How to completely remove the second space on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Owners of Xiaomi MIUI smartphones often face the unexpected appearance of a second workspace, a duplicate interface with separate apps, settings and even accounts, a feature originally designed to separate personal and work data, often activated accidentally or after updates, resulting in two identical screens that have to be constantly switched between, and the free space on the device disappears in front of the eyes.

The problem is complicated by the fact that the second space in the MIUI It is not always deleted by standard methods through settings — the system can produce errors such as "It is impossible to delete space" or simply ignore commands. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove the second space, including hidden functions. MIUI, team ADB, And even radical measures for stubborn cases. We'll focus on the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13T, Where the problem occurs most often in 2026.

Why is there a second space in Xiaomi?

The second space feature was introduced in MIUI 8 as a tool to separate personal and work information, originally positioned as an analogue of Samsung Knox or Huawei PrivateSpace, but Xiaomi's implementation has turned out to be more "raw".

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the system may duplicate space due to data migration failure.
• 👤 Mi Account Error: Linking a device to multiple Xiaomi accounts or resetting a password sometimes triggers the creation of a duplicate.
• 📱 Activation through "Children's Mode": Including a child profile in Settings → Special capabilities can indirectly create a second space.
• 🛠️ Factory reset: Incomplete reset (without formatting internal memory) leaves "artifacts" of past space.

It is important to understand that the second space is not just a separate desktop, but a full-fledged isolated environment with its own:

• 📁 Folders in memory (/data/secondspace)
• 🔑 Security settings (separate prints, pattern lock)
• 📱 Installed applications (duplicate system and user applications) APK)
• 📶 Connections (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile networks)

⚠️ Warning: If you notice that a second space has been created after installing the app from third-party sources (not Google Play), immediately check the device for viruses using Mi Security or Malwarebytes.

Method 1: Remove via standard MIUI settings

So, to start with the most obvious method, which works 60-70% of the time, which is suitable for MIUI 12-14 devices and doesn't require superuser rights. Importantly, back up your main space data before you delete it!

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Click on the gear icon (⚙️) top-right.
3. Select the option to Remove the second space.
4. Enter your password (if requested) and confirm the action.

If the "Remove" button is inactive or absent:

• 🔄 Restart the device and try again.
• 🔒 Make sure you’re logged into the main space (check in the status bar – there shouldn’t be an icon”2").
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi – sometimes the system requires a license check.

Backup the main space |Remember passwords from accounts |Connect to stable Wi-Fi | Charge the phone at least 50%-->

On some models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the path to settings may be different:

Settings → Accounts and Synchronization → Second Space

⚠️ Note: If the second space is removed, the contacts or SMS, Check sync with Mi Cloud, the data may have remained linked to a remote profile, and you can restore it through Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.

Method 2: Recovery Mode Reset (for stubborn cases)

When standard removal fails and the system fails to remove space, you'll have to use Recovery Mode, which is more radical, but it's effective 90 percent of the time, and it's suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the POCO F5 and Xiaomi 12 Pro.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Whale) and go to Wipe Data.
4. Tap Wipe Second Space (some firmware called Erase Second User Data).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 2-5 minutes).
6. Restart the device via Reboot → System.

If the Wipe Second Space item is not on the menu:

• 🔧 Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data will delete ALL data on the phone, including the main space!
• 📱 On some models (Redmi) 10C, POCO M4 Pro) select Advanced Wipe and then tick Second Space.

💡

If after resetting via Recovery, the phone is stuck on startup the Mi logo for more than 10 minutes, don't panic. Turn it off with a long press of the power button (20+ seconds), then turn it back on. This is normal behavior on the first start after cleaning the second space.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods failed and the second space continues to be stubborn, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will come to the rescue, which requires a computer and basic command-line knowledge, but is guaranteed to remove space even in the most neglected cases.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 📦 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB phone-on

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the build number.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type:

adb shell


pm list users

You will see a list of users (spaces) in the format:

UserInfo{0:Owner:13} running


UserInfo{10:SecondSpace:30} running

Here 10 is the ID of the second space. Delete it by command:

pm remove-user 10

If you see an error called “Operation not allowed” try:

adb shell su -c"pm remove-user 10"

Through the settings MIUI| Through Recovery Mode| Through ADB| Nothing helped, I had to reset the phone-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13) the pm remove-user command can block the main space. If after execution the phone requires a password that you did not set, you will have to do a complete reset via fastboot: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot This will delete all data on the device!

Method 4: Manual partition formatting (extreme method)

If all previous methods failed, and the second space continues to take up space and interfere with work, the last option is manually formatting the partition via fastboot. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is only suitable for advanced users.

We warn you that the wrong actions can turn your Xiaomi into a brick.

1. Unblock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you will need an account binding).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and download the fastboot firmware for your model.
3. Transfer the phone to fastboot mode: turn it off, then press Power + Volume down.
4. Connect to the PC and check for device detection by the command:

fastboot devices

If the phone is determined, do:

fastboot erase userdata_second


fastboot erase secondspace




fastboot reboot

For complete cleaning (if the space is still there):

fastboot format:ext4 userdata


fastboot format:ext4 userdata_second




fastboot reboot

After that, the device will restart and start setting up from scratch. All data will be deleted!

💡

Manual partition formatting is the last chance to get rid of the second space. Use it only if other methods have failed and you are ready for total data loss. On some models (POCO F4 GT, Black Shark 5), this method can lead to blocking IMEI - be careful!

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

If you tried all the methods, but the second space never disappeared, perhaps the problem lies deeper — in the corruption of system files or hardware failure, in such cases, the most reliable solution is to contact the official service center Xiaomi.

When to go to the service:

• 🔧 After removing the space, the phone cyclically restarts.
• 📱 In Settings → Memory still displayed occupied space by the second user".
• 🔒 The device requires a password that you never set.
• 📲 The lock screen displays a message saying "Space corrupted".

What to bring with you:

• 📄 Passport (to confirm ownership).
• 📱 Charged phone with problem.
• 🔐 Login and password from Mi Account (if the phone is blocked).
• 💳 Warranty card (if the device is guaranteed).

Cost of repair:

Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Before visiting, check by phone whether they are dealing with your problem - some centers specialize only in hardware repairs.

How to Prevent the Second Space from Reappearing

Removing the second space is half the battle, and it's much more important to prevent it from reappearing.

• 🔄 Updates MIUI: Install updates only through Settings → Update the software, not through third-party firmware.
• 👤 Mi Account: Don't use multiple accounts on the same device. If you need to switch, log out of your current account first.
• 📱 Mode for Kids: Instead of a built-in child profile, install third-party apps like Kids Place or Google Family Link.
• 🛠️ Resetting: When resetting factory, always choose to delete everything (including internal memory).
• 🔒 Security: Do not install APK Unverified sources – they may contain code to create hidden spaces.

Useful settings for prevention:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Turn off the Automatic Creation option when reset (if any).
3. In Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud, disable the synchronization of “Second Space Data”.

For POCO and Black Shark models, it is also recommended to:

• 🎮 Disable Game Space Mode (It Can Conflict with Main Space).
• 🔧 B Settings → Additionally. → Developer Mode to Disable Multiple Users.

💡

Back up your MIUI settings through Settings → About Phone → Backup and save it to the cloud. If the second space reappears, you can quickly restore your main profile without losing data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the second space in Xiaomi