The need to use dual apps has become a concern for people living in today's fast-moving digital world. Be it juggling personal and work accounts on WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram or maintaining separate profiles for gaming, dual apps come pretty handy. The process of setting up dual apps is pretty simple, and here's how you do it on various smartphones.
What Are Dual Apps?
Dual apps are a feature that enables running two instances of an app on one device. That means you can log in with different accounts on each instance without having to log out or switch users. It's baked into most modern Android smartphones natively but is not available on iPhone. How to Set Up Dual Apps on Android Phones
- On Samsung Devices
What Samsung refers to as Dual app is "Dual Messenger."
Open Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Advanced features.
Tap on Dual Messenger.
A list of supported apps will appear. Slide the switch for an app you want to clone for example, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.
Tap on Install to confirm.
Upon installation, a second app icon will be created on the home screen, usually marked with a small orange badge to identify it as a clone.
- For Xiaomi Devices - MIUI
Xavier calls this feature "Dual Apps."
Open Settings.
Scroll down, tap on Apps.
Tap on Dual apps.
A list of apps that can be cloned will appear; enable the toggle for the app you want to clone.
It would create a second app with a different icon so it would be easy to differentiate.
- On OnePlus Devices (OxygenOS)
OnePlus users will find this feature in "Parallel Apps."
Open Settings.
Go to Apps & notifications.
Tap on Parallel Apps.
A list of compatible apps will appear; tap the switch beside an app you want to duplicate.
The cloned app will appear in your app drawer, with a small badge so you can tell them apart.
- On Oppo and Realme Devices (ColorOS)
Oppo and Realme devices also provide a similar feature called "App Cloner."
Open Settings.
Go to App Management.
Tap on App Cloner.
Select an app you want to clone and tap the switch.
A duplicate app icon will now be created on your home screen.
- On Huawei Devices (EMUI)
Huawei's equivalent of this feature is labeled as "App Twin."
Open Settings.
Scroll down, tap on Apps.
Tap on App Twin.
Flip the toggle beside an app you want to clone.
The cloned app will now show up on your home screen with a special badge.
Setting Up Dual Apps on iPhones
But sadly, iOS does not inherently support dual apps. You might have to utilize third-party app cloners or rely on managing multiple accounts using services like web app versions. Be sure to use third-party tools with caution; they can compromise your security and privacy.
Things to Consider
App Compatibility: Not all applications are clone-friendly. Most messaging applications, like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and social media applications work, but some games and financial applications may not. Performance Impact: Running dual apps can consume additional memory and battery. Ensure your phone has enough resources to handle multiple app instances. Privacy and Security: Make sure the cloned apps are stored securely and that no sensitive information is exposed. Conclusion
Setting up dual apps is rather a practical way to manage multiple accounts on one device. Android users are somewhat at an advantage, as most manufacturers provide inbuilt features for dual apps. You will be able to switch to and fro in your personal and professional life with the above steps and without having to log in and log out of applications. In the case of an iPhone, while the options are limited, it may be worth exploring third-party solutions.
And the dual apps make juggling between accounts much easier.
