How to restore second space on Xiaomi after removal: all working methods

Removing the second space on Xiaomi smartphones often becomes a headache for users, especially if it stored important data or settings. Unlike the standard factory reset, restoring an alternate profile requires specific actions – from using hidden MIUI functions to working with ADB. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to return lost space, including nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13, etc.) and firmware versions (from MIUI 13 to HyperOS).

The main problem is that Xiaomi does not provide a direct “cancel deletion” function – after cleaning the second space, the system considers it non-existent. However, there are workarounds: from restore through a backup to manually creating a new space with data transfer. It is important to understand that success depends on two factors: the version of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12.5 algorithm has changed) and the type of deletion (ful formatting or simply disabling).

If you delete space by accident, don't panic. 80 percent of the time, you can get it back without losing data, but you have to act fast: the longer the smartphone lasts after deleting, the greater the risk of overwriting system files. Let's start with the simplest methods and gradually move on to advanced ones.

1. Checking hidden MIUI settings: recovery through the "Laboratory"

The first step is to find the remnants of the second space in the MIUI service menus, which even after deleting can store a label of its existence, allowing access to be restored without complex manipulations, and works on MIUI 12.5-14 and HyperOS firmware (for models 2023-2026).

Open the Settings app and follow the following sequence:

1. Go to About the Phone. → Press 5 times on the version MIUI, activate the developer mode.
2. Return to the main settings menu and open the Additional → Lab (or Special Features on HyperOS).
3. Find the Second Space (may be called Multi-User or Private Space).
4. If the item is active, click Restore or Activate. The system will prompt you to enter the password from the main account.

If the item is missing or inactive, try an alternative path:

• 🔍 Enter the Settings Search query: Second Recovery Space.
• 📱 In some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) option hidden in Settings → Accounts. → Synchronization.
• 🔄 If nothing is found, restart your phone – sometimes the system restores access after a reboot.

⚠️ Note: HyperOS firmware (2026) may have different paths. If the Lab doesn't have a "Second Space" option, check the Privacy section. → Private regime.

2.Recovery through MIUI backup

If you have previously backed up a second space, it can be restored in minutes. Xiaomi automatically saves backups to the Mi Cloud cloud or locally on the device.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. Select Local Copies or Mi Cloud (if you have a copy in the cloud).
3. Find a file marked SecondSpace or MultiUser (usually 1-3 GB).
4. Click Restore and Confirm Action. After the reboot, the space will appear in the user switch menu.

If there is no local copy, check the cloud.

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com from PC.
• 📁 In the Devices section → [Your phone] → Backups look for files with a date before deletion.
• ⚡ If a copy is found, download it to your phone and restore it through Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery.

⚠️ Note: Recovery from the Mi Cloud requires you to connect to the same Wi-Fi network as when you create a copy. If you change your Mi Account password, log in first.

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If the backup is damaged, try to restore it via your PC: download the file with the.mbk extension, rename it.zip, and extract the data manually. The SecondSpace folder inside the archive contains user files.

3. Creating a new data transfer space

If previous methods didn’t work, you can create a new second space and manually transfer data from the backup to it, which is suitable if you have access to old space files (for example, via TWRP or ADB).

Step-by-step:

1. Create a new space: Settings → Second space → Create.
2. Set the same password as the old one (this will make it easier to transfer data).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and use it ADB or a file manager with root rights (such as Mixplorer) to copy files from a folder: /data/system/users/[USER_ID] where [USER_ID] — identifier of old space (usually) 10 or 999).
4. Move the data to a new folder of space (similar path, but with a different one) USER_ID).

For the portability of applications:

• 📦 Use Titanium Backup (requires root) or App Cloner to duplicate programs.
• 🔄 Restore the settings through ADB: adb restore backup.ab (where backup.ab is a backup created via adb backup).
• 🔐 If applications require a license, log in to them again (account data may not be transferred).

Create a new second space|Download backup copy on PC|Install ADB-driver|Get root access (optional)|Check the vacant space (minimum 5 GB)-->

4.Use of ADB-commands for forced recovery

For advanced users, there is a recovery method through ADB (Android Debug Bridge works even if the space is not displayed in the settings, but requires the developer mode and the user mode to be enabled. USB-debugging.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
2. Check the connection: Adb devices (you should display your device).
3. Follow the command to verify existing users: adb shell pm list users Look for a string with SecondSpace or 10/999 ID.
4. If space is found, activate it: adb shell am switch-user [USER_ID] For example, adb shell am switch-user 10.

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

• 🔧 Enter adb shell cmd user [USER_ID] enable and restart the phone.
• 🔄 If space is not activated, recreate it with the same USER_ID: adb shell pm create-user SecondSpace
• 📡 On some firmware (MIUI 14) Additional command: adb shell settings put global multi_user_enabled 1

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB If the phone freezes after execution, perform adb reboot and try again.

5. Recovery via TWRP (for stitched devices)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recavator, the chances of recovering the second space are much higher, and this method is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro, etc.).

Instructions:

1. Boot to TWRP (hold Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Find the /data/system/users/ folder and check for a folder with the second space identifier (e.g. 10).
4. If the folder exists, copy its contents to SD-card.
5. Create a new space through standard settings and move the data back.

To restore system files:

• 🛠️ Use it. TWRP To mount the data partition and edit the file /data/system/users/0.xml (where 0 — ID mainstay).
• 📝 Add a line for the second space: <user id="10" name="SecondSpace" flags="10">
• 🔄 Save the changes and reboot.Space should appear in the switch menu.

⚠️ Note: Editing system files through TWRP This can cause the main user to lose data if you make a syntax error.Be sure to create a full backup of the data partition before making changes.

6.Speaking to Xiaomi: When Nothing Helps

If all of these methods fail, the last option is to contact official Xiaomi support, which is true if:

• 📱 Device for warranty (in this case, it is not recommended to use the ADB or TWRP).
• 🔧 The second space was removed after the firmware update (for example, with the MIUI 13 on HyperOS).
• 💾 In the space, critical data (bank applications, work files) were stored in the space).

How to make a request for support:

1. Specify the phone model, the MIUI/HyperOS version and the date of the space removal.
2. Attach screenshots from the Settings menu → About the phone and the lab.
3. Describe which recovery methods you have tried (this will speed up the response).
4. If you have a backup in Mi Cloud, please specify its ID (you can find it in Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Backups).

Support contacts:

• 🌍 Official website: mi.com/support
• 📧 Email: support@xiaomi.com (for international users).
• 📞 Phone: +7 (495) 640-50-17 (for Russia, pn-pt 10:00–19:00).

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Official support for Xiaomi can only restore the second space if it was tied to the Mi Account and backed up in the cloud. Without a backup, the chances are minimal - in this case, only manual restoration through ADB or TWRP will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about second space restoration