Why do you need a second WhatsApp account on a single phone? There are many reasons: separation of work and personal correspondence, managing multiple business profiles, communicating in different social circles or simply wanting to remain anonymous. Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) get a unique advantage – built-in tools for cloning applications that are not available on other Android devices.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to install a second WhatsApp on Xiaomi, including official MIUI features (such as Dual Apps and Parallel Space) and workarounds for models without cloning support. We will pay special attention to the nuances of authorization, notification synchronization and battery saving – these points are often missed even by experienced users. If you use the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Pro or the flagship Xiaomi 14, the instructions will fit with the MIUI version (from 12 to 14).
1. Method: Dual Apps (official cloning in MIUI)
Dual Apps (or “Dual Apps” in Russian) is the easiest solution for most Xiaomi devices, which creates a full copy of the application with a separate data store, notifications and cache. Importantly, this method only works on devices with MIUI version 8 and above (all modern Xiaomi smartphones meet the requirement).
How to turn on:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Dual Apps (on some models, the path may be different: Settings) → Special facilities → Dual Apps).
- 🔍 In the list, find WhatsApp and activate the switch next to it.
- 🔄 Wait for the copy to be created (the second WhatsApp icon will appear on the screen marked “Double»).
- 📲 Launch a cloned app and go through a standard registration with a different phone number.
Limitations of the method:
- ⚠️ Not all versions. MIUI Supports WhatsApp cloning – on some devices, the function may be blocked (for example, on the Internet). POCO F5 global-fixed).
- 📵 Notifications from a cloned application may come with a delay (the problem is solved manually in the notification settings).
- 🔋 WhatsApp doubles battery consumption by 10 to 15 percent (Redmi Note 11 Pro test data)+).
Check the MIUI version (should be ≥8)
Free up ≥500 MB of memory
Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp
Backup chats (if you need to move history)-->
⚠️ Note: If the second WhatsApp does not appear on the menu after activating Dual Apps, restart the device. Some models (Mi 11 Lite) require additional permission in Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
2. Method: Parallel space (Second Space)
Parallel Space is a virtual smartphone with a separate desktop, apps and data. Unlike Dual Apps, it offers a complete, isolated environment where you can install WhatsApp from scratch, a method that is suitable for users who need not only a second messenger, but also a complete separation of personal and work data.
How to set up:
- Go to Settings → Special Options → Parallel Space (on MIUI 14, the path may be different: Settings → Accounts → Parallel Space).
- Create a new space by following the system prompts (you will need to set a password or fingerprint to switch).
- After creation, navigate to Parallel Space through the notification bar or icon on the desktop.
- In a virtual environment, download WhatsApp from Google Play and sign up with a different number.
Pros of the method:
- 🔒 Complete data isolation: chats, files and settings of the second WhatsApp do not overlap with the main profile.
- 📱 Ability to use different themes of design and customization in each space.
- 🔄 Quick swipe switching over the lock screen (configured in Parallel Space settings).
| Criteria | Dual Apps | parallel space |
|---|---|---|
| Required memory | ~300MB | ~1-1.5 GB |
| Support for notifications | Yes (delayed) | Yeah (stable) |
| Separation of other applications | No. | Yes (complete isolation) |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Medium |
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 and below Parallel space may conflict with some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online.
3. Method: WhatsApp Business (official second account)
If you don't have to hide a second account, the most legal way is to use WhatsApp Business, which is Meta's official business app, but there are no restrictions on personal use, and the main advantage is that both apps (WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business) can run simultaneously on the same device without cloning.
How to determine:
- 📲 Download WhatsApp Business from Google Play or AppGallery (for devices with Huawei Mobile Services).
- 📞 Register with a different phone number (you can use a virtual number, but Meta periodically blocks such accounts).
- 🔄 Customize your profile: add an avatar, description, and working hours (these fields are optional for personal use).
Nuances:
- 📊 WhatsApp Business has additional features: quick answers, chat tags and message statistics.
- 🔍 The app can request access to contacts – opt out if you want to keep your privacy.
- 🚫 Some users complain about more aggressive ads on WhatsApp Business (especially when using a business account).
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If you use a second WhatsApp for work, WhatsApp Business can create a catalog of products/services – this is convenient for freelancers or small stores.
Method 4: Third-party launchers (for devices without Dual Apps)
On some Xiaomi devices (such as the custom-built POCO M4 Pro), Dual Apps can be disabled, in which case a third-party launcher with app cloning support, such as Parallel Space or 2Accounts, will help. These programs create an isolated environment similar to Parallel Space, but work on any Android device.
Instructions for Parallel Space:
- Download Parallel Space from Google Play (or APK from the official website if the app is blocked in your area).
- Launch the program and add WhatsApp to the list of cloned applications.
- Create a short shortcut for quick access (option available in the paid version).
- Sign up for a cloned WhatsApp with a different number.
Benefits and risks:
- ✅ It works on any device, including Xiaomi with unofficial firmware.
- ⚠️ Third-party launchers may collect data about your activity (check permissions in Settings before installing). → Annexes).
- 🛡️ For security, use only official sources (avoid the use of official sources). APK from unknown sites).
Dual Apps (Integrated Cloning)
parallel space
WhatsApp Business
Third-party launchers (Parallel Space, etc.)
Another option-->
5. Method: Manual cloning through ADB (for advanced)
If none of the above methods are suitable (for example, on devices with a MIUI for EU-In the region where some functions are disabled, you can use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge for forced cloning of WhatsApp requires technical skills and is only suitable for experienced users.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
- Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute a command in the terminal (requires an installed ADB):
adb shell pm install -r -d --user 0 com.whatsappThis team will create a second WhatsApp profile with a prefix --user 0.
Important:
- After completing the command, a second WhatsApp will appear in the app menu marked “Cloned,” which may not work on MIUI 14 due to changes in security policy.
- ⚠️ Misuse ADB This can cause system failures. Make a backup copy of the data before experimenting.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
The choice of method depends on your goals and model Xiaomi.
- 📱 For most users, Dual Apps is the easiest and most secure option.
- 🔒 For complete isolation: Parallel space (ideal for separating work and personal life).
- 💼 WhatsApp Business – Legal and Unlimited.
- 🛠️ For custom firmware: third-party launchers or ADB (experienced).
If you use Xiaomi with MIUI Global, check for Dual Apps and Parallel Space in the settings. On some models (e.g. Redmi 10A), these options may be hidden – they can be activated via ADB or build.prop file editing (instructions are available on the 4PDA and XDA-Developers forums).
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On devices with MIUI China, cloning functions can be blocked, in which case changing the firmware region to Global or EEA (requires unlocking the bootloader) will help.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after successfully installing the second WhatsApp, users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No notifications coming. | Battery optimization or background activity disabled | Go to Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Battery and select Without Limits |
| The app flies off at launch | Parallel Space or Dual Apps | Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps or reinstall it |
| You can't register the second number. | Limit Meta to the number of accounts from one device | Use another phone to receive an SMS or a virtual number (e.g. Google Voice) |
| The slow operation of cloned WhatsApp | Lack of RAM | Close background apps or increase the memory limit for Parallel Space in settings |
If the second WhatsApp stopped working after the MIUI update, try:
- Remove the cloned application and create it again.
- Clear the Google Play Services data in the settings.
- Reverse to the previous version of MIUI (if the update caused a crash).