How to make multiple clones of one app on Xiaomi

Many users of the Xiaomi ecosystem face the need to simultaneously use several accounts in the same social network or messenger. MIUI Or a new HyperOS makes it easy to do that, but often users want to go further and run three or four copies of the program. SMM Or simply want to separate personal and work spaces.

Duplicate applications is a process that requires understanding how the system works, as each new window consumes RAM resources. In this article, we will detail the standard methods built into the system, as well as advanced methods using third-party software to circumvent restrictions. You will learn how to properly configure virtual space so that the phone does not start to slow down.

It's important to note that most smartphones, by standard means, only allow you to create one extra copy. However, there are proven workarounds. The MIUI/HyperOS system restriction allows you to create only one clone per application through the standard menu, for more you need to use third-party virtualizers. We'll look at all the nuances so you can choose the best option for your model.

The standard cloning functionality in MIUI and HyperOS

To start with, the company itself offers: Xiaomi shells are famous for their functionality, and the cloning tool here is very convenient. It doesn't require any additional software to be installed and works at the system level, providing stability. However, the number of copies created is strictly limited to one copy.

To activate this feature, you have to go into the system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. You create an isolated environment where the application works independently of the main one, receiving your notifications and accessing contacts.

• 📱 Open your smartphone settings and find the App section.
• 📱 Select Cloning Applications (or Dual Applications).
• 📱 In the list, find the desired messenger (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram) and activate the switch.
• 📱 On the desktop will appear an icon with a yellow icon, indicating a clone.

Once activated, the system will create a separate process, and it's important to understand that the regular cloner is deeply integrated into the system, so notifications come in instantly, and battery consumption is minimal. This is the best option if you only need two accounts, and if you try to turn on the switch again, the system will simply suggest that you delete the clone that you have already created.

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The cloned app icon is marked with a small yellow icon in the corner so you don’t confuse the main account with the optional one.

Use of virtual spaces (Parallel Space and analogues)

When built-in capabilities are lacking, specialized virtualization applications come to the rescue, creating an isolated environment inside Android that allows you to "stack" as many copies of any program as you want, the most popular solution is Parallel Space, but there are also Multiple Accounts and 2Accounts.

The way that these programs work is to emulate the Android environment, and in fact, you run another operating system inside your main operating system, and that allows you to bypass any manufacturer's limitations, but it's more resource-intensive.

The installation process usually takes a couple of minutes, and after you run the virtualizer, you select from the list of installed programs the ones you want to clone, and then you can create new instances inside the virtualizer itself.

The main advantage of these solutions is the ability to run 3, 4 or more copies, but there are also disadvantages: notifications can come with a delay, and some banks and corporate applications can block work in a virtual environment for security reasons, and be prepared for increased battery consumption.

Creating additional Android user profiles

Few people know, but the Android operating system itself has a powerful multiplayer feature: you can use it as a tablet, creating separate profiles for each family member or for different purposes, and each profile has installed applications that work independently.

This is the most technically clean method, and each app in the new profile considers itself unique and basic, and you can install Telegram in the main profile, another in the Work profile, and a third in the Guest profile, and there are virtually no limits on the number of profiles, they are limited only by the memory of the device.

To activate this function, you need:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to About Phone (or Advanced Settings) section.
3. Quickly click on the build number several times (if the developer menu is hidden) or find the Users item.
4. Click Add User or Guest.

Switching between profiles is done through a notification curtain or settings, and it's a complete separation: each profile has its own galleries, its own Wi-Fi settings, and its own Google accounts, ideal for separating work and leisure without installing any extra software.

Comparison of cloning techniques

To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you evaluate the pros and cons of each method in the context of performance and usability.

As you can see from the table, regular funds win in optimization, but lose in flexibility. Virtualizers give freedom, but “set” the battery. Android profiles are the middle ground, requiring addiction to switching contexts.

If you want stability and you have two numbers, use a built-in feature. If you're a tester or you need 5 WhatsApp accounts at once, virtual spaces are essential.

Problems with notifications and background work

One of the most common problems with app cloning is the lack of notifications. Android, and especially Xiaomi’s aggressive energy saving algorithms, can “kill” the background processes of clones, considering them to be excessive load.

To get messages on time, you need to set up autoruns and permissions correctly, without which the cloned application will only open when you click on it, and new messages will only arrive after opening.

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity.
• 🔋 Find a cloned app in the list (it can be called the same or have a postscript).
• 🔋 Set the operating mode without restrictions.
• 🔋 In the Permissions section, enable AutoRun and Display on top of other applications.

You also need to fix an important application in memory: Open the menu of running applications (swipe from the bottom up and hold), find the clone window and press the lock, which will prevent it from unloading when you clean the memory with the "Trump" button.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party virtualizers (Parallel Space), notifications only work while the virtualizer itself is running. To keep them coming always, you need to prevent the system from closing the main virtualizer application.

Data security in cloned applications

Using clones, especially through third-party software, raises security issues: Where do your emails and logins go? In the case of Xiaomi's in-house cloner, data is stored in a secure part of the system that only your app has access to.

Third-party virtualizers create their own layer of abstraction, and in theory, developers of such software can have access to data that flows through their environment, so it is not recommended to use dubious free virtualizers to log into banking applications or work with confidential corporate email.

For financial transactions and important work chats, it is better to use the Android profile method or staff cloning, which provides isolation at the system level, rather than at the level of a single intermediary application.

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For banking applications and messengers with two-factor authentication, use only standard cloning or separate Android profiles to avoid data leakage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)