Does turning off a dual app delete its account and messages?

Yes. Disabling the clone under Enable or disable Dual apps removes the second app instance along with its separate storage, chat history, and login session. The original app and its data stay unaffected.

Can I use Dual apps if the app already has built-in multi-account support?

You can, but it is usually unnecessary. Apps with native multi-account switching keep both accounts inside one icon, while Dual apps creates a fully separate second icon, which only makes sense if the app has no built-in switching option.

Will running a dual app affect notifications or battery life?

Each dual app runs as its own process, so it sends notifications independently and uses background resources separately from the original app. On devices with many dual apps enabled, this can add a small but noticeable amount of background battery use.

Can I move the dual app icon to a different home screen page?

Yes. The duplicate behaves like a normal app icon and can be moved, placed in a folder, or removed from the home screen independently of the original app.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi: Create or Remove a Dual App

Running two WhatsApp or Facebook accounts on one phone usually fails because those apps only allow a single login at a time. Dual apps gets around that by cloning the app into a second icon with its own data and notifications, fully separate from the original. Without setting this up, you are stuck logging out and back in every time you want to switch accounts.

Updated: 07.08.20264 min5 steps

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Xiaomi

Create or Remove Dual Apps auf Xiaomi

MIUI can run a second, independent instance of certain apps through the Dual apps feature. Once enabled for an app, the system creates a second icon on the home screen that behaves like a fresh install, with its own storage, cache, and login session.

This is why you can stay signed in to two WhatsApp or Facebook accounts on the same phone without constantly logging in and out. The original app and its clone never share data, so messages, contacts, and settings stay separate.

To set it up, go to Tap on Settings ➔ Tap on Apps ➔ Tap on Dual apps ➔ Turn On/Off an app or select a recommended app ➔ Enable or disable Dual apps. MIUI shows a list of apps that support cloning, and enabling the toggle adds the second icon automatically.

If the app you need is missing from that list, it does not support Dual apps, and you will need an app that has built-in multi-account support instead. Turning a dual app off removes the cloned icon and its separate data, but leaves the original app untouched.

Frequently asked questions

MIUI only lists apps that are technically compatible with running a second instance. If the app is not shown under Tap on Settings ➔ Tap on Apps ➔ Tap on Dual apps, it does not support cloning on your device, regardless of the app version.

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Android 11 · MIUI

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Xiaomi: Create or Remove a Dual App

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