How to completely disable the second space on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 4 proven ways

Xiaomi’s second-space feature (including Redmi 9) was originally intended as a tool to separate personal and work data. However, many users find it takes up excess memory, slows down the device, or simply interferes with it. Disabling it is not as obvious as it might seem: in some versions of MIUI, the option is hidden in the depth of the menu, and in others requires additional manipulation.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove second space on Redmi 9, from standard settings to hidden commands for power users. We will pay special attention to the nuances that can arise when working with different versions of firmware (including MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS). If you want to not just disable, but completely remove the second space without a trace, here you will find working solutions.

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

Second Space is an isolated environment in MIUI that allows you to create a separate user profile with your own apps, settings and data, essentially the same as the guest mode on Android, but with advanced features.

• 🔒 Separate personal and work accounts on the same device.
• 👶 Give your child access to a smartphone without risking your data.
• 🛡️ Protect confidential information when transferring the phone to third parties.

However, the function has serious shortcomings:

• 📉 It takes up to 3-5 GB of memory (depending on the number of installed applications).
• 🐢 Slows down the device due to background synchronization of two profiles.
• 🔄 It may conflict with some system updates.
• 🚫 It is not possible to use certain features (like Google Pay or banking apps) in both spaces at the same time.

If you don't use the second space, turning it off will free up your smartphone's resources and make it easier to manage your data, but it's important to understand that simply "turning off" through settings doesn't always remove all traces -- sometimes you need a full reset or manual cleaning.

Method 1: Disable the second space through standard settings

The easiest way is to use built-in options. MIUI. It is suitable if you want a temporary shutdown without deleting data.Instructions are relevant for Redmi 9 on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Special Opportunities section (in some versions – Additional).
3. Select Second Space (or Second Space in English).
4. Press Turn off the second space.
5. Confirm the action by entering the password (if it is set).

The system then suggests restarting the device. Importantly, the data in the second space is not deleted, but only becomes inaccessible. To completely clear the memory of the second profile, a reset will be required (see Method 3).

Make a backup copy of the main space data

Remember the password from the second space (if installed)

Check the available space on the device (requires ~1 GB for surgery)

Turn off Google sync in both spaces-->

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the second space, you will not be able to disable it through the settings. In this case, only a complete reset will help (see the section below).

Method 2: Recovery Mode Removal (for power users)

If the standard shutdown didn’t work or you want to completely erase the second space, you can use Recovery Mode, which is suitable for Redmi 9 with an unlocked bootloader or root rights, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
4. Go to Advanced Wipe and select Second Space Data (or similar).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
6. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot.

This method will delete all the data in the second space without the possibility of recovery. If you plan to use it again, make a backup copy first.

*Some versions of MIUI require an unlocked bootloader to access Advanced Wipe.

💡

If after removing the second space, the switch on button remains in the settings, try clearing the system cache: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Show system → Settings → Clear the cache

Method 3: Complete reset (Hard Reset)

If previous methods didn't work, or you want to be guaranteed to remove all traces of the second space, the only reliable way is to reset to factory settings. This will delete all data from the device, including both spaces, so make a backup first.

How to perform the reset:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
3. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once rebooted, the device will be like new, with no second space or other user data, a method that is 100% effective but requires reconfiguration of the smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After reset, there may be a “ghost” of the second space in the form of an empty folder in the /data/secondspace. To remove it, you will need root rights or access through ADB.

Method 4: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)

If you're familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can delete the second space using the command line, which is suitable for Redmi 9 with USB debugging enabled, and works even on a locked bootloader.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type:

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.secondspace

1. Reset the device.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell


rm -rf /data/secondspace/*

This method will delete all the files in the second space, but it won't affect the main system. Use it only if you're sure you're doing it.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off the second space on Redmi 9, users encounter common errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

1. the button "Disable the second space" is inactive

Reasons:

• 🔐 You have a password that you have forgotten.
• 📱 The device is in guest mode.
• 🔄 The firmware contains a bug (relevant to the MIUI 12.5 on certain devices).

Decision:

• Try resetting your password through your Mi Account (if you have an account attached).
• Reset through Recovery (see Method 3).
• Update the firmware to the latest version.

2 After the shutdown, there were files of the second space

If the /secondspace folder is left in your smartphone memory, delete it:

• With the help of a file manager (root rights required).
• Through ADB (rm -rf /data/secondspace command).
• Completely reset (if other methods have not worked).

3. The device freezes when the second space is turned off

This may be due to:

• 🗑️ Lack of free memory (at least 1 GB required).
• 🐞 Conflict with installed Magisk or Xposed modules.
• 🔋 Battery discharge (charge must be at least 50%).

Decision:

• Connect the charger.
• Clear the cache through Recovery.
• Turn off the Magisk modules before the procedure.

💡

If none of the methods worked, check the firmware version. On some custom builds (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the second space can be integrated into the system at the kernel level and require firmware reflashing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions