How to completely remove the second space on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: 4 working methods

Why the second space interferes with the smartphone

The second space feature in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro was originally conceived as a tool to separate personal and work data. However, many users find that it takes up excess memory, slows down the system or accidentally activates after updates, especially for the Redmi Note 8 Pro model with its limited 64/128 GB of storage, where every free space is in the account.

The main problem is that the second space is not removed in the standard way through the Settings → Applications menu. MIUI blocks this option, offering only a shutdown or reset. But there are workarounds that we will discuss in detail below. It is important to understand that wrong actions can lead to data loss or a device "brick", so every step requires attention.

Method 1: Remove via MIUI settings (official method)

The safest, but not always the most effective, option is to use built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable if the second space was created through a standard menu and is not password protected.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Second space.
• 🔄 Click Remove the second space (if the button is active).
• 🔐 Enter the password from the main confirmation space.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is completed (it will take). 1-3 minute).

⚠️ Note: If the Remove button is inactive, the space is password protected or created through the MIUI Lab. In this case, proceed to the following methods.

After removal, the system will automatically restart. Check the free space in Settings → Storage – it should increase by 5-15 GB (depending on the settings of the second space).

Method 2: Reset via MIUI Lab (for power users)

If the standard method didn't work, try the hidden MIUI Lab menu, which allows you to control experimental functions, including forced removal of the second space. Redmi Note 8 Pro supports this mode, but access to it requires activation.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Go back to Settings → Additional → For developers and turn on MIUI Lab.
3. Open MIUI Lab → Second Space → Delete Data
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI post-dump MIUI Lab may lose access to Google Play Services. If this happens, re-assign your Google account to Settings → Accounts.

This method is effective in 80% of cases, but requires caution. If after removing the smartphone began to slow down, make a soft reset (without loss of data) through Settings → Additional → Reset.

Make a backup copy of the main space data

Remember passwords from Xiaomi and Google accounts

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable two-factor authentication (if enabled)

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Method 3: Delete via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods failed, the ADB command line remains, and this method requires a PC connection and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge, which is suitable for cases where the second space is blocked or damaged.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included Debugging by USB developer-setting.

Instructions:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your PC and confirm debugging access.
2. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder 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


pm clear com.miui.secondspace




pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.secondspace

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB This can cause data loss or block the bootloader. If you are not sure about your actions, skip this method.

Method 4: Complete reset to factory settings

The last measure is hard reset, which is guaranteed to delete the second space, but also erase all the data on the device, and only use this method if other methods fail or the second space is damaged.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

After the reset, check the storage, the second space will be deleted and the memory is completely freed. If the problem recurs, this may indicate a hardware failure (for example, damage to the /data partition).

💡

Before resetting, write down your phone's IMEI (type *#06#) to help restore access to your mobile network if the connection goes missing after the reset.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you delete the second space, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

Error 1: The Remove button is inactive

• 🔹 Check if the password lock is enabled for the second space.
• 🔹 Try to log in and disable protection in Settings. → Lockdown and protection.
• 🔹 If the password is forgotten, use it. MIUI lab ADB.

Error 2: After removal, space reappears

This is because of the automatic recovery system.

• 🔹 Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud.
• 🔹 Perform the reset through ADB with the pm uninstall command -k --user 0 com.miui.secondspace.

Error 3: The phone will not turn on after resetting

Possible causes:

• 🔹 Discharge process interrupted (do not turn off power during surgery!).
• 🔹 Firmware damaged (reflashing via Fastboot required).

💡

If the phone is slower after removing the second space, clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache. This will eliminate the temporary files left over from the second space.

How to Prevent Second Space from Re-creating

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these tips:

• 🛡️ Turn off automatic backup in Mi Cloud for second space.
• 🔧 Check your settings regularly → Special opportunities for new spaces.
• 📱 Do not install unofficial firmware – they often activate hidden features. MIUI.
• 🔄 Before the update MIUI Do a cache reset via Recovery Mode.

If you use data separation frequently, consider alternatives:

• 📁 Container applications (e.g. Island or Shelter).
• 🔐 User profiles (in Android 9)+ natively supported).
• ☁️ Cloud storage to separate work and personal files.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it’s best to avoid the built-in second space — it’s not optimized for this model and often causes lags. Instead, use the guest mode (Settings → System → Guest mode), which doesn’t take up extra space.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions