How to enable side menu on Xiaomi: settings and hidden features

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face the need to quickly access apps without scaling back their current task. The standard MIUI interface and its newer version of HyperOS offer a variety of personalization tools, one of which is the side menu. This feature allows you to keep a list of favorite programs or widgets on hand, calling them with a single swipe.

However, many users do not find this option in standard settings, as the system often hides it in specific sections or requires activation through special modes. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate the sidebar, from standard settings to hidden features available to advanced users.

It's worth noting that the settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and the region for which the smartphone is released. We'll look at universal action algorithms that are suitable for most current models. The system interface is constantly updated, so it's important to understand the logic of the menu, not just remember the path.

What is a side panel and why you need it

The Side Panel, or Side Panel, is a pop-up menu that appears when you swipe from the edge of the screen, and it's not just a list of apps, it's a full-fledged multi-tasking tool, and it lets you run apps in a floating window, instantly switch between messengers and work programs, and use widgets without having to open a separate screen.

The main advantage of this feature is that you don't have to look for an icon on your desktop or in the general application list every time, you just swipe it, and you have the tool in front of you, and this is especially true for users with large displays, where reaching the top corner is difficult with one hand.

In addition, the sidebar is often integrated with Game Turbo’s game mode, allowing you to respond to messages or check updates without leaving the game.This creates a single ecosystem of quick access that makes interaction with Android on Xiaomi devices more efficient and enjoyable.

• 🚀 Instantly launch frequently used apps without looking for icons.
• 💻 Support for floating windows for simultaneous work in two programs.
• 🎮 Integration with gaming utilities for streamers and gamers.
• 📱 Ability to add widgets directly on top of other windows.

Standard way of activation through settings

The easiest and safest way to turn on the side menu is to use the operating system's standard settings, which do not require root rights or third-party software, but depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the path to the desired switch can vary.

In most cases, you need to go to the settings section related to display or additional features. The system may suggest turning on the panel only for certain applications or globally for the entire interface. It is important to read the item descriptions carefully so as not to activate similar but unnecessary functions.

If you're using the latest version of HyperOS, the menu logic may have changed. Now settings are often grouped by meaning, and the sidebar option can be in the "Additional Features" or "Special Features" section. Searching for settings can also help you quickly find the item you want if you manually search for it for a long time.

Once the switch is activated, the system usually suggests selecting the apps that will be displayed on the menu. Don't add everything there, otherwise the list will become too long and lose its sense of convenience. Leave 5-7 of the most important programs there.

Setting up an extended menu and widgets

Just enabling it isn't enough -- you have to adapt it to your needs. An extended menu allows you not only to run apps, but also to display widgets. It can be currency rates, weather, notes, or calendar. It often requires you to pin your finger on the panel itself or click on a special setting icon inside it.

In the widget management section, you can change the size, order, and even look of the widgets. Some of the themes you install through the themes can change the style of the sidebar to make it more transparent or contrasting. Visuals play an important role in how you experience the interface.

You also need to look at the transparency settings and background blurring, so if the sidebar overlays the content, it can be made more subtle, which is especially useful when reading documents or watching videos where every pixel counts.

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Use the widgets in the sidebar to track progress in tasks or sports goals so you don’t open unnecessary apps.

Use of Game Turbo mode

The sidebar in games, known as Game Turbo, is a specialized interface that is called by a swipe during a running game, which allows you not only to open applications, but also to change performance settings, take screenshots or block notifications.

To set up this mode, you need to go to the Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, and there is a Game Turbo section where you can add games manually and adjust the behavior of the sidebar for each application separately, and the flexibility of the settings allows you to create the perfect profile for each game.

Inside the game menu, you can add messenger shortcuts to respond to messages from the comfort of the game, and screen recording and broadcasting are also available, making the sidebar an indispensable tool for mobile gamers.

⚠️ Attention: Active use of widgets and background apps through the game panel can reduce the amount of available RAM, which will lead to a drop in the game. FPS heavy-play.

Remember to clear the list of applications in game mode, leaving only what you really need to communicate.

Hidden functions and engineering menu

For advanced users who want to get the most out of their device, there are ways to activate hidden side menu features, and sometimes standard restrictions prevent them from being enabled in certain applications, such as bank clients or video players, and hidden settings come to the rescue.

One way is to use codes to log into an engineering menu or special configurations through ADB. However, this requires caution. Changing system settings can lead to unbalanced interfaces. The engineering menu is a powerful tool, but it's not designed for ordinary users.

There are also special apps from the Google Play Store that emulate the Xiaomi sidebar on other devices or extend its functionality. They can add new types of widgets or improve animations. But remember, third-party software has access to your data.

If you decide to experiment with system files, be sure to make a full backup of the data.Restore the system after unsuccessful experiments can take a long time or require flashing the device.

Solving and eliminating errors

Despite its convenience, the sidebar may not work properly, and users often complain that it doesn't appear when swiping or disappears by itself, usually due to a conflict of running applications or overflowing cache of the system.

The first thing to do when you have a problem is to restart the device, which is a common action that often solves 90% of software failures, and if that doesn’t work, try clearing the cache of the application that controls the interface (often System UI or Launcher).

Also, the problem may be an "unofficial" update or a region change, check if the system components have recently updated, and sometimes a new firmware bug temporarily breaks the sidebar, and you have to wait for the developers to fix it.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install apps to “accelerate your phone” or “clean your memory” from unreliable sources – they often block system processes, including sidebar operation.

If the dashboard is working in jerks, try to lower the animation in the developer settings. Reducing the animation to 0.5x can make the system response more instantaneous.

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Regularly restarting the smartphone once a week prevents the accumulation of system errors and ensures the stable operation of all interface elements.

The impact of the Android and MIUI versions on functionality

The functionality of the side menu is directly dependent on the version of the operating system. On older versions of Android (below 10), some features may be cut or missing. Xiaomi is actively implementing new chips in the latest versions of MIUI and HyperOS, so software updates are a key factor.

Owners of global firmware devices may notice differences from the Chinese version. In China, functionality is usually richer and comes earlier. Global versions undergo longer adaptations, so some sidebar features may come with a delay.

As you move from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13/14 and then to HyperOS, the logic of widgets changed. Older widgets may stop showing properly, requiring updates to the applications themselves that provide them. Component compatibility is an important aspect of stable operation.

Always check for updates in Settings → About Phone. Developers regularly release patches to fix interface errors. Ignoring updates can take away new features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)