Cloning apps on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most popular features of MIUI, which allows you to create independent copies of messengers, social networks or games for different accounts. But few people know that this ability has severe limitations: the system blocks the creation of new clones after reaching a certain threshold. Why does this happen? How many times do you actually clone an application on Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 or Mi 13? And what do you do if you need more duplicates than MIUI allows?
In this article, we'll explore not only the official cloning limits, but also the hidden nuances of how they depend on the firmware version, device model, and even regional settings. And also the consequences of exceeding the limit: from slowing down your phone to completely failing to create new copies. If you actively use the Duplicate Apps (or App Cloner in global versions), this information will help avoid errors and optimize the operation of your smartphone.
MIUI's official cloning limits: how many copies can be made
The standard MIUI limit is a maximum of 4 duplicates of one application, which is the rule for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, Released models after 2020.
- 📱 Flagship models (series Mi) 11/12/13, Mix can sometimes be used to create 5 Copies – this is due to more powerful iron and optimized firmware.
- 🌍 Regional versions: in Chinese firmware (China) ROM) limit is stricter – often no more 3 The global (global) and global (global) ROM) European (EEA) maybe 4-5.
- 🔄 Versions MIUI: into MIUI 14 and newer limit tighter than in MIUI 12, where it was sometimes possible to bypass restrictions through launchers.
It's important to understand that the limit is not counted by the number of apps, but by the total number of clones, so you can clone 4 different messengers once, but not 8 copies of WhatsApp. If you try to exceed the limit, the system will give a notification: "The maximum number of duplicate applications is exceeded."
Why Xiaomi is limiting cloning: technical reasons
At first glance, the 4-copy limit seems artificial, but it has objective reasons to do with the Android architecture and MIUI features:
- Resource consumption: each clone of the application consumes a separate memory (RAM) and disk space. For example, 4 copies of Telegram can “eat” up to 500 MB of RAM in the background, which is critical for budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M5).
- Identity conflicts: Android assigns each application a unique UID. When cloning, the system creates virtual UIDs, and their overabundance can lead to malfunctions in Google Play services.
- Security: Multiple copies of a single application increase the risk of data leaks (for example, if a clone of a messenger is infected with a virus).
Interesting fact: early MIUI (before 2019) had no limit at all, with users creating 10-15 clones, but this led to a critical slowdown and errors like, "Com.android.phone is stopped," and after mass complaints, Xiaomi imposed severe restrictions.
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If you need more than 4 clones of a single app (for example, to work with multiple Instagram accounts), try alternative launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher – they sometimes allow you to bypass the limitations of MIUI.
How to check the current number of clones on your Xiaomi
To find out how many duplicate apps are already created on your device, follow the following steps:
☑️ Checking the number of clones
If you see the gray text in the Duplicate Apps menu, "No duplicate applications," but you're sure you've made copies before, it means they've been removed incorrectly.
- Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and select “Deep Cleanup”.
- Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and manually check the folder. /data/app Prefixed clone_.
What are "dead" clones?
Can the cloning restriction be circumvented: working and non-working ways
Many users are looking for ways to create more than 4 clones, and consider the most popular methods and their real-world effectiveness:
| Method | Does it work? | Risks. | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use of Parallel Space | ✅ Yes. | High battery consumption, possible lag | Install from Google Play, add the desired applications |
| ADB-team | ⚠️ Partially. | Can break system applications | adb shell pm install-existing --user 0 com.example.app |
| Custom firmware | ✅ Yes. | Loss of warranty, risk of "bricking" | Install LineageOS or Pixel Experience |
| Change to build.prop | ❌ No. | Could lead to bootloop | Not recommended |
The most reliable way to do this is to use third-party launchers or applications like Parallel Space or 2Accounts, which create a virtual space that is independent of the limitations of MIUI.
⚠️ Note: Google Play cloning apps often contain ads and may collect data. Check reviews and permissions in the Settings menu before installing → Annexes → Permits.
What happens if you exceed the cloning limit: the consequences
If you try to create a 5th clone of the application using standard MIUI tools, the system:
- The error is "Not able to duplicate the application".
- It blocks the ability to create new clones for 24 hours (in some cases, before rebooting).
- It can automatically delete the oldest clone if the device’s memory is more than 90% full.
But there are more serious risks:
- 🐢 System slowdown: each clone increases the load on the processor. on the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (e.g. in Redmi 12) 5+ clones can cause lags when switching between applications.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption: clones run in the background even if the main app is closed.According to tests, 4 Facebook copies increase spending 15-20%.
- 🚨 Google services failures: when the limit is exceeded UID This may interfere with Google Play Services, resulting in sync errors.
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If you critically need more than 4 clones, you should use a specialised application (Parallel Space) or a second phone. Exceeding the limit through workarounds often leads to unstable system operation.
How to remove clones so that there is no “garbage”
Many users have a problem: they have deleted the clone and the disk space has not been freed up, because MIUI does not always clean all the associated files, so that the duplicate application can be deleted completely:
- Open Settings → Applications → Duplicate applications.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Delete".
- Confirm the deletion and restart the phone.
- Check the /Android/obb folder for files with the original app name + clone suffix.
If after removing the clone, the app continues to appear in the menu or take up space, use ADB for forced cleaning:
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.example.app.clone1
adb shell pm clear com.example.app.clone1⚠️ Note: Do not remove clones through the standard menu Delete applications in MIUI — This leaves tails in the system. Always use the Duplicate Applications section.