Recovering the second space on Xiaomi: full instruction with error solutions

The second space feature on Xiaomi smartphones allows you to create an isolated work environment with separate applications, files and settings. This is convenient for separating personal and work data, testing applications or ensuring privacy. However, users often face problems: space can disappear after a MIUI update, resetting settings or a system failure. Recover it is not as easy as it seems – standard methods through the settings menu do not always work, and incorrect actions can lead to data loss.

In this article, we’ll explore all the possible ways to recover second space on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including hidden MIUI features, ADB commands, and manual methods through Fastboot. You’ll also learn how to avoid typical errors and what to do if space has been removed along with important data.

If you've tried to restore the second space through Settings → Special Options → Second Space, but it didn't work, don't rush to reset your phone to factory settings. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved without losing data, but you need to understand how the space sharing mechanism in MIUI works.

Why is the second space on Xiaomi disappearing?

The reasons for the loss of the second space can be divided into software and hardware, most often due to system failures or user actions, but sometimes the problem lies deeper - in the damage to the memory partition.

Here are the main reasons:

• 🔄 Update MIUI — After installing a new firmware version, the second space may “fly” due to a data conflict or reset security settings.
• 🗑️ Reset to factory settings – if you reset your phone through Settings → The phone. → Reset settings, the second space is removed without the possibility of recovery by standard methods.
• 🛠️ Manual removal through ADB — commands like pm uninstall --user 11 com.miui.secondspace can lead to irreversible consequences.
• 📱 Data partition damage – if the phone suddenly shuts down while working with space (e.g., battery dies), it can lead to file corruption.
• 🔒 Lockdown MI-Account – the second space to your Xiaomi account is sometimes lost, especially if you have changed your password or logged out of your account.

The most dangerous situation is when the space disappears after an unsuccessful update via Fastboot. In this case, not only the second space, but also the main system can be affected. If you suspect that the problem is due to the firmware, first check the integrity of the system through Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times according to the version to open the diagnostic menu).

⚠️ Note: If a second space has disappeared after using garbage cleanup applications (such as Clean Master or Security), don’t try to recover it through those same programs. MIUI, complicating recovery.

Method 1: Standard Recovery through MIUI Settings

If the second space is gone but you haven't reset or flashed it, try to restore it through the standard menu first. This method works 60-70% of the time and doesn't require additional tools.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. If the space creation button is active but you see the message "Space is damaged", click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Restore.
3. The system will prompt you to enter a password from the main space, and after confirmation, the recovery process will begin (it can take 5-15 minutes).
4. If you have a request to reboot, agree. After the reboot, check for the second space in the user switch menu (swipe down the notification panel → user icon).

If instead of a restore button, you only see the option to create a new space, it means that MIUI does not detect any trace of the old one.

The password from the main space is remembered or recorded

There is enough free memory on the phone (minimum 2 GB)

The device is charged 50% or more

VPNs and proxy servers are disabled (they can block access to Xiaomi servers)

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If after recovery, a second space appeared, but the applications in it do not work or constantly fly out, try:

• 🔄 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → long-press on "Switch off" → "Safe regime").
• 📱 Remove the cache of the second space through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Show all the processes → Second space → Clear the cache.
• 🔧 Update all apps in the second space via Play Market or App Store.

Method 2: Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can try to restore the second space through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Preliminary steps:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on the developer mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
3. Activate debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC via the original cable (use the USB 2.0 port for stability).

Now run the following commands in cmd or terminal:

adb devices

(Your device should show up. If not, check the drivers.)

adb shell


pm list users

This command will show you a list of users (spaces) and look for a line numbered 11 or 12, which is the ID of the second space.

UserInfo{11:Second Space:30} running

If you see a running property, space exists, but it's hidden. To restore it, type in:

am switch-user 11

(Replace 11 with the current ID from your list.)

If the space doesn’t appear in the list (the pm list of users only returns 0), try creating it again with ADB:

pm create-user --profileOf 0 --managed Second Space

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can cause the system to malfunction if you're incorrectly entered. ID Users manually and do not delete spaces via pm remove-user – this can block access to the main profile.

Method 3: Fastboot Recovery (for Advanced)

If a second space is lost after a failed update or reset, you can try to restore it through Fastboot mode.This method is only suitable for users who have previously created backups or have access to the original firmware.

You'll need:

• 📱 Phone with unlocked bootloader (if not unlocked - the method is not suitable).
• 💻 Computer with Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot drivers installed.
• 🔗 Original firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Recovery steps:

1. Turn off your phone and press the Power button + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect the device to the PC and check its detection by the command: fastboot devices
3. Download the firmware for your model and unpack it into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, select Clean all and lock mode (this will delete all data, but restore the system).
5. Press Refresh, select your device and click Flash.

Once you flash the second space, it should appear, but all the data in it will be deleted. If you backed up through Settings → System → Backup, restore it after the first download.

Through MIUI settings

With ADB

Fastboot flashing

I haven't tried it yet.

Another way.-->

Method 4: Recover data from the second space

If you can't restore the space itself, but you need data from it (photos, messages, files), you can try to extract it manually, and you need root access or special utilities.

Instructions for devices with unlocked loader:

1. Install Magisk to obtain root rights.
2. Download a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
3. Go to /data/user/11/ (or /data/user/12/ – depending on the space ID).
4. Copy the desired files to the main space or on the PC.

If root is missing, try using Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools:

1. Download the tool with XDA Developers.
2. Connect your phone in ADB mode.
3. Select Advanced → Backup Second Space.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (confirmation on the phone is required).

⚠️ Note: Retrieving data from a second space without root is fraught with errors. If files are encrypted (such as WhatsApp or Telegram messages), they may not be read without the original password.

Important: If you have used the Hidden Space feature (hidden album in a gallery or hidden chats), this data is stored in encrypted form and cannot be restored without access to the space itself.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users compound the problem by trying to restore the second space using the wrong methods, and here are the most common mistakes and their consequences:

• 🔧 Resetting your phone without a backup, resulting in irretrievable data loss in the second space. Always back up through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📲 Removing system applications (e.g. com.miui.secondspace) via Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher breaks the space-switching mechanism.
• 🔄 Interrupting the recovery process – if you have to restart the phone during recovery ADB or Fastboot, this can lead to a blink (complete inoperability) of the device.
• 🔒 Change of password MI-account while working with the second space - can block access to both profiles.

To minimize the risks, follow these rules:

• 📌 Regularly back up the second space through Settings → Second space → Backup.
• 🔋 Do not perform operations with space if the battery power is below 30%.
• 📵 Disable Find My Device and Mi Cloud Sync before recovering from the ADB/Fastboot.
• 📡 Use a stable Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi) when working with system settings.

💡

If the second space is only for testing applications, consider alternatives: Parallel Space, Island or the built-in application cloning feature in MIUI.

Frequently asked questions

💡

If none of the methods worked, the last hope is to contact Xiaomi’s service center to restore the firmware through official tools, and see if your data will be saved (usually not, but in some cases file extraction is possible).