How to split the app into two parts on Xiaomi: 3 proven ways

Have you ever encountered a situation where one application on your Xiaomi takes up too much space or interferes with other programs?Maybe you want to separate the application data from its main code, create a duplicate for different accounts or just optimize memory usage. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to split the application into two parts on Xiaomi devices – from built-in MIUI functions to using third-party tools.

It is important to understand that the term "split app" can have several meanings: it is creating a clone of an application to work with multiple accounts (for example, two WhatsApp or Telegram), and transferring some data to a memory card, and even separating the cache from the main files. We will consider all current methods, including their pros and cons, and also give recommendations for security.

If you’re using a Xiaomi smartphone based on MIUI 12/13/14 or a newer version, most of the methods described will work without additional manipulation. Older versions of firmware or custom builds may require alternative solutions — we’ll touch on them too.

1. Method: Cloning applications through Dual Apps (built-in MIUI function)

The easiest and safest way to share an app on Xiaomi is to use the built-in Dual Apps feature (also known as Double Apps), which allows you to create a full clone of the selected program that will work independently of the original, ideal for instant messengers, social networks or games where you need to use multiple accounts at the same time.

To activate Dual Apps, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
• 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Dual Apps (on some versions) MIUI The path may be different: Settings → Special facilities → Dual Apps).
• 🔄 Turn on the function by moving the slider to the "On" position.".
• ➕ Press the badge"+" and select the app you want to clone (such as WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram).
• 🔄 Confirm the creation of a clone – a new icon with the mark “Double application” will appear on the desktop".

Note that not all applications support cloning, for example, some banking or security-enhanced services may block Dual Apps. Also note that the cloned application will take up additional space in the device’s memory — about the same as the original.

Check the free space on the device (minimum 1-2 GB)

Update MIUI to the latest version

Make sure the app supports Dual Apps

Backup of important data

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2. Method: Separation of application data using App Twin (an alternative to older versions of MIUI)

If your Xiaomi smartphone runs on an older firmware version (e.g. MIUI 10 or MIUI 11) that does not have Dual Apps, you can use an alternative method, the App Twin app (also known as Parallel Apps), which is available in some regional versions of MIUI and allows you to create clones of applications similar to the built-in feature.

Instructions for using App Twin:

1. Go to Settings → App Twin → App Twin
2. Activate the function by pressing the switch.
3. Select the app from the list of supported apps (usually popular messengers and social networks).
4. Confirm the creation of the clone – a second icon marked “Twin” will appear on the desktop.

The main difference between App Twin and Dual Apps is that there is a limited list of supported programs, and some devices may not have this feature at all, in which case you will have to use third-party applications, which we will talk about later.

Built-in Dual Apps feature

Third-party applications (e.g. Island)

App Twin (Parallel Apps)

I don't use cloning.-->

3. Method: Use of third-party applications (Island, Parallel Space)

If you don't like the built-in features of Xiaomi or the app you want isn't on the supported list, you can use third-party tools, the most popular of which are Island (for root-enabled devices) and Parallel Space (works without root), which allow you not only to clone applications, but also to isolate their data, creating a kind of "sandbox".

Island is a powerful tool that requires root rights, and it creates an isolated environment where you can run clones of individual data applications, which is useful if you want to separate your work and personal accounts completely, but installing and configuring Island requires some technical skills.

Parallel Space, on the other hand, doesn't require root rights and is easier to use, it creates a virtual space where you can run clones of programs, and it's down to some apps that can run unstable, and there's advertising in the free version.

Important: Using third-party cloning applications may violate the security policies of some services (e.g. banking or cheat-proof games).

Method 4: Transferring part of application data to memory card

If by “application partitioning” you mean memory optimization, you can transfer some of the application data (such as cache or media files) to a memory card, this is true for devices with a small amount of internal memory or for applications that actively use multimedia (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Galery).

Instructions for data portability:

• 📁 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select the desired application (such as WhatsApp).
• 💾 Click on Memory. → Move it to SD-Card (if the option is available).
• ⚠️ Note that not all applications support porting to a memory card – it depends on the developer.

If portability is not available, you can manually change the way you save files in the settings of the app itself, for example, on WhatsApp, this is done as follows:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the ⋮ → Settings → Warehouse and data.
2. Click Storage Management and select the option to transfer media files.
3. Specify the memory card as the place to save new files.

Please note that the transfer of data to SD-The card may slow down the application, especially if the memory card has a low read/write speed (class below). UHS-I Class 10).

💡

Before transferring data to the memory card, format it in exFAT format – this will save files larger than 4 GB and speed up the work of applications.

5. Method: Separation of cache and user data (for power users)

For advanced users who want to have full control over what data is stored in a device’s memory and what data is stored on a memory card or in the cloud, there is a method of manually separating application files, which requires access to root rights and working with the file system via Root Explorer or ADB.

The idea is to move folders with cache or user data (e.g. /data/data/com.example.app/cache) to another storage, leaving the main files of the application in internal memory, which saves space and speeds up the program by optimizing access to data.

Example of a command to transfer cache through ADB:

adb shell


su




mv /data/data/com.example.app/cache /sdcard/Android/data/com.example.app/cache




ln -s /sdcard/Android/data/com.example.app/cache /data/data/com.example.app/cache

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB or changing system files without root rights can lead to data loss or application failure, this method is recommended only for experienced users who understand the consequences of their actions.

💡

Manually sharing an application requires root rights and can disrupt the program. Always back up before changing system files.

Possible problems and solutions

When you split your applications into Xiaomi, you might encounter a number of problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

• 🚫 The cloned application doesn't start. Cause: conflict with the original application or lack of rights. Solution: clear the cache and clone data, restart the device or recreate the clone.
• 🔄 The clone and original data are synchronized. Reason: the application uses cloud storage (like Google Drive or iCloud). Solution: disable synchronization in account settings or use another cloning application (like Island).
• 📱 There's not enough space to create a clone, because there's not enough free memory on the device, so you can either clear the cache of unnecessary applications or transfer some of the data to a memory card.

If you use third-party cloning applications (like Parallel Space), make sure you have the latest version of the program installed. Often, clone problems are solved with a simple update.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g., banking or two-factor authentication) may block work in a cloned environment for security reasons.

7.Alternative methods: cloud services and virtual machines

If none of the methods described are suitable for you, consider alternatives to "separate" applications:

• ☁️ Using cloud-based applications: Some services (e.g. Google Docs, Trello, Notion) have web versions that can be opened in the browser without being installed on the device, allowing one account to be used in the app and another account to be used in the browser.
• 🖥️ Virtual Machines (for PCs) If you need to share the work with the application on Xiaomi and your computer, you can use Android emulators (for example, BlueStacks or Genymotion) to run a second copy of the program.
• 🔗 Multiaccounting in the app itself: Many modern apps (e.g. Telegram, Slack, Microsoft Outlook) support switching between multiple accounts without the need for cloning.

These methods do not require changing system files or installing additional programs, which makes them more secure, but they are not suitable for all types of applications - for example, games or messengers with a reference to a phone number may not support multi-account.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions