How to make a clone on Xiaomi: a complete guide to cloning apps

Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often faced with the need to use multiple accounts on the same services, this may be due to the separation of work and personal contacts, the need to do business or the desire to play games on different servers at the same time. MIUI HyperOS makes it easy to do this without installing third-party software that often contains ads or collects personal data.

The process of creating a copy of the program with regular funds takes only a few seconds and does not require root rights. The system itself isolates the cloned application by assigning it a separate container of data, which guarantees the stable operation of the main account. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to make a clone on Xiaomi, what restrictions exist and how to manage the copies created for maximum efficiency of use of the device.

But it's worth considering that not all programs support this feature on a system level. Some developers block the possibility of cloning for security reasons, but even in such cases there are workarounds, which we'll also talk about. Understanding the principles of dual applications will help you to properly organize the space of the smartphone.

The standard function of cloning applications in MIUI

Xiaomi’s built-in shell copy engine is one of the most convenient Android smartphones on the market, allowing you to run a second app icon directly on the desktop, which will function as an independent program, and to activate this feature, you need to go to the settings menu and find the section responsible for the applications.

On modern firmware versions, the path to the desired setting may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the software. It is usually located at Settings → Applications → Dual Applications. In some HyperOS builds, this item may be hidden in the Advanced Settings section or placed in a separate system management menu.

Once you enter the menu, you'll see a list of all the installed programs that support cloning, and next to each name, you'll have a switch, and you just activate it, and you'll see a second icon on your desktop with a distinctive icon, often two circles or an orange label, which signals that a clone has been launched.

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If you don’t find the “Dual Apps” option in your settings search, try updating system components through the “Security” or “GetApps” app.

It is important to note that cloning consumes additional RAM resources. If your device has many copies installed, the system may begin to aggressively clean the background processes to save battery power, so it is recommended not to abuse the number of paired applications running simultaneously.

• 📱 Support for popular messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber.
• 🎮 Possibility of cloning some gaming clients and social networks.
• ⚙️ Complete data isolation: cache and clone files do not mix with the original.
• 🔔 Separate notification settings for each copy of the application.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a clone

To start the process, make sure the main app is already installed and authorized in your personal account, which will prevent confusion when you log in to a second copy, open your smartphone settings and search for keywords like “clone” or “double” to quickly find the menu section you want.

In the list that opens, find the app you need, like WhatsApp or Instagram. Activate the slider opposite the name. The system will alert you that the desktop will have a shortcut to the second app. Confirm the action, and then you can return to the home screen.

Now, launch the clone that appears. You'll need to enter a phone number or login data other than the one used in the main version. Once you've successfully logged in, you'll get a fully functional second application that will receive notifications regardless of the main one.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the main application, its clone will also be automatically deleted by the system. If you need to save the data of the second copy, first transfer important information or make a backup.

Notifications are managed using standard Android tools, so you can customize different sounds, vibrations, and even theme designs for the original and clone, if a particular app allows, and it helps you instantly distinguish which account the message is coming to.

List of supported applications and limitations

Not all programs can be cloned by standard means. The list of supported applications is formed by the shell developer and depends on the technical ability to separate processes, most often these are social networks and messengers, since they are the most popular feature of multiple accounts.

The table below includes the most popular services that are guaranteed to work in cloning mode on most Xiaomi devices. However, the list can be expanded with firmware updates, so it is worth checking the settings menu periodically again.

There are limitations, for example, banking applications and high-security services often block cloned work, which is done to protect user data from potential vulnerabilities associated with process isolation.

If you try to clone an application that doesn't support this feature, the system will simply not turn on the switch or give a notification that you can't make a copy, and in such cases you have to resort to third-party solutions, which will be discussed below.

Use Second Space Mode for Total Insulation

For those who need a deeper separation than just a clone of the app, Xiaomi offers Second Space, which is not just a copy of the program, but a completely separate desktop with its own settings, gallery, contacts and Google account.

In fact, your smartphone turns into two devices in one, and you can switch between the main space and the second with a special widget, fingerprint, or password, which is ideal for those who want to completely separate work from their personal lives or hide certain data from prying eyes.

Unlike simple cloning, Second Space allows you to install the same apps again and they will work completely independently. You can log in to the same Google account in both spaces, but the data will not sync unless you want to.

To activate, go to Settings → Second Space and follow the instructions of the Settings Wizard. You will be prompted to create a separate password or use a different finger for quick login. This provides a high level of privacy.

• 🔒 Complete isolation of files and photos between spaces.
• 📱 Ability to use different wallpapers and themes of design.
• 🔋 Independent background control for each space.
• 🚫 Applications in the second space are not visible in the first without switching.

Third-party solutions for cloning any programs

If the built-in MIUI functionality doesn't support the application you want, specialized cloners come to the rescue, create a virtual environment within themselves, running the necessary services there, and the most popular members of this class are Parallel Space, Dual Space and 2Accounts.

And the way they work is to emulate the Android environment, and you install an application like this, and you add the right programs inside of it, but you have to keep in mind that these solutions often contain ads and can be more loading, because emulation requires additional computing resources.

To install an application through Parallel Space, download it from Google Play, launch and select from the list the program to be cloned. The system will create a shortcut on the desktop that will lead directly to the cloned version inside the Parallel Space shell.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party cloners may not work properly with push notifications, and messages may be delayed or not arriving at all if the system decides to shut down the background process of the cloner to save energy.

Some advanced users use more sophisticated methods, such as creating profiles through ADB or using Xposed modules, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights, which can lead to loss of warranty and disrupting banking applications.

Optimization of work and problem solving

Clone applications can run unstable if they lack resources or if the system aggressively restricts their background activity. To avoid problems getting notifications, you need to properly configure the energy savings for each clone.

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance, find a cloned app in the list, and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from "killing" the clone process when the screen is off, which will ensure that messages arrive in a timely manner.

It is also recommended to regularly clean the cache of cloned applications, as they can take up a significant amount of memory. Dual data storage (original + clone) quickly consumes free space, especially in messengers with a large number of media files.

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The main problem with cloning is increased battery consumption: disable unwanted clones or limit their background activity if you do not use them constantly.

If the clone stops opening or doesn't work properly, try removing it and re-create it, often solving version conflicts or corrupting configuration files, and remember to update both the main application and its clone to current versions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)