Where to find and how to set up a multitasking menu on Xiaomi

Users who are first-timers to MIUI shells or the new HyperOS often wonder about the location of the standard running app manager. Unlike “pure” Android, where a swipe up or a square button immediately opens a list of processes, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers flexible but sometimes confusing navigation options. Finding the very place where you can close background programs or switch between windows becomes a top priority after buying a new device.

The location of this interface element depends on the type of navigation you choose: classic three buttons or modern gesture swipes. In some cases, users may not see the usual square or not understand how to call a list if they have previously used smartphones from other brands. The multitasking menu is not just a list, but a powerful memory management tool that needs to be properly activated in system settings.

In this article, we will take a look at all the possible ways to access the task manager, explain the differences between modes of operation and help you return the lost controls, you will learn why there is no button on your screen “Menu” and how to adjust the system to your habits in a few minutes.

The main ways to call the task manager

The first thing you need to do is to determine the current type of navigation, because the logic of calling the list of running applications is radically different. In standard mode with three buttons at the bottom of the screen, this action is performed by the extreme right key, which shows a square or two overlapping of a rectangle, and clicking on it instantly unfolds the cards of all active applications, allowing you to control them.

If your device is running in full-screen gesture mode, the mechanics change, and here the multitasking menu is called by swiping from the bottom edge of the screen up to the middle of the display, followed by a pause. It's important not to move too fast or, conversely, slow: you need to clearly fix your finger in the center of the screen for a split second, after which the list of windows will open.

⚠️ WARNING: If a swipe from bottom to bottom immediately opens Google search or just scrolls through the desktop, you're not keeping your finger on the screen long enough or moving too high.

For those who are used to the classics, there is an option to go back to the buttons. This is done through the Settings section → Additional settings → Full-screen menu. Here you can choose the option with three buttons, where the multitasking function will always be at hand as a separate physical (virtual) key.

Setting up the navigation type in MIUI and HyperOS

Deep interface customization allows you to adapt the smartphone to the individual preferences of the user. Xiaomi shells provide a wide range of parameters that affect how to switch between tasks. Often the problem of “lost” menus is solved by simply switching the toggle in the system settings.

To change your navigation, go to Settings → Additional settings. In this section, look for Full-screen menus (or System Navigation in newer versions). You will have a choice between gestures and buttons. The choice of buttons guarantees a dedicated key for multitasking, which is especially convenient for users with large smartphones, where reaching the edges of the screen can be difficult.

You can also adjust the order of the buttons in button mode, and the standard layout assumes that the back button is on the left and the menu is on the right, but the "change buttons" option is available in the settings, which is relevant for those who are switching from devices where the logic was reversed.

• 📱 Three buttons: classic version with highlighted keys "Back", "Home" and "Menu".
• 🖐 Gestures: Modern swipe management, hiding the navigation bar to increase the usable screen area.
• ⚙️ Hybrid mode: the ability to adjust the sensitivity of gestures and response speed.

Problems with the disappearance of the menu button

A situation where the multitasking button suddenly disappears or stops responding to clicks can be caused by several factors, most often due to the work of third-party launchers or design themes that conflict with the system interface of SystemUI. In such cases, standard controls may overlap or completely disappear.

Another reason could be a failure in the navigation process itself. If you notice that the square to close applications is gone, try restarting the device. In most cases, this restores the normal operation of the interface. If the problem persists, check if One Hand mode or special features for people with disabilities who can change the key layout are turned on.

⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unofficial sources or using modified launchers (like Nova Launcher) without properly configuring can cause system buttons to disappear.

It is also worth considering that in some use cases, for example, when running certain games or videos to a full screen, the navigation bar can be hidden automatically.

Windows management and screen splitting

The multitasking menu on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a list to close programs, but also a window control center. The split screen feature allows you to run two applications at the same time, which greatly improves productivity. To activate this mode, you need to open the multitasking menu and click on the icon with two rectangles (or three-points depending on the OS version) above the application card.

Once split-screen mode is activated, the top of the display is occupied by one app and the bottom by another, and you can change their size by dragging the dividing line, which is especially convenient for watching YouTube videos in parallel with instant messenger correspondence or copying text from the browser into notes.

Newer versions of HyperOS add floating windows, and by running an app in floating mode from the multitasking menu, you can move it around the screen, resize it, or fold it into a sidebar, creating a level of multitasking comparable to desktops.

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Use the sidebar (if enabled in Settings → Additional Settings → Sidebar) to quickly open apps in a floating window without interrupting the current task.

Advanced settings and hidden functions

For advanced users, the system offers additional multitasking management tools. In the Memory Extension section, a portion of the permanent storage can be reserved for virtual RAM, which allows you to keep more applications in the multitasking menu without automatically unloading them from the background.

There's also a feature to lock apps in memory. If you want an important messenger or navigator to never close automatically, open the multitasking menu, pinch the app card, and select the lock icon. Locked apps won't close even when you click on the "Clear All" button.

In some regions and firmware versions, you can customize animations and window behavior. Changing the animation speed in the Developer Menu can make switching between tasks visually faster, although this has little effect on real performance.

• 🔒 Blocking: Protecting important applications from being closed by memory cleanup.
• 🚀 Acceleration: Using virtual memory to hold more background tasks.
• 🎨 Visual: customization of style cards and animations in design themes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The multitasking menu is a central element of smartphone management that can be flexibly customized to your use style, changing the types of navigation and the behavior of background processes.