How to make a clone of an app on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face multiple accounts on the same messenger or social media, especially for those who share work and personal profiles but don’t want to carry two devices. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer built-in functionality to solve this problem without installing third-party software.

Duplicate software allows you to receive notifications from both accounts simultaneously and switch between them in one click. However, many users do not know where this option is hiding, or confuse it with guest mode. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate cloning, what restrictions are there, and what to do if standard methods do not work.

Before we start setting up, it's worth noting that the system creates not just a shortcut, but a complete, isolated container for data, which means that the cache and files of two copies are stored separately, which can affect the amount of free memory. Let's look at how to manage this process properly.

Built-in function "Cloning applications"

The most reliable and energy-efficient way to run the second copy of the program is to use the standard shell toolkit. Unlike third-party solutions, the system clone operates at the kernel level, which ensures stability and timely arrival of notifications even in sleep mode.

To activate the function, you need to go to the system settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand. You need to find the point responsible for managing programs.

In modern versions of the interface, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
• 📂 Go to the Appendix section.
• 🔄 Select Cloning Applications (or Dual Applications).
• ✅ Activate the switch opposite the desired social network or messenger.

After switching on the toggle, a new icon will appear on the desktop with a characteristic icon in the corner (usually two circles or a yellow square).

⚠️ Note: When you delete the main program, the clone will also be automatically uninstalled by the system. If you want to save the data of the second copy, first disable the cloning function in the settings to break the connection between them.

It is important to understand that not all programs support this function: System algorithms analyze the application package and allow cloning only for services that are technically capable of running in two instances at the same time.

List of supported applications and limitations

Not every program can be duplicated by standard means; the developers of the MIUI shell make a whitelist of compatible software, which includes primarily popular messengers and social platforms.

Usually, the list available for cloning are:

• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Skype.
• 📸 Social media: Instagram, Facebook, VK, TikTok.
• 🎮 Games and services: some game launchers and marketplace customers.

If the program you want isn't on the list, it means that its architecture doesn't allow you to create an isolated process without disrupting the main application, and trying to circumvent this restriction through third-party means can lead to system instability.

Below is a table showing the status of cloning support for popular services:

It is worth noting that the list of supported programs can be expanded with the firmware update. Periodically check the settings section if the previously desired application was not in the list of available for duplication.

Use of the Second Space for Total Isolation

If standard cloning doesn't work, like you have to completely hide your second account or use different system settings, Second Space comes to the rescue, and it's not just a clone of an app, it's creating a separate environment with its own data, passwords and even wallpaper.

It works like a virtual machine, and by switching between the main and second spaces, you actually change the user, just like you do in computer operating systems, and it's perfect for maximum privacy.

To activate the Second Space, do the following:

1. Go to Settings and find the Additional (or Advanced) section.
2. Select the second space item.
3. Click the Enable button and set up a separate unlock method (finger or pattern lock).

Once you create the space, you can re-install any apps, so you can have, for example, two different YouTubes with different subscriptions, or two Google accounts that don't sync with each other.

⚠️ Warning: The second space takes up significantly more RAM and battery power than conventional cloning. background processes in the second space may not work if you are in the main profile, which will cause notifications to be delayed.

This is a useful method when hard data demarcation is required, for example, to transfer a phone to a child, you can create a guest space with a limited set of games without fear for your personal files.

💡

Use different fingerprints to quickly switch between spaces, assign the thumb of the right hand for the main profile and the left for the Second Space.

Third-party solutions: Parallel Space and analogues

In situations where Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t support the application, users turn to third-party developers. Wrappers create a virtual environment within which a copy of the target application is run.

The most popular members of this class of software are Parallel Space, Dual Space and Multiple Accounts, which work by emulating system libraries, allowing you to run a second copy of the program.

However, this approach has its nuances:

• 🔋 High energy consumption due to constant background emulation processes.
• 📉 Possible instability of operation and departures of applications.
• 🔒 Security issues: Third-party software has access to your account data.

If you still decide to use a third-party solution, download the applications only from the official Google Play store. Avoid modified versions, as they may contain malicious code.

To install cloning through third-party software:

1. Download Parallel Space from the Play Store.


2. Launch the application and provide the necessary permissions.




3. In the list, select a cloning program (e.g. WhatsApp).




4. Click "Add" and log in to your account.

It is worth remembering that the Android operating system on Xiaomi devices can aggressively close the background processes of such programs to save charge. You will need to manually prevent the system from "killing" the process of the cloner in the battery settings.

Set up notifications and energy saving

A common problem with Xiaomi smartphone owners is the lack of notifications from cloned apps, which is due to the aggressive MIUI shell energy saving policy, which seeks to close all background processes to extend battery life.

To make sure that the app clone is always online and instantly alerts you to new messages, you have to make a number of adjustments, and ignoring this step will result in messages only coming after manually opening the program.

Autostart and battery configuration algorithm:

1. Open the Safety app (green icon with lightning).
2. Go to the Battery section and find the energy saving settings.
3. Find a cloned app in the list (it will be marked with a cloning icon).
4. Set up a No Limits mode.
5. Return to the main security menu and select AutoRun by allowing work for the desired program.

It is also recommended to lock the application in memory. Open the menu of running applications (swipe from the bottom up and hold), find the clone window, click on the lock icon or hold your finger until the lock appears, this will prevent the program from closing when the memory is cleared.

Removal and management of clone data

Sooner or later, you may need to delete the clone or clear the clone’s data, and it’s important to do it correctly so you don’t lose important correspondence or files attached to the second account.

The deletion process depends on the method of cloning, and if you've used the built-in function, just go back to the Application Cloning menu and turn off the switch, and the system will alert you that all data will be destroyed.

For deeper cleaning, you can use storage management:

Settings → Applications → All Apps → [Clone Name] → Storage → Clean

This command will allow you to reset the program to factory settings without removing it, which is convenient in case of authorization errors or software failures.

⚠️ Attention: Before completely uninstall, be sure to back up the chats in the settings of the messenger itself (for example, via Google Drive or iCloud). MIUI You may not be able to save cloned version data.

Version management is also important, because when you update the main application, the clone updates automatically, but when you use third-party solutions, the update can fly, and you have to reconfigure everything.

💡

Embedded cloning is a priority method, and third-party applications should only be used in extreme cases, as they reduce the autonomy of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)