applications - How can I run multiple copies of the same app?

On iPhone it's very easy to clone an app (running multiple copies of the app on the same device); e.g.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4f_aLSRnQ8

Is it possible to do this on Android?

Answer

On Android, the package name of the app is what identifies it on the phone: that's what gives it its own space to run in, and it has to be unique in running apps. There are two options to get one app running two instances:

1. 
   

   If you're on a Jelly Bean tablet, you can do this with multi-user support. Create two user profiles on the tablet, and you can run the app once in each profile. Each user's instance of the app gets its own storage.

   
   


2. 
   

   If you have access to the source code of the app, you can create a new app by changing its package name. Then install the new app. What you end up with is actually two apps, each with one instance, but since they both have the same code and resources, it has the effect you're looking for.

   
   

These are the only two ways. If your device doesn't have multi-user support, and you don't have access to the app's source code (i.e. you're not the app's developer), then you're out of luck.