How to split an app on Xiaomi: official and hidden methods

Introduction: Why you need to split applications on Xiaomi

Creating a duplicate app (or “split”) on Xiaomi smartphones solves several practical problems at once, for example, you can use two WhatsApp accounts on one device — one for work, one for personal correspondence, or run two accounts in games like Clash of Clans to manage multiple accounts at once, and some users bypass the geoblocking restrictions in applications like TikTok or Netflix, creating “virtual” devices with different regional settings.

The official MIUI firmware offers a built-in Dual Apps feature (formerly called Dual Apps), but it doesn’t work with all programs and has limitations. Fortunately, there are alternative methods, from using third-party launchers like Parallel Space to manual cloning via ADB. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including those hidden in the MIUI engineering menu and not available through the standard interface.

It's important to consider that bifurcation of applications can affect the performance of a device, especially if you're using resource-intensive programs like games or social networks with a lot of media, and some apps (like banking apps) block cloned mode for security reasons, but that's all in order.

Method 1: Dual Apps built-in in MIUI

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the standard Dual Apps option available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12 and later firmware, which creates a full-fledged app clone with separate data storage, cache and notifications, but it doesn’t work with all programs — the list of supported applications is automatically generated based on popularity and technical capabilities.

To activate Dual Apps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Dual Apps
2. In the list, find the desired app (such as Telegram or Facebook) and click on the switch next to it.
3. Confirm the creation of a duplicate - a new icon with a double rhombus icon will appear on the desktop.
4. Launch the cloned app and sign in under another account.

Limitations of the method:

• 🔹 Not all apps are supported (e.g. Google Pay or SberBank Online are not listed).
• 🔹 Clone applications take up extra space in memory (sometimes up to a point). 2-3 once-in-a-lifetime).
• 🔹 Some features may not work well (for example, push notifications in clones). VK Instagram).

Method 2: Parallel Space and similar launchers

If the app is not on the Dual Apps list, you can use third-party solutions, the most popular being Parallel Space (available on Google Play and Mi App Store), which creates an isolated sandbox where you can install and run cloned versions of the apps, and the advantage of the method is that it works even with programs that are not supported by the built-in MIUI function.

Instructions for setting up Parallel Space:

1. Download and install the application from the official store.
2. When you first start, provide all the necessary permissions (access to storage, contacts, camera, etc.).
3. In the main launcher menu, click Add Apps and select the ones you want to bifurcate.
4. Launch a cloned version from the Parallel Space interface and log in under another account.

Alternative launchers for splitting:

• 🔹 Island – more advanced tool with support for work profiles (requires root).
• 🔹 2Accounts — Parallel Space without advertising.
• 🔹 App Cloner – allows you not only to clone, but also to modify applications (for example, change the color of the interface).

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If a cloned application in Parallel Space does not receive notifications, check the battery settings: add the launcher to the “No Limits” list in the Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization section.

Disadvantages of third-party launchers:

• 🔸 Increased battery consumption (launcher works as background process).
• 🔸 There may be conflicts with some system applications (e.g., Mi Security may block Parallel Space as "suspicious software").
• 🔸 Parallel Space has a free version of ads that can interfere with work.

Method 3: ADB bifurcation (for power users)

If you want to fork out an application that is not supported by either Dual Apps or Parallel Space, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to clone almost any application, including system applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers (e.g., via Mi PC Suite) and open the command prompt.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, continue.
5. Click the application with a command (replace com.example.app with the batch name of the desired application): adb shell cmd package install-existing --user 0 com.example.app
6. Reboot the smartphone – a duplicate of the application will appear on the desktop.

How to find out the package name of the application:

• 🔹 Install App Inspector from Google Play – it shows the package name for any application.
• 🔹 Use the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "name of annex"

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-They can block the cloned mode if they detect a changed packet signature. ADB-method will not work.

Method 4: Hidden MIUI function "Second Space"

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden option called Second Space, which allows you to create a completely isolated copy of the system with separate applications, settings and data. It is essentially an OS-level sandbox where you can install any application without conflicts with the main profile. The feature is available on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but is hidden by default.

How to activate Second Space:

1. Open Settings → Special Features → Second Space (if there is no item, skip this step).
2. If the option is not in the menu, search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top) and enter the Second Space request.
3. Follow the instructions for creating a second profile – you will need to set a password or a pattern lock.
4. After setting up, switch between swipe profiles down the notification panel (user avatar icon).

The benefits of Second Space:

• 🔹 Complete isolation of applications and data (you can use different Google accounts, Mi Accounts, etc.).
• 🔹 There is no limit to the number of cloned applications (unlike Dual Apps).
• 🔹 System applications are supported (e.g. Contacts or Messages).

Disadvantages:

• 🔸 It takes up a lot of space (actually doubles the amount of system files).
• 🔸 Certain functions (e.g, NFC Google Pay may not work properly.
• 🔸 When resetting Second Space is removed without recovery.

Make a backup copy of the data

Make sure there is enough memory on the device (minimum 5GB free)

Remember the password for the second profile

Disable battery optimization for system applications

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Method 5: Manual cloning through an engineering menu (for advanced)

This is suitable for users who are willing to work with hidden MIUI settings. The engineering menu has an option App Cloner, which allows you to create duplicate applications without ADB or third-party launchers. However, access to this menu requires knowledge of special codes and can vary depending on the device model.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636## (some models may require ##3644633##).
2. In the engineering menu, select App Cloner (or Dual App Settings).
3. Find the right app in the list and click Clone.
4. Confirm the creation of a duplicate – the icon will appear on the desktop marked Clone.

Not all codes work on new Xiaomi models, like the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ s MIUI 14 may be required to access the engineering menu ADB-team:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can lead to unstable operation of the device. It is not recommended to edit the settings, the purpose of which you do not know (for example, Band Selection or Network Lock).

Comparison of methods of bifurcation of applications on Xiaomi

To choose the best method, compare all the methods considered by key parameters:

Selection recommendations:

• 🔹 For social networks and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) will be enough Dual Apps.
• 🔹 For games or apps that aren’t on the Dual Apps list, use Parallel Space.
• 🔹 If you need to split a system application (such as Camera or Contacts), try ADB Or Second Space.
• 🔹 For complete isolation (for example, for work and personal use) Second Space is optimal.

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On devices with MIUI 15, the Dual Apps feature was renamed App Cloning, but the principle of operation remained the same.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When applications are split, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: The cloned application does not receive notifications.

• 🔧 Check the battery settings: add the app to the list without restrictions.
• 🔧 For Parallel Space, enable Notifications in the status bar in the launcher settings.
• 🔧 Restart the device – sometimes it helps to restore the background.

Problem 2: The application does not start after cloning through ADB.

• 🔧 Make sure you have the correct batch name (check with App Inspector).
• 🔧 Try reinstalling the original app and repeating the procedure.
• 🔧 Some Xiaomi models require an additional command: adb shell pm install-existing --user 0 com.example.app

Problem 3: Second Space takes up too much space.

• 🔧 Remove unnecessary apps from the second profile via Settings → Second Space → Application management.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play for second profile.
• 🔧 Use the Cleanup function in Second Space settings to remove cache.

Problem 4: The banking application does not work in cloned mode.

• 🔧 Most banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block clones because of security. No solution - use the main profile.
• 🔧 Try Second Space – some banking apps are more stable than Parallel Space.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions