What Is Second Space in MIUI: A Definitive Guide

MIUI is Xiaomi’s custom Android firmware that runs on most of its phones. It improves the core principles and features of Android to present them in a modified way. One such feature is Android’s Users feature.

Introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop, the User feature allows multiple users to access and use the same Android device. Data and application files are not shared between them and thus allow each user to enjoy a separate space.

However, things are different for phones running MIUI. On it, Xiaomi disables the User feature to replace it with a concept called Second Space.

Now you may be wondering what is Second Space on Mi phones and how to use it? Find everything about it here.

Fundamentals of second space

Anyone who owns a phone running MIUI is an administrator or owner of First Space. As the name suggests, Second Space creates a new, fresh space on your phone without taking any data from First Space. However, you can import data from First Space using the built-in options for data migration.

When you create a Second Space, your phone will look like you just took it out of the box or reset it so only pre-installed apps are available to you.

Owners of Second Space will have the ability to add new apps, set a different wallpaper, use a different launcher, and even keep the mode unlocked. It allows two people to use the same phone while maintaining the privacy of both.

Supported Android phones

All Xiaomi phones running MIUI 8 and above support Second Space. This feature is not available on Xiaomi’s stock Android and Android One devices such as Mi A1 and A2.

Second space supported

Unlike stock Android’s user feature, where you can have multiple user profiles, the amount of space in MIUI is limited to two: First and Second Spaces.

Shared memory

The second space uses the same internal memory as the first. Meaning, if your phone has 4GB of free space, it will be shared between the two spaces. You can check the space used by each capacity by going to Settings > Storage. Find the second space in Other Users.

Calls and SMS

The space does not block calls or SMS. When you receive an incoming call, it will also be displayed in Second Space. Similarly, you can make calls from Second Space. However, since both spaces don’t share contacts by default, you won’t see contact names.

Share files and apps in a second space

By default, both spaces only share call history and pre-installed apps (no data). They don’t share anything else on your phone, such as downloaded apps, app data (chats, history), contacts, files (photos, videos, audio, etc.) and other things.

Fortunately, Second Space allows you to import files, photos, and contacts from First Space. That saves you the trouble of switching between spaces for file access. That doesn’t mean both spaces share the same files. Second Space makes a copy of the imported file instead. Since it’s a duplicate and takes up the same space as the original file, removing it from one space will not remove it from another.

For instance, if you downloaded a wallpaper on First Space, you will have to import it into Second Space to use it there.

Note:

Similarly, you can copy apps to Second Space. Only the application file will be copied, not its actual data. Furthermore, you will have to re-login with your account and grant the app permissions on Second Space.

Share notifications

Even the notifications are separate for each space. When a user in First Space receives a new notification, the phone will not show the same message in Second Space. However, if you want to show notifications on Second Space, you must enable the ‘Show notifications from First Space’ setting found in Settings > Second Space from Second Space.

Even then, you won’t see the actual message content. You will only be notified of new notifications. You can only see details when you switch to First Space.

Is the Play Store shared?

Are not. You will have to sign in again with a different Google account or you can use the same Google account as the first space.

However, you do not need to sign in to use the Play Store. That’s only required if you want to download new apps on Second Space.

Since you can share apps, you have to decide if you want to show them on First Space or Second Space or both. Updates to shared apps are managed by the Play Store account used in First Space — as long as both spaces use the same Google account.

Add a second space

To add users on phones running MIUI, you must enable Second Space. To do that, go to Settings on your phone and tap on Second Space. Then tap Turn on second space.

A confirmation screen will appear — tap Continue. The interface will ask how you want to switch between spaces: Use a password or a keyboard shortcut. Choose a method of your choice and tap Continue.

You will then move to a whole new space where you will only find pre-installed apps.

Import and export data

As mentioned earlier, you can copy files (photos, videos, audio, etc.) and contacts between spaces. However, this feature is only available from Second Space where you can import and export files to First Space.

To copy data, follow these steps:

Step 1: In Second Space, open Settings and tap on Second Space.

Step 2: Click Migrate data.

Note:

Step 3: You will see many options like App Settings and Import and Export Options.

App Settings allows you to clone apps. When you tap on an app, you’ll have three options: Used in first space, Used in current space, and Used in both spaces.

Here’s what happens with each option:

• The first one will move the app to the First space if you have already downloaded the app on the Second Space.
• Clicking on the second one will move it to the Second Space and remove it from the First Space.
• The third option will keep it on both spaces.

When you import/export files, you will be prompted whether you want to delete the original file and move it to another space, or keep both copies. The files are accessible in the same folder on the other space where they were originally located.

Note:

Switch between spaces

There are three ways to move from one space to another.

Method 1: From the Home screen

When you enable Second Space, a new icon called Switch will appear on the home screen. Tapping on it will take you to Second Dimension. The same symbol will be available in Second Space. Clicking on that will take you back to the first space.

Note:

Method 2: From Lock Screen

If there is a password for both spaces, you can switch directly from the lock screen. For that, enter the password of the space you want to access.

Tip:

Method 3: Using Settings

You can also switch spaces from settings. To do so, go to Settings > Second space. If you’re in Second Space, tap Switch between Spaces, and if you’re in First Space, tap Go to Second Space.

Remove the second space

It is possible to delete the second space from the first space and from the second space.

Method 1: Remove from Second Space

Fortunately, when you start the process from Second Space itself, the system will ask if you want to move the files to First Space or delete them without doing so.

To clear space, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Settings > Second space.

Step 2: Click on Remove second space. A pop-up window will appear — tap Continue.

Step 3: Then you will have to select the files that you want to move. Select them and click Continue. In case of apps, it will only move the app, not its data.

Method 2: Remove from First Space

Step 1: Open Settings and go to Second Space.

Step 2: Click the Delete icon at the top. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap Delete to permanently delete the second space.

Note:

Troubleshooting: User available in Settings

If you see a User option in Settings on your MIUI phone, it won’t work. Meaning, exploiting the user inside it won’t do anything because Second Space replaces the User feature.

If your OCD boots and you want to remove the Inactive User setting, go to Developer Options in Settings. Here, enable ‘Enable MIUI optimization.’

Good and bad

You can use Second Space for a variety of purposes — to allow your child or your guests to use the same phone with appropriate restrictions. Plus, you can use it to separate your personal and business apps and data.

Second space adversely affects your RAM. I like the file import and export feature but one can also share files between spaces for better memory usage. My only problem with Second Space is that you can only create one Second Space.

How will you use Second Space on your MIUI phone? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Next up: Wondering what guest mode on stock Android is? Check out our definitive guide below to know everything about it.

Categories: How to
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