What does “cloning an app” mean?
Cloning an app refers to creating a duplicate copy of an existing app on your Samsung device. This allows you to have two instances of the same app that can run independently from each other. Some key reasons you may want to clone an app include:
- Use two accounts – Cloning an app like Facebook or Twitter allows you to associate separate accounts with each instance.
- Separate work and personal usage – You can clone an app to keep work and personal data apart.
- Test experimental settings – Make changes in one instance without affecting the main app.
Is app cloning available on all Samsung devices?
App cloning is only available on certain newer Samsung Galaxy devices running the company’s One UI software interface. Specifically, it requires One UI 2.1 or newer, which launched in 2020. This includes phones like:
- Galaxy S20 series
- Galaxy Note 20 series
- Galaxy Z Fold 2
- Galaxy Z Flip
- Galaxy A51
- Galaxy A71
If you have an eligible Samsung phone but still don’t see the clone app option, try updating to the latest firmware.
How to clone an app on Samsung
Cloning an app on eligible Samsung Galaxy devices only takes a few steps:
- Go to Settings > Advanced features > Labs
- Enable the App Clone feature
- Go back to Settings > Apps
- Tap the app you want to clone
- Tap App clone
You will now have two independently operating instances of that app on your device. An “App twin” badge will appear on the cloned app icon to distinguish it from the original.
Alternative Cloning Methods
If your Samsung device doesn’t meet the criteria for native app cloning, all hope is not lost. Some alternative options include:
- App Cloner apps – There are various third-party apps like App Cloner that can duplicate apps with different levels of functionality.
- Setting up multiple users – On supported devices, adding a separate user profile lets you install separate copies of apps.
- Getting a second device – While not cloning per se, using two separate phones can achieve a similar experience.
However, only Samsung’s integrated App Clone system allows truly independent and full-featured copies of apps.
What types of apps can be cloned?
Samsung’s App Clone feature supports duplicating most apps installed on your device from the Google Play store or Galaxy Store. Specifically, it can clone apps that:
- Store data locally on the device
- Do not require special hardware permissions like camera access
- Do not include anti-cloning mechanisms
Examples of popular apps confirmed to work with App Clone include:
- Messaging/social apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram
- Productivity apps like Gmail, Outlook, Evernote
- Shopping apps like Amazon, eBay, Walmart
- Food apps like DoorDash, GrubHub
- Ridesharing apps like Uber, Lyft
- Music apps like Spotify, Pandora
- And many more…
Some apps that will not work with App Clone include:
- Banking and finance apps
- Google apps like Maps, Drive, YouTube
- Samsung apps like Galaxy Store, Pay, Health
- Microsoft apps like OneDrive, Outlook
These often include anti-cloning protections for security reasons. And some require unique hardware permissions that prevent running duplicate instances.
Cloning app data and settings
By default, when you clone an app on Samsung devices, the duplicate copy does not carry over any data or logged-in accounts from the existing app. However, there is an option to clone settings as well:
- When prompted to clone the app, enable the “Copy settings as well” switch
- Accept the warning about increased battery usage
With this option enabled, any settings, preferences, stored logins, or other data will be duplicated to initialize the cloned app instance.
However, even with this setting, some user data will still not get copied over due to privacy restrictions and app data isolation rules on Android. So you may still need to reconfigure accounts or preferences in the cloned app.
Why clone settings?
Cloning app settings can be convenient for carrying over things like:
- Saved account usernames/passwords
- Notification settings
- Interface customizations
- Stored WiFi networks or Bluetooth pairings
However, much app data still won’t get copied even with this option enabled. And running two instances of an app both initialized with data can consume additional battery and storage.
So evaluate your specific needs when determining whether to clone settings. Often a clean slate duplicate without copied data is all that’s necessary.
How to distinguish between original and cloned app
Once you clone an app using Samsung’s system, you’ll notice the copied version gets labeled with a badge that says “App twin” on the icon. This helps distinguish it from the original version when viewing app shortcuts or your app tray/drawer.
Additionally, going into Settings > Apps will separate out the cloned app listing in its own section labeled “App twin.” Here you can view detailed information and manage notifications, permissions, storage usage and more just for that cloned instance.
This keeps it isolated from the original app copy. However, the cloned version will retain the same visual branding and interface. If you need even clearer delineation between the two copies, consider nicknaming the cloned app shortcut on your home screen.
Interacting with app clones
The key benefit of Samsung’s integrated App Clone system compared to third-party cloning apps is that the copies operate truly distinctly. Each functions as if it were a standalone app installed separately.
So with a cloned app you can:
- Set up entirely different accounts/logins
- Customize notifications for each copy
- Clear data on one without affecting the other
- Force stop or uninstall clones without issue
Basically, interact with and manage each app instance completely independently.
The one exception is app updates – if you update the original version of the app from the Play Store, this will also apply that update to the cloned copy.
Why interacting independently matters
The ability to operate app clones discretely unlocks key use cases like:
- Separating work and personal logins – Use different accounts without constantly switching or signing in/out
- Comparing app data and settings – Run clones with different configurations for easier troubleshooting
- Preventing update disruption – Evaluate updates on one copy before applying to your main usage instance
This flexibility helps maximize the utility of app cloning on Samsung devices for both personal and business needs.
How having two app instances impacts device performance
Anytime you introduce more duplicate processes running simultaneously on a device, there is potential for performance impact. Here is how running cloned app twins can affect system resource usage:
Battery Life & Usage
Having two copies of the same app initialized and running concurrently will drain battery life faster. Each instance consumes CPU cycles for its tasks and interfaces. Plus keeping duplicate data and files stored takes up internal storage.
For simpler apps like social media or messaging, the effects may be relatively minimal. But more complex apps like games could have a pronounced drain.
Note the option to copy settings when cloning discussed earlier comes with a specific battery usage warning for this very reason.
RAM Usage
Additional running app processes place further demands on your device’s RAM (memory) as well. More clones means more simultaneous processes loaded into active memory. Too many may cause slowdowns, lag, or even app crashes if memory limits are exceeded.
However, Android and Samsung’s software are generally optimized well to manage memory for multiple app processes. So this is unlikely to present issues except on low-end devices with minimal RAM to start with.
Storage Usage
As outlined regarding battery impact, duplicated app data and files take up extra storage capacity. For simpler apps, this may be negligible. But gaming or social media apps with large asset downloads can balloon storage usage fast.
If you start running out of device capacity unexpectedly, cloned apps could be the culprit. Check their cached data and uninstall unneeded twins.
Managing app clones
Once you have one or more clones of an app set up on your Samsung device, here are key options for managing them:
Uninstalling Clones
If you no longer need a particular app twin, uninstall it just like any standard app:
- Go to Settings > Apps
- Navigate to the App Twin listings
- Tap the clone app > Uninstall
Uninstalling the cloned copy leaves the original app intact and does not remove any of its data.
Disabling Cloning
To disable the App Cloning functionality overall:
- Go back into Settings > Advanced Features > Labs
- Toggle the switch off for App Cloning
Disabling cloning will not automatically uninstall or delete any existing clones. But you won’t be able to create any additional app copies.
Removing All Clones
If you wish to delete all current app clones at once:
- Go to Settings > Apps > App Twin
- Select each clone app > Uninstall
This removes all secondary clone instances but leaves any original apps intact. Essentially it resets app cloning to a fresh state.
So in summary, managing app clones works much like handling regular apps. Just target the App Twin listings to control duplicates specifically while avoiding the original versions.
Troubleshooting app cloning issues
While Samsung’s integrated app cloning feature generally works seamlessly, you may encounter occasional issues. Here is some troubleshooting for common problems:
App Twin option not appearing
As outlined earlier, app cloning depends on specific Android 11/OneUI 2.1+ devices. If the option is not showing in your Settings, your Samsung device model likely does not support it. Check the initial list of compatible phones.
You will need to use a third-party app cloner from the Play Store instead. Or explore the alternate duplication methods covered earlier.
Clones crashing or freezing
If a successfully created app clone starts force closing or freezing frequently, a couple factors could be to blame:
- Resource constraints – Check for low storage, memory or high CPU usage. Too many clones running simultaneously could be overtaxing your device hardware
- App compatibility – A small subset of apps may have unexpected issues when cloned even if appearing initially successful. Delete this clone and try a different app instead
Tweaking your device usage habits or removing the unstable clone should resolve instability.
Missing notifications from clones
By default, new app clones will not get notifications enabled automatically even if the setting was turned on for the original app.
To make your app twin receive alerts:
- Go to Settings > Notifications
- Select the cloned app by name
- Toggle notification settings on
Repeat for each app twin instance as needed to match your preferences.
Beyond that, cloned and main apps should continue reflecting uniform notification behavior moving forward.
Conclusion
Samsung’s built-in app cloning delivers effortless duplication to let you multitask apps efficiently. Follow the steps here to start taking advantage of this OneUI exclusive for both work and personal productivity.
With the power to separate contexts and accounts at your fingertips, app twins help unlock your Samsung device’s full potential! Let us know if any other questions come up along your cloning journey.
