Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to separate work and personal accounts, especially when two devices are installed on the device. SIM-The standard Android system does not allow you to just run one application twice, but the proprietary shell MIUI or the new HyperOS provides powerful built-in tools to solve this problem, so you don't have to look for questionable modified versions of the messenger or risk the security of your data by installing untested software.
The process of cloning on the devices of this brand is as simple as possible and does not require Root rights or deep knowledge in programming. The system itself creates an isolated environment where the second instance of the application works independently of the main one, receiving its notifications and using its phone number. This is the ideal solution for those who want to keep work and personal chats separated without carrying two different phones with them.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can activate your second account, from standard system settings to alternative methods for. We will also focus on setting up notifications so that you never miss important messages from any SIM card, and we will look at the typical problems that users face when initially setting up.
Built-in cloning function in MIUI and HyperOS
The most reliable and energy-efficient way to run the second WhatsApp on your Xiaomi is to use the App Cloning system function, which is built directly into the shell core and works more stable than any third-party counterparts, since it does not create unnecessary load on the processor and battery. To activate, you need to go to the settings menu and find the corresponding partition, which can be called differently depending on the firmware version.
On current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS, the path to setup is this: open Settings, then go to Apps and select App Cloning. In the list that opens, you will see all the messengers that support duplicate creation. You need to find the WhatsApp logo and just switch the slider to the active position.
⚠️ Note: After the feature is turned on, a second app icon with a characteristic icon will appear on the desktop (usually a yellow circle with two arrows or the inscription “2”). Do not delete the original application, otherwise the clone will also stop working, as it depends on the system files of the main version.
If you can't find a feature through standard search, try using the search bar at the top of the settings menu. Type in the word "clone" or "duplicate", and the system will prompt you to go to the desired section. On some older firmware versions, this feature could be called "Dual applications" and located in the "Advanced settings" section.
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If the icon does not appear after the cloning is enabled, try restarting your smartphone or moving the Clone Apps widget to your desktop via the widget menu.
Alternative methods through the second space mode
In cases where standard cloning for some reason does not work or you need a more rigid separation of data (for example, different screen unlock passwords for different profiles), you can use the “Second Space” feature. This mode creates an essentially separate desktop inside your Xiaomi, with its own applications, gallery and settings, which allows you to install WhatsApp cleanly, like on a new device.
To enable this mode, go to Settings → About Phone (or Advanced Settings in older versions) and find Second Space. Once activated, the system will ask you to set up the second profile login: you can use a separate pin code, pattern lock or fingerprint, which provides a high level of privacy, since the data in the two spaces are isolated from each other.
The main advantage of Second Space is that it's completely isolated, so you can set the notifications to come in the second space only when you unlock that profile, but it's worth considering that this method consumes more RAM and battery, since two full systems are actually running.
Use of third-party container applications
If MIUI's built-in tools are not available for some reason, or you need to run more than two copies of the messenger (for example, for corporate customers), third-party container applications come to the rescue. The most popular solutions are Parallel Space, 2Accounts or Shelter, which create a virtual environment within which you can run any application regardless of the system.
Installation of these slits is simple: download the selected application from the Google Play Market, give it the necessary permissions and add WhatsApp to the list of cloned programs. Inside the container, you run the installation of the messenger again, enter the number two. SIM-You get a full-fledged second account, but these solutions often contain advertising and can consume more battery power.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party containers (Parallel Space and analogues), notifications may come with a delay. The aggressively system cleans the background processes, so you need to manually prohibit energy saving for the container itself and the cloned application.
There is also a method of installing modified versions of WhatsApp (called GBWhatsApp or WhatsApp Plus), but we strongly recommend that they are not used. These versions do not have security certificates, your correspondence can be intercepted, and your account can be permanently blocked by the developers of the messenger for violating the terms of use.
Set up notifications and energy saving
One of the most common problems with using two SIM cards and two WhatsApp accounts on Xiaomi is missing notifications on the second clone.The aggressively system optimizes the operation of background applications to save charge, which leads to the fact that messages only come after manually opening the application.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find a cloned WhatsApp (it will be marked with a clone icon) and go to Saving Charge and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from killing the messenger process, and notifications will come instantly even if the screen is turned off.
☑️ Set up notifications for the second WhatsApp
It is also important to check the notification settings. Make sure that all notification categories are enabled for the cloned application: Messages, Sound, Vibration. In some versions of MIUI, the clone audio settings can be disabled by default, and you will only see the silent icon in the status bar.
Comparison of cloning techniques
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods for launching the second WhatsApp on Xiaomi devices. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on your specific security and performance needs.
| Method | Stability | Impact on the battery | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| System clone (MIUI) | Tall. | Low. | Tall. |
| Second space | Very high. | Average. | Maximum |
| Parallel Space | Medium | High. | Medium |
| Mods (GBWhatsApp) | Low. | Average. | Low. |
As the table shows, Xiaomi’s built-in tools are the best choice for 95% of users, delivering a better balance between functionality and resource consumption, and using third-party containers is only justified in the rare cases where system features are not enough.
Why are modified versions of WhatsApp dangerous?
Solving typical installation problems
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may face difficulties, and one of the common problems is that they cannot be verified by the Internet. SMS Make sure the second number is the second. SIM-The card is active, has a network signal and is not blocked by the operator. Also check that the date and time settings are automatically determined, since errors in time often break the process of connecting to WhatsApp servers.
Another problem is the version conflict: If you're trying to install a clone and the main version of WhatsApp is very outdated or, conversely, is a beta version, the cloning may not start. In this case, update the main application via Google Play to the latest stable version, and sometimes cleaning the cache of the main application before creating a clone helps.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer data to a new phone or reset your settings, your correspondence history in the second (cloned) WhatsApp may not be saved in a shared Google Drive backup.
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System cloning of applications in Xiaomi is a native feature that does not require the installation of additional software and works more stable than any analogues from the Play Market.