How to completely remove the second space Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: 4 working methods

The second space on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a useful feature for separating personal and work data, but users often face the need to delete it. The reasons range from bugs in operation to the desire to free up memory or return the phone to a factory state. However, standard deletion through settings does not always work - the system can emit errors, and the data remains on the device.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to delete the second space on the Redmi Note 10 (including the Pro/Pro Max/5G models), taking into account the features of the MIUI 12-14 firmware. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden files that remain after “deleting” through the menu, and how to completely clean them.

What is the second space on Xiaomi and why is it difficult to remove it?

Second Space is an isolated environment in MIUI that works as a separate user profile.

📱 Your applications (you can duplicate messengers, games, social networks)
🔑 Separate settings (Wi-Fi, sound, wallpaper)
📁 Isolated storage (photos, files, cache)
🔒 Unique account information (e.g., another Mi Account)

The problem is that Xiaomi doesn’t provide tools to completely remove the second space through the GUI, and when you click “Delete” in the settings, the system only hides it, leaving it on the device:

🗃️ Residual files in the folder /data/secondspace (borrow 1–3 GB)
🔄 Phantom processes that can slow down the system
🔐 Blocked data if the space was password protected

In addition, on some versions of MIUI (especially MIUI 13+), an attempt to delete may result in:

⚠️ The Scene of Mi (bootloop)
❌ Loss of access to the main space
🔄 Automatic recovery of the second space after rebooting

📊 Have you ever used a second space on Xiaomi?

Yeah, regularly.

I tried it, but I deleted it.

No, I haven't.

I don't know what it is.

Preparing for removal: what to do before the start

Before you start deleting, follow the mandatory steps to avoid data loss or “bricking” your phone:

Backup the main space through Settings → About Phone → Backup

Take a picture or write down all important passwords (Wi-Fi, accounts)

Check the battery charge (should be ≥50%)

Turn off password/fingerprint protection in the second space (Settings → Lock and Protection)

Make sure you have access to the Mi Account tied to the device-->

Pay special attention to backup. Even if you plan to delete space through standard settings, there is always a risk of data loss, such as when you delete through ADB or reset to factory settings:

📸 Photos and videos from the gallery of the second space will be lost forever.
💬 The history of correspondence in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) will not be restored
🎮 Progress in games (unless linked to an account) Google/Game Center)

If you have used a second workspace, keep:

📄 Documents from WPS Office or Google Docs
📧 Emails from an email client (if a separate account was set up)
🔗 Browser bookmarks (export through Settings) → Bookmarks → Exports)

💡

If the second space is password protected and you have forgotten it, try resetting it through the main space: go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space → Reset password. This will only work if the device is not locked by IMEI.

Method 1: Remove from standard MIUI settings

The easiest way, but it doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, is for the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12-14 firmware, if the space wasn’t password protected or didn’t contain critical data.

Instructions:

Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
Select Second Space.
Click Remove the second space.
Confirm the action by entering the password from the main space (if required).
Wait until the process is completed (the phone will restart).

⚠️ Note: If the second space reappears after the reboot, the files have not been deleted completely.

MIUI version	Does standard removal work?	Risk of data loss
MIUI 12	Yes (80 percent of the time)	Low.
MIUI 12.5–13	Partially (may recover)	Medium.
MIUI 14	No (ADB required)	High-pitched

If the "Second Space" option is still displayed in the settings after deleting, but you can't log in to it, it means that the files are still in the system. They can be manually deleted via ADB (see Method 3).

Method 2: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

This method is guaranteed to remove the second space, but erases all data on the device, including the main space.

🔄 Standard removal didn't work.
🔒 You forgot the password from the second space.
📱 The phone started to brake due to the second space.

Instructions:

Turn off the Redmi Note 10.
Press the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or Clear Data) item.
Confirm the reset by selecting Yes.
Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13+ You may need to link to the Mi Account that was active on the device after the reset, so if you don't remember your account details, the phone will turn into a brick:

📧 Remember the email and password from Mi Account
📱 Find Device is disabled on your device (unless you plan to restore data)

What to do if you need an old Mi Account after resetting?

If the phone asks for data from the previous Mi Account and you don’t remember it, try: 1. Sign in to this account on another device and remove the Redmi Note 10 from the list of associated devices (Settings → Mi Account → Devices). 2. Wait 72 hours – sometimes the lock is reset automatically. 3. Contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase (check, box). If nothing helps, you will need firmware via Fastboot (see Method 4).

Method 3: Removal via ADB (for power users)

This method allows you to completely erase the files of the second space without affecting the main one. It is suitable for users who do not want to reset to factory settings. It requires a computer and installed ADB drivers.

Instructions:

Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.
Activate USB Debugging: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on the USB Debugging Switch.

Redmi Note 10

CMD

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/secondspace




rm -rf /data/system/secondspace.xml




reboot

If after the reboot the second space disappeared, but the option to create it is still displayed in the settings - perform an additional cleaning:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.secondspace

⚠️ Attention: Removal through ADB may lead to:

🔄 The system freezes if the process is interrupted
📱 Data loss in the main space (rarely, but possible)
🔒 Blocking Mi Account if the phone is linked to your account

💡

If the error "Permission denied" appears after rm -rf, then you do not have root rights, in which case use Magisk to obtain root rights or go to Method 4.

Method 4: Fastboot Flashing (extreme case)

This method is used if:

🔧 None of the methods worked.
📱 phone is stuck on startup Mi logo after space removal
🔒 Device blocked due to Mi Account

The firmware will require:

💻 Computer with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed
📁 Official firmware for Redmi Note 10 (download from the official website)
🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)

Instructions:

Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
Turn off your phone and put it into Fastboot mode: Press Volume Down + Power for 10 seconds. Connect your phone to your PC.

Mi Flash Tool

Refresh

COM-port

Clean All

Flash

Wait for the end (5-10 minutes). The phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: Firmware through Fastboot:

📵 Delete all data without recovery
🔧 Can lead to a bootloader lock if it was unblocked unofficially
📡 Requires a stable Internet connection to download firmware

💡

If the phone doesn’t turn on or hangs on the logo after firmware, try repeating the process with another version of MIUI (for example, use Chinese or EEA instead of global firmware).

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you delete the second space, users often face problems, and let's look at the most common ways to solve them:

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
The second space rebounded after the reboot	Incomplete file deletion in /data/secondspace	Use ADB (Method 3) or Reset (Method 2)
Phone asks for password from second space after deletion	Residual files with lock data	Reset via Recovery or go through Fastboot
Cannot remove secondspace: Directory not empty	The second space process is still active.	Restart your phone in Safe Mode and re-delete via ADB
After deleting files from the main space were lost	Error in mounting partitions	Recover data via Mi Cloud or ADB backup

If after removing the second space, the phone began to brake or overheat, follow the following steps:

Clear the cache through Recovery (Wipe Cache).
Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Applications → Auto Run.
Check the vacant storage space (if less than 10%, delete unnecessary files).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing second space

Can I recover data from the second space after deletion?

Not if you used standard deletion or reset via Recovery. Second space files are stored encrypted, and once deleted, the encryption keys are erased. The only chance is if you backed up through ADB backup or synced data to the cloud.

Why is it that after the second space is deleted, there is still an option to create it in the settings?

This is normal MIUI behavior, and the function of the second space itself stays in the system, but the data is deleted, and if the option is active, but nothing happens when you press it, then the space is deleted successfully.

Can I delete the second space without a computer?

Yes, but only through standard settings (Method 1) or reset (Method 2). Complete file cleanup requires ADB or firmware via Fastboot, which requires a PC.

Will this method work on the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Note 10S?

Yes, the instructions are suitable for all Redmi Note 10 series models (Pro, Pro Max, 5G, S) as they are MIUI based with a similar second-space architecture, except for MIUI devices for POCO, where there may be minor menu differences.

What if the phone does not turn on after the second space is removed?

There was probably an error in mounting /data. Try: Press Volume Up + Power for 20 seconds for a forced reboot. If it doesn't work, run your phone through Fastboot (Method 4). If the phone vibrates but the screen doesn't turn on, check for the display plume connection (possibly not the software problem).