How to completely disable the second space on Xiaomi Mi 9: 3 proven methods

Xiaomi Mi 9 is one of the most popular flagships of the brand, but its dual app feature is often confusing for users, many activate it accidentally or on advice, not realizing that it leads to duplicate applications, increased battery consumption and taking up extra memory. If you are faced with the need to disable the second space, this guide will help to do this without losing data, taking into account all the nuances of the MIUI firmware.

Unlike standard account deletion, deactivation of second space requires a special approach: MIUI blocks direct reset through the security menu if the space is active. We will look at three working methods - from the simplest (through settings) to radical (through MIUI Recovery), and also analyze why the space can be turned on spontaneously after updates and how to prevent this.

Important: the procedure is different from reset to factory settings! Mistakes can lead to loss of data in the main space. If you use the Mi 9 with custom firmware (like the Pixel Experience), some methods may not work - we will mention this too.

What is the second space on Xiaomi and why to turn it off

The second space (or Dual Apps) feature in MIUI was designed to separate personal and work data, essentially a separate user profile with its own:

• 📱 Installed applications (duplicated from the main space)
• 📁 Files and media (photos, videos, documents)
• 🔑 Accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks)
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, sounds, notifications)

On the Xiaomi Mi 9, the second space takes up up to 5-8 GB of memory (depending on the number of duplicate applications) and can increase battery consumption by 10-15% due to background activity.

• 🔄 Accidental activation (for example, when setting up a child mode)
• 📉 Lack of memory on the device (especially relevant for the version of Mi 9 64 GB)
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge
• 🚫 Banking applications conflicts (some appendices block the second space)

The difference from guest mode is that the second space is a full clone of the system, and the guest mode is a temporary profile with limited rights. On the Mi 9, guest mode is easier to turn off, and the second space requires special actions.

⚠️ Note: If you used the second space for banking applications or two-factor authentication, transfer all critical data (logins, passwords, backup codes) to the main space before you turn off!

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (the safest way)

This method is suitable if:

• ✅ You have an official firmware installed. MIUI (global)
• ✅ The second space is not locked with a password.
• ✅ Remember the password from the main space

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Second Space
2. Click on Remove Second Space (or Disable in Older MIUI versions).
3. Enter the password from the main space (not the second!).
4. Confirm the action. The system will suggest saving the data before deleting — select the desired option: 💾 Save – the data of the second space will be archived in a folder MIUI/backup/second_space 🗑️ Delete – all data will be erased irrevocably

If the Remove the second space button is inactive, it means:

• 🔒 Space is locked with a password (see Method 2)
• 🔄 The device is in child control mode (you need to turn off the Settings). → Special opportunities)
• 📱 Installed custom firmware (try Method 3)

Backup of the second space data|Remember passwords from the main and second space|Check the free space on the device (needs at least 1 GB)|Turn off child mode (if enabled)-->

Method 2: Remove by MIUI Recovery (if the space is blocked)

If the second space is password protected, which you forgot, or the delete button in the settings is inactive, you will have to use the Recovery mode (MIUI Recovery), this method will work only on official firmware!

Preconditions:

• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 30%
• 📱 Factory reset via Mi Account is disabled (if your Xiaomi account is tied)
• 🔐 You know the password from the main space (required to unlock after the reboot)

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the Xiaomi Mi 9.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears (about 10 seconds).
3. From the MIUI Recovery menu, select the language (if available) and go to Wipe Data → Wipe Second Space.
4. Confirm the action with the swipe or the Yes button.
5. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the Recovery menu does not include Wipe Second Space, it means:

• 📌 You have custom recapavere (for example, TWRP) — Use Method 3.
• 🔄 The firmware is very outdated (update to the MIUI 12+ through settings → Updating the system).

⚠️ Note: After removing the second space through Recovery, the device may request the Mi Account password when you first download. If you don't remember the password, don't reset - this will lock the phone.

Yes, regularly |Tryed, but didn't come in handy |No, I don't know what it is |Turned off immediately after purchase-->

Method 3: Radical removal via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• ✅ You have unlocked the bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked)
• ✅ Drivers installed ADB PC-only
• ✅ There's access to the debugging bridge (USB Debugging)

Warning: Incorrect ADB commands can result in data loss or soft-brick. Use this method only if the first two fail.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on this item.
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the Mi 9 to your PC and confirm your trust in your phone.
4. Open the command prompt (CMD) on your PC and type: adb shell pm list users In the output, find the line with UserInfo{1:Second Space:13} (number 1 is the ID of the second space).
5. Remove the space with the command: adb shell pm remove-user 1 Replace 1 with the current ID from the previous step.
6. Reboot the device: adb reboot

If the second space is still active after the reboot, execute an additional command:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MASTER_CLEAR

This will result in a complete reset, but it will save the main space data.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you turn off the second space on the Xiaomi Mi 9, users face typical problems, and we have collected the most common ways to eliminate them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📌 Version MIUI: firmware MIUI 10 The second space function works differently.
• 🔧 System File Integrity: If the phone was previously optimized through Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher, critical components could be removed.

💡

If the phone is slower after removing the second space, clear the system cache: go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and select Deep Cleanup. This will delete temporary files that may have been left from the second space.

How to prevent automatic switching on of second space

Many Xiaomi Mi 9 users complain that the second space turns on on itself after updating or resetting.

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization with Mi Cloud (if previously activated function)
• 📱 Firmware errors (especially relevant for the MIUI 11–12)
• 🔐 A child-friendly system that can create a temporary space

To avoid recurrence:

1. Turn off the second space sync: Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud → Sync and disable the Second Space item.
2. Delete backups: In the file manager, find the MIUI/backup folder and delete its contents.
3. Update your firmware: In manual MIUI builds (e.g. xiaomi.eu), automatic-on bugs are fixed. Install the latest version via Settings → System Update.

If you use the Mi 9 with custom firmware (like LineageOS or HavocOS), the second space function may work differently or not at all.

• 🛠️ Check the settings in Settings → System → Multiple users.
• 📌 Remove the space through TWRP, select Advanced Wipe → Second Space Data.

💡

If you are selling or transferring the Xiaomi Mi 9 to another user, be sure to delete the second space and complete a full reset via Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset. This will protect your data from recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the second space on Xiaomi Mi 9