you will have to look for third-party analogues.
Alternative methods of cloning
If the regular second space doesn't meet your needs or doesn't work properly, the MIUI shell offers other built-in tools, most notably App Cloning, which is in the Security app or in the settings.
Cloning allows you to run a second instance of a social network or messenger without creating a separate space, which is an easier way that doesn't require you to switch profiles, but the data in the clone and in the original application are still separated.
Another option is to use the Guest mode or user profiles (if the feature is unlocked by the manufacturer for your model), which creates a completely separate Android account, which is analogous to the second space, but with a more rigid separation.
| Method | Data isolation | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second space | Complete. | High. | Medium |
| Cloning of applications | Partial | Low. | Low. |
| Guest mode | Complete. | Average. | Tall. |
| Third-party launchers | Depends on the software. | Average. | Tall. |
The choice of method depends on your goals. The second space is better for the complete division of life into before and after, and the cloning is enough for just having two WhatsApp accounts.
Setting up notifications and shortcuts
Once the application is ported, it is important to properly configure its notifications. By default, the system can block pop-up messages in the second space so as not to interfere with work in the main profile. Go to the notification settings inside the second space and make sure that they are activated.
Xiaomi offers several ways to quickly switch between spaces: the most convenient is to use a fingerprint; set different fingers to enter the main and secondary profiles; you can also add a switch widget to the desktop.
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Tip: Add a quick switch widget to the lock screen or notification curtain, which will save time if you need to frequently respond to messages from the second profile.
Remember that app shortcuts in the second space may look identical to the primary one, and to avoid confusion, some users change the themes or use different wallpapers for each space, which visually helps to navigate.
Frequent problems and their solution
One common problem is that icons disappear after a system update, and if that happens, try removing the app from the second space and adding it again, after clearing the Second Space cache.
Users also complain about increased battery consumption, which is normal, as two instances of the system are actually running, and to minimize the impact, limit the background activity of heavy applications in the second profile if they are not in constant use.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your smartphone to factory settings, the data in the second space will be permanently deleted, even if you did not choose the option of completely cleaning your profiles. Always back up important data before resetting.
If the app crashes in the second space, check if it's memory-constrained in the battery settings, and sometimes the system aggressively unloads secondary background processes to save resources.
Removal and management of the second space
If the second profile is no longer necessary, it can be easily deleted, and to do this, go to the settings of the second space and select Delete.
It is important to distinguish between removing the space itself and removing applications from it. You can remove a particular application at any time by simply holding its icon and selecting Delete, while the space itself and other data are saved.
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The bottom line: The second space is a separate operating environment. Deleting the main profile or resetting the phone will destroy the data in the second space, so backups are critical.
Passwords and login methods are also managed in this menu, and it is recommended to change the access code periodically, especially if you use your smartphone to store confidential work information.