Floating Windows in Xiaomi Phones: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

Today’s Xiaomi smartphones offer users a lot of options for easy work with multiple apps at once. One of the most useful features is floating windows, which allow you to open miniature versions of programs on top of the main interface. This solution is ideal for multitasking: you can simultaneously watch videos on YouTube, chat in messengers and check email without switching between full-screen applications.

However, not all Xiaomi device owners know about the feature or know how to use it. In this article, we will discuss in detail what floating windows are, how to activate them on different models, what settings are available and how to optimize their experience, and you will learn about the hidden features, limitations and common mistakes that users make.

The floating window (or window in the window) feature has become standard for Xiaomi’s flagship and many budget models, but its implementation may vary depending on the shell version. MIUI If you've never tried this mode, after reading this article, you can evaluate its benefits and significantly speed up your work with your smartphone.

What are floating windows and why do they need them?

Floating windows are a mode of displaying applications as small windows on top of the main interface, unlike the standard split screen, where applications occupy fixed halves of the display, floating windows can be freely moved, resized and even folded into miniature icons.

• 📱 Multitasking: Working with multiple applications at the same time without constantly switching.
• 🎥 Watching videos: Continue watching videos while you text or read an article.
• 📝 Quick Notes: Opening a Notebook or Calculator on top of another application.
• 🎮 Game mode: access to chats or guides without leaving the game.

The function first appeared in MIUI 8 and since then has undergone many changes in the latest versions of the shell (e.g., the hull, MIUI 14 and HyperOS) Floating windows have become more stable and support more applications, but not all programs can run in this mode - some developers limit this ability for their applications.

It's important to understand that floating windows are not the same as split screen mode, which is the latter being split into two fixed parts, whereas floating windows can be superimposed on top of each other, resized and positioned, which makes the function more flexible, but also more resource-intensive.

What Xiaomi models support floating windows

The floating window feature is available on most modern Xiaomi smartphones, but its availability depends on two factors: the version of the device. MIUI/HyperOS The following is a compatibility table for popular models:

If your model is not in the table, test the support for the feature experimentally. To do this, update the firmware to the latest version and try to activate floating windows through the settings. 5/6 or Mi A1/A2) function may be absent or not work stable due to memory limitations.

Important: Some models have floating windows hidden in the developer settings and require manual activation, and we will explain this in detail in the next section.

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If your device doesn’t officially support floating windows, try third-party apps from Google Play, like Floating Apps or Multi Window.They emulate this feature, but may require additional permissions.

How to enable floating windows on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The process of activating floating windows depends on the version MIUI. Here are the instructions for the most common cases. If your shell is different, try both.

Method 1: Through standard settings (MIUI 12–14, HyperOS)

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Go to the Floating Windows (or Window in the Window) section.
3. Activate the switch to Turn on the floating windows.
4. Select the apps you want to allow this mode for (or leave All apps).

Method 2: Developer settings (for older versions) MIUI)

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option Floating Windows or Multiwindow and turn it on.
4. If necessary, restart the device.

After activating the function, you can open applications in floating mode in two ways:

• 🔹 Through the notification panel: swipe down the screen, find the Floating Windows tile and click on it.
• 🔹 Through gesture: Hold the app icon in the recent task menu and select Open in the floating window.

1. Make sure the function is enabled in the settings

2. Try to open a supported application (for example, YouTube or Calculator)

3. Check if the window size can be changed

4.Make sure the window does not close when switching to another application-->

If floating windows don’t work, check the following points:

⚠️ Note: On some devices, the feature may conflict with navigation gestures. Try temporarily disabling full-screen gestures in Settings → Display. → Navigation panel.

Configuring and managing floating windows

Once activated, you can customize the feature to your needs, and consider the basic options that are available to Xiaomi users:

Size and position of windows

Floating windows can be scaled and moved:

• 📐 To change the size, pull at any corner of the window.
• 🖱️ To move the window, hold its top panel and drag it to the right place.
• 🗑️ To close the window, swipe it to the lower or lateral edge of the screen (depending on the version). MIUI).

Transparency and appearance

In some versions MIUI You can adjust the transparency of floating windows:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Floating windows.
2. Find the Transparency option and adjust the slider.
3. Turn on or off the Shadow window for better readability.

3. List of Appendices Permitted

Not all programs are floating by default, so add the app to the list:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Floating Windows.
2. Click on the Apps List.
3. Select the programs you want from the list or add them manually.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or cheat games) may block the operation in floating mode.

4.Gesturals and hot keys

V MIUI 14 and HyperOS has the ability to assign gestures to quickly open floating windows:

• 👆 Swipe up with retention on the app icon in the menu of recent tasks.
• 🔄 Double touch on the top panel of the window to fold into the icon.
• 🔍 Triple touch on the screen to return the window to full screen mode.

Limitations and Typical Problems of Floating Windows

Despite the convenience, floating windows in Xiaomi have a number of limitations, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

1. Not all applications are supported

Many programs (especially games and banking applications) block the operation in floating mode.

• 🔒 Security restrictions (e.g. Sberbank Online or Tinkoff).
• 🎮 Anti-Chit Systems in Games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire).
• 📺 Technical limitations (some applications are simply not optimized for multi-window mode).

2. Hanging and lags

Floating windows can slow down on devices with low RAM (less than 4 GB).

• 🧹 Close background applications before using floating windows.
• 🔄 Restart the device if the windows start to slow down.
• ⚙️ Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → For developers → The scale of window animation → No animation).

3. Display problems

Sometimes floating windows can:

• 🖼️ Displayed incorrectly (trimmed interface elements).
• 🔄 Close yourself when the screen is locked.
• 📱 Not to respond to touch.

In such cases, resetting the settings of floating windows or updating the firmware will help.

⚠️ Note: On some devices, floating windows may conflict with Game Turbo. If you notice problems when starting windows while playing, turn off Game Mode in the settings.

4. Fast battery discharge

Using floating windows increases the load on the processor and screen, which leads to increased power consumption.

• 🔋 Reduce the brightness of the screen.
• ⏱️ Limit windows in the background.
• 🌙️ Enable a dark theme in the settings.

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Floating windows are a convenient tool, but not a universal one; for resource-intensive tasks (video editing, games), it is better to use full-screen mode or an external monitor.

Hidden Floating Windows Features in Xiaomi

Many users are unaware that floating windows in Xiaomi have additional features that can be activated through settings or third-party utilities.

1. Picture in Picture Mode (PiP) for Video

Some apps (like YouTube Premium or Google Maps) support PiP mode, which allows you to continue watching videos in a small window while you’re working with other programs.

1. Open the video in the supported app.
2. Press the Home button and the video will automatically roll up into a floating window.
3. To change the size of the window, pull the corners.

2. Quick switching between windows

V MIUI 14 has the ability to quickly switch between floating windows with a gesture:

1. Hold your finger to the top of the floating window.
2. Swipe left or right to switch to another window.

3. Rolling windows into icons

If you need to temporarily remove a floating window, but do not close it completely:

1. Twice touch the top panel of the window.
2. The window will fold into a small icon that can be moved to any corner of the screen.
3. To turn the window back, tap the icon.

4.Use of floating windows on a locked screen

In some versions MIUI You can set the floating windows on top of the lock screen:

1. Go to Settings → Screen Lock → More.
2. Turn on the option to Show floating windows on a locked screen.
3. Select the apps that you can open in this mode (such as Camera or Flashlight).

⚠️ Warning: Displaying floating windows on a locked screen may pose a security risk if they display sensitive information (e.g. messages from messengers).

5. Automatic opening of windows on schedule

Using MacroDroid or Tasker, you can set up automatic openings of floating windows at certain times, such as:

• ⏰ Open the calculator in a floating window every day at 18:00 to calculate daily expenses.
• 📅 Start Google Keep in the weekday window at 9:00 to schedule tasks.

Alternatives to floating windows on Xiaomi

If your device does not support floating windows or they are unstable, you can use alternative solutions for multitasking:

Split screen mode

This feature is available on all modern Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to divide the screen into two parts to work with two applications at the same time.

1. Open the first appendix.
2. Keep the icon of the second app in the menu of recent tasks.
3. Select Separate Screen.

2.Gesturals for quick switching

V MIUI There are built-in gestures for easy switching between applications:

• 👆 Swipe up and hold – opens up the menu of recent tasks.
• 👉 Swipe right on the bottom panel – quick switch to the previous application.

3. Third-party launchers with multi-window support

Some launchers (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) offer advanced multitasking capabilities, including:

• 📱 Customizable gestures for opening applications.
• 🔄 Quick switching between the latest programs.
• 📌 Frequently used applications in the Quick Access Panel.

4. Connecting an external display

If you need to work with multiple windows at once, consider connecting your smartphone to an external monitor via a window. USB-C → HDMI In this mode, Xiaomi supports a full multi-window interface, similar to a computer.

5. Remote access applications

If you need to work with multiple windows on a large screen, but only a smartphone is at hand, you can use:

• 🖥️ TeamViewer or AnyDesk for PC Connection.
• 📱 Samsung DeX (via emulation) or Sentio Desktop to create a desktop on your phone.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers or multitasking apps, keep an eye out for the permissions they request.

FAQ: Frequent questions about floating windows in Xiaomi