How to make a copy of the application on Xiaomi: the complete guide

The modern rhythm of life dictates its conditions, forcing users to keep several accounts active in the same messengers. Owning a Xiaomi smartphone opens up unique opportunities for the owner to share digital space without having to carry a second device. The built-in app cloning feature allows you to run two copies of the same program at the same time, which is especially important for separating work and personal life.

Duplicate creation is not just a shortcut, but a fully-fledged, isolated container with its own data, cache and authorization. MIUI and the new HyperOS shell offer native tools to accomplish this task without requiring the installation of third-party software that often overloads RAM. However, the process has its own nuances depending on the version of Android and the specific model of the gadget.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithms for different firmware versions, discuss the limitations, and offer alternative solutions for cases where standard functionality fails, learn how to properly configure notifications to avoid messaging, and which applications are generally clonable in the current ecosystem.

Dual Apps built-in in MIUI and HyperOS

The main tool for solving this problem is a system utility called Dual Apps, which has been built into the MIUI shell for many years, and allows you to create full copies of supported social networks and instant messengers. The principle of the work is to create a virtual space where the application thinks that it is installed on a clean device.

To activate the function, you need to go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same: find the partition responsible for working with programs, and activate the switch opposite the desired service. The system automatically creates a shortcut on the desktop with a characteristic icon marked with an orange or yellow label.

Not all programs support this technology, but it's usually popular messengers, social networks, and some marketplaces, and if you don't see the right app on the cloning list, then Xiaomi's shell developer hasn't added it to the compatible list, or the program itself doesn't technically allow you to run multiple instances.

It's important to understand the difference between a simple shortcut and a full-fledged clone, because a shortcut only leads to the same database, whereas a clone creates an independent environment, which means that you can log into one account through the main profile and the second through a clone, and they won't conflict with each other.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the main application, the clone will also be removed from the device. First, remove the duplicate if you plan to completely dispose of the program.

Step-by-step: creating a duplicate through settings

The process of activating the second copy is as simple as possible by the interface developers. You do not need root rights or complex manipulations with ADB. It is enough to perform a sequence of actions in the settings menu to run a parallel instance.

First, open the main smartphone settings menu. Find the Apps (or Notifications) section. Inside this menu, look for the "Dual Apps" item. In some versions of HyperOS, this item can be entered under "Additional Features" or "Extended Settings".

Once you log in, you'll see a list of all the installed programs that support cloning, and next to each icon, you'll have a switch, activate it for the right application, like WhatsApp or Telegram, and the system will request confirmation, and in a few seconds, it'll create a copy.

Once you've created it successfully, you'll see a new icon on your desktop, and it'll usually have a little icon in the corner that indicates it's a clone, and you can open it, enter the phone number of the second SIM card or account, and use it regardless of the main version.

Alternative methods: Second Space and Third-Party applications

If the built-in Dual Apps functionality isn’t enough or the program isn’t on the supported list, more advanced tools come to the rescue. Xiaomi’s arsenal includes a “Second Space” feature that creates a completely isolated environment similar to a new user in the operating system.

Second Space is not just a clone of an app, but a separate desktop with its own settings, gallery and Google accounts, and you can switch between spaces through a notification curtain or a special fingerprint, which is ideal for those who want to completely separate the working and personal digital worlds.

For users who need more flexible cloning settings (such as making three or more copies), there are third-party solutions, and applications like Parallel Space or 2Accounts create a virtual environment inside themselves, running any program in an isolated container.

But it’s worth remembering performance: Third-party cloners consume more CPU and RAM than Xiaomi’s native solution. If you have a budget smartphone model, using heavy virtual environments can lead to noticeable interface slowdowns.

⚠️ Note: When using Second Space, remember that removing the main space will result in the loss of all data in the second space.

Set up notifications and power consumption for clones

One of the most common problems with using two copies of messengers is the unstable operation of notifications on the second account. MIUI and HyperOS are known for their aggressive energy saving policies that can "kill" the background processes of cloned applications.

To guarantee that you'll receive messages, you'll need to manually configure permissions, go to the battery settings, find the cloned app, and select "No Limits" mode, which will prevent the system from forcibly shutting down the process even if the screen is off.

It is also important to check the notification settings. In some versions of the firmware, notifications from the clone may come without sound or not appear on the locked screen by default.

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and performance and find a clone.
• 🔔 Set the priority of notifications on "High" in the system settings.
• 🔒 Allow auto-run for the second instance of the application.
• 📱 Put the app in memory ( recent) apps_), if it is critical.

Properly configuring these settings to ensure that you don’t miss an important message from a customer or loved one, and ignoring these settings is the main reason users complain about the “glutty” of the second account.

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If notifications from the clone still come with a delay, try turning off traffic savings for that particular app in your mobile network settings.

System compatibility and limitations

Although convenient, cloning technology has its technical limitations, particularly in banking and high-security applications, and many banks block launches in a cloned environment or in Second Space because of suspicions of malware or a modified system.

In addition, with the release of new versions of Android (13, 14 and above), Google is tightening the requirements for process isolation, which leads to the fact that some old methods of cloning stop working correctly. MIUI 14.

Another problem is space. Two apps take up almost twice as much memory space as the cache and data are duplicated. If you have a smartphone with 64 or 128 GB of storage, installing heavy games or multimedia messengers in a dual instance can quickly exhaust the free space.

⚠️ Attention: Some gaming accounts may be blocked by anti-cheat systems when a game is detected running through third-party cloners or in a non-standard environment.

Simultaneous operation of two instances of Instagram or TikTok, which themselves require a lot of resources, can lead to heating of the case and rapid battery discharge, especially on models of the middle price segment.

Removing duplicates and resetting settings

If the need for a second account is no longer necessary, the clone can be easily removed, but it is important to do it correctly so as not to damage the data of the main application. The deletion procedure is simple, but has its own peculiarities depending on how the clone was created.

To remove the native clone, just press the application icon on the desktop and select "Delete", or go back to the Settings menu → Apps → Dual applications and turn off the switch. The system will warn you that all data inside the clone will be destroyed.

If you've used Second Space, you need to switch to it to delete unwanted applications or erase the entire space through your master profile settings, which will irreversibly return the space you've been occupied on the disk.

• 🗑️ Remove the Safest Way Settings Menu for System Clones.
• 🧹 Cleaning the cache before removing it will free up space instantly.
• 🔄 Resetting your phone will remove all clones and second spaces.

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Deleting the clone does not affect the main account, but irrevocably erases the history of correspondence and files saved in the second copy of the application.

If you use third-party cloners, removing the container itself (such as removing Parallel Space) will result in the loss of all the applications running inside it, so always back up important chats before cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)