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

Xiaomi’s current MIUI and new HyperOS smartphones offer users a wide range of personalization capabilities that go far beyond simply changing wallpaper. One of the most sought-after features, especially for those with an active business life or combining work with personal communication, is the ability to clone software applications. App cloning allows users to run two or more instances of the same messenger or social network at the same time using different accounts on the same device.

This technology solves the problem of constantly switching between profiles or having to carry two smartphones. Android itself does not always allow you to run the same application package twice for security reasons and to avoid data conflicts. However, Xiaomi engineers have implemented a deep level of integration into the file system, which makes the process of creating duplicates as simple and stable as possible.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to create a copy of the application on Xiaomi, what are the limitations of system tools and how to get around them in difficult cases. You will learn about the intricacies of working with notifications, the effect of cloning on battery consumption and get answers to frequently asked questions to maximize the potential of your gadget.

Built-in cloning function in MIUI and HyperOS

Let's start with the simplest and most reliable way, which does not require installing additional software. In the shells from Xiaomi, this feature is called App Twin and is built directly into the system settings. The mechanism of work is to create an isolated data container, where a copy of the database of the selected application is stored, while the executable code remains shared.

To activate the function, you need to go to the settings menu and find the appropriate section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. It usually looks like: Settings → Applications → Cloning of applications. In older versions of MIUI, this item may be in the “Additional settings” section.

Once you log in, you'll see a list of supported programs, which automatically scans the packages installed and determines which ones can work in multiple instance mode, most often social networks and instant messengers, because they require sharing the communication streams.

• 📱 WhatsApp: Allows you to have two numbers on the same phone without using the same number SIM-cards in the second slot (if there is VoIP).
• 💬 Telegram: Supports native separation, but cloning is convenient for separating work and personal chats without logging into a second account inside the app.
• 📷 Instagram: allows you to quickly switch between a personal profile and a themed blog or business account.
• 🎮 Games: Some gaming platforms allow you to run multiple game windows for pharma resources (requires high performance).

It is important to note that cloned apps are marked with a special icon, usually as a small lock or the number “2” on the icon, which helps to visually distinguish the main account from the secondary one on the desktop and in the notification menu.

Step-by-step instructions for activating duplicates

The copy creation process takes only a few seconds, but requires careful initial setup to avoid getting confused with accounts later.Be sure to access a second phone number or email address before starting the procedure to log in to the cloned app.

Open your smartphone settings and go to the App Management section. Find App Cloning and click on the switch opposite the right program, like Viber or Facebook, and the system will alert you that a new icon will appear on your desktop.

Once the switch is activated, return to the home screen and you will see a copy of the app appearing. When the cloned version is first launched, the system may request additional permissions or suggest that notifications be set separately from the main application.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the main application, the cloned version will also be automatically deleted by the system. If you need to save the clone data, export it first or transfer important information.

The same settings menu is used to manage cloned versions, and you can turn off the feature at any time, and all secondary account data will be permanently deleted from the device, which is worth considering if you plan to use the clone for temporary purposes.

Using Second Space to be completely insulated

If you don’t have enough built-in app cloning, or if you want to create a copy of a program that isn’t supported by the App Twin system function, Second Space comes to the rescue, a more advanced tool that creates a virtual second independent user profile on your Xiaomi.

Second Space is guest mode, but with full access to app installation, and in this space, you can install any program from Google Play or GetApps again by logging in with another Google account, and this allows you to clone even banking apps or games that normally block multiple launches.

To enable this feature, go to Settings → Second Space and click “Enable.” You will be prompted to create a separate password or fingerprint to enter the second space. This provides a high level of privacy: being in the main profile, no one will be able to access the data in the second space.

Switching between spaces is instantaneous through a notification curtain or a special widget on the desktop, and each space can have different versions of the same applications installed, and they will work independently of each other, without intersecting in memory and notifications.

• 🔒 Security: Data in two spaces is encrypted separately, which is useful for separating work and personal information.
• 📂 File system: files downloaded in one space are not visible in another without the use of special transfer functions.
• 🔋 Resources: Working two spaces can consume more RAM, as background processes are not always optimized between profiles.

Third-party solutions for advanced cloning

In cases where Xiaomi system tools are not up to the task or require more flexible settings (for example, changing the IMEI for a cloned application, which is a complex and risky procedure), users turn to third-party developers. There are many applications in the Play Market store that emulate the virtual environment.

Popular solutions are Parallel Space, Dual Space, or 2Accounts, which create a virtual container inside Android that you can put any application in, and they work like an emulator, but they work directly on your device using its resources.

Using third-party cloners has its pros and cons: on the one hand, they allow you to run almost any application twice, even if it blocks such attempts at the server level; on the other hand, such programs often require broad permissions and can collect data about your activity.

In addition, third-party cloners often use up battery power and RAM aggressively, as they need to keep the virtual environment running constantly. System cloning in MIUI/HyperOS is always preferable to third-party counterparts for optimization and security reasons.

⚠️ Be careful when using third-party cloners for banking applications. Bank security systems may view the virtual environment as a sign of hacking and block access to the account.

Problems with notifications and their resolution

One of the most common problems users face after creating a copy of an application is the unstable operation of notifications. A cloned application may not send messages in the background or come with a long delay. MIUI, which seeks to “sleep” any background processes.

To fix this, you need to manually adjust the battery settings for the cloned application. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or through the settings of the application itself), find the cloned version of the program in the list, and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from forcibly shutting down the process.

It’s also worth checking notification settings. In newer versions of HyperOS, notification management has become more detailed. Make sure that the cloned application is allowed to display on the lock screen and in the curtain. Sometimes re-authorizing the cloned account after setting all the settings helps.

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If notifications still don’t come, try opening the cloned app immediately after the phone is rebooted to “wake up” its services.

Effects of cloning on productivity and battery

Creating a copy of an application isn't just about having a new icon; it's about running additional services that consume RAM and CPU time. If you clone heavy applications like games or multimedia editors, the load on the device increases dramatically.

In the background, a cloned app can consume almost as much resources as the main one, which means that if you run two Telegram instances and two Instagram instances, battery consumption can increase by 15-20% during the day compared to using a single account.

On devices with a small amount of RAM (4 GB or less), the active use of cloned applications can lead to more frequent unloading of background tasks, the system will be forced to “kill” processes more often to free up memory for the current task, which can lead to delays in receiving messages.

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Cloning applications increases the load on the battery and RAM, so on older models Xiaomi is recommended to clone only the most necessary messengers.

To minimize the impact on autonomy, try not to keep cloned applications active all the time unless they are actively chatting, and it is also worth regularly clearing the cache of cloned versions, as they can accumulate temporary files regardless of the main application, taking up precious space in the memory of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)