Android · Apps
Run two accounts of the same app
Dual apps (branded Dual Messenger on Samsung, App Cloner or Parallel Space on others) creates a second, independent instance of a supported app so you can stay signed into two accounts — like two WhatsApp numbers — on one phone at once.
How to open Dual Apps
- Open Settings and search for Dual apps, Dual Messenger, or App cloning (naming varies by brand).
- Browse the list of apps eligible for cloning.
- Toggle on the app you want a second instance of.
- Find the new cloned icon on your home screen and sign in with a different account.
What you should know
- Each cloned app gets its own separate storage, notifications, and icon, distinguished with a small badge.
- Common candidates are messaging and social apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger.
- Cloned apps show up as a duplicate icon on the home screen alongside the original.
- Removing a cloned app deletes only that instance's data, leaving the original app untouched.
This is a manufacturer feature, not part of stock Android — the menu name, location, and exact list of supported apps vary by brand (Samsung's is called Dual Messenger, found under Settings > Advanced features).
Why it matters
Dual apps lets people juggling a personal and work number, or multiple social accounts, avoid constantly logging in and out of the same app.
Best practices
- Only clone apps you actually need two active accounts for, since each instance keeps running in the background and uses extra memory and battery.
- Label or re-badge the cloned icon if your phone allows it, to avoid mixing up which account you're opening.
- Remove a cloned app you no longer use to reclaim the storage and background resources it holds.
Common problems and fixes
- The Dual apps / Dual Messenger feature isn't available for a specific app.
- Not every app is supported for cloning; check the manufacturer's list of compatible apps, which is usually limited to major messaging and social apps.
- Notifications from the cloned app don't distinguish it from the original.
- Check the cloned instance's icon badge and notification channel in App info, and rename the clone if your device allows it.
Tips and tricks
- If your phone lacks a built-in dual-app feature, a work profile (Settings > Accounts) can achieve a similar result for many apps.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same on every Android phone?
No, it's an OEM add-on — Samsung calls it Dual Messenger, other brands use names like App Cloner or Parallel Space, and stock/Pixel Android doesn't include it natively.
Do both app instances need separate phone numbers?
For apps like WhatsApp that tie an account to a phone number, yes — you'll need a second number or a service that provides one for the cloned account.
Related settings
- Multiple Users / Guest ModeMultiple users lets several people share one Android device while keeping separate apps, accounts, wallpapers, and settings in fully isolated profiles. Guest mode offers a lighter, temporary alternative for a one-off borrower, with everything discarded once that guest session ends.
- App InfoApp info is the dedicated settings page for a single installed app, showing its permissions, storage and cache usage, notification controls, battery behavior, and options to force stop, uninstall, or disable it.
- Home Screen & LauncherHome screen settings control which apps, shortcuts, and widgets appear on your Home screens, how many screens you have, and the overall grid layout. If you've installed a third-party launcher, this is also where you switch your default Home app.
More Apps guides for Android
- Apps & Default AppsThe Apps settings page lists every installed app along with its permissions, storage use, and battery impact, and lets you set which app opens automatically for tasks like browsing, messaging, or phone calls when more than one option is installed. This is also where you uninstall, disable, or force-stop an app directly.
- Special App AccessSpecial app access holds a set of sensitive, less-common permissions — like displaying over other apps, device admin access, or usage access — that aren't part of the normal runtime permission prompts.
- Unused AppsAndroid automatically detects apps you haven't opened in months and can revoke their runtime permissions or archive them — removing most of the app's files while keeping its icon and data so it can be quickly restored.
- Notifications Per AppThis app-level screen lets you fine-tune notifications for one specific app, toggling individual notification channels such as promotions, messages, or reminders, and setting importance levels without affecting notifications from any other app.
- Permission ManagerPermission Manager organizes app permissions by category, such as Camera, Location, Microphone, and Contacts, so you can see and revoke access across all apps at once instead of checking each app individually.
- Adaptive Battery / App Battery UsageAdaptive Battery uses on-device machine learning to predict which apps you'll use next and restricts battery and background activity for apps you rarely open, while App Battery Usage shows a breakdown of exactly which apps are consuming the most power.