How to make floating windows on Xiaomi: a complete guide with settings

Floating windows (Picture-in-Picture, PiP) on Xiaomi devices are a handy feature that allows you to view videos, make video calls or use navigation on top of other applications. For example, you can watch YouTube in a small window while texting to Telegram or checking email at the same time, but not all users know how to activate this mode and which apps support it.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to enable floating windows on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones and tablets, from standard MIUI settings to hidden HyperOS features. You’ll also learn how to fix common bugs (such as when a window doesn’t appear or closes immediately) and which apps are best adapted to work in PiP mode.

What are floating windows and why do they need them?

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode allows you to display the contents of one application in a miniature window on top of other open programs.

• 🎥 Multitasking – watching videos or streams without interrupting other applications.
• 📞 Video calls – chatting on Zoom, Google Meet or WhatsApp while checking documents.
• 🗺️ Navigation – using Google Maps or Yandex.Maps on top of messengers.
• 🎮 Gaming streams – Watching the stream on Twitch while you respond to messages.

Xiaomi’s PiP mode works differently than it does on pure Android. In MIUI 14 and later, you can move the window around the screen, resize it, and even roll it into a corner for quick access. And HyperOS (which replaced MIUI) has added additional controls.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps support PiP by default, such as Netflix and TikTok may block this mode due to content licensing restrictions, and in such cases, workarounds will be required (about them in the section on the problems).

What Xiaomi devices support floating windows

The PiP feature is available on most modern Xiaomi devices, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Smartphones: All models on MIUI 12 and newer (including Redmi Note) 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Xiaomi 11/12/13/14).
• 🖥️ Tablets: Xiaomi Pad 5/6 and POCO Pad with Multitasking Support.
• 🚫 Exceptions: Outdated models on MIUI 11 and below (e.g. Redmi 8 or Mi) A3) They may not support PiP or work with errors.

To check your device’s compatibility, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI/HyperOS. If the firmware version is newer than MIUI 12, the feature should work. On HyperOS (like Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), PiP mode is on by default and has advanced settings.

How to enable floating windows in standard settings

If your device supports PiP, you can activate the function in two ways: through system settings or directly from the supported application.

Method 1: Through MIUI/HyperOS settings

1. Open Settings → Special features → Picture mode in the picture.
2. Activate the "Allow PiP Mode" switch.
3. (Optional) Enable the option to "Automatically open in PiP" for supported applications.

On HyperOS, the path may differ: Settings → System → Multitasking → PiP Mode. Here you can also configure gestures to control the window (for example, swipe down to fold).

Method 2: From the Appendix

Many apps (e.g. YouTube Premium, Google Maps, VLC) support automatic transition to PiP:

1. Open the video or navigation in the app.
2. Press the Home button (or swipe up to return to the home screen).
3. The app will automatically fold into a floating window.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi 10 on the MIUI (13) the PiP function may be hidden, in which case activation through ADB (Instructions – in the next section).

Activation of floating windows via ADB (for hidden function)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have a PiP option in its settings, you can manually enable it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on most devices but requires a computer connection.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB-PC drivers.
• 📱 Turn on "Debugging by" USB" on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔌 Connect the device to the PC through USB-cable (select "File Transfer" mode").

Step 2: Execution of the team

Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell settings put global multi_window_mode_support 1


adb shell settings put global force_desktop_mode_on_external_displays 1

After you execute the commands, restart the device. The PiP function should appear in the settings.

If the PiP still doesn’t work after the reboot, check if the shell is blocked by the installed shell (for example, the Third-party launcher), in which case, try temporarily switching to the standard MIUI launcher.

Apps that support floating windows on Xiaomi

Not all programs are able to work in PiP mode. Below is a list of proven applications that are guaranteed to support this feature on Xiaomi:

Important: Some apps (such as Netflix or Disney)+) They block the PiP because of DRM-This restriction can only be circumvented through modified versions. APK (Netflix Mod, but it violates the rules of the service.

💡

If your favorite app doesn’t support PiP, try opening it in your Chrome browser and requesting a desktop version of your site, for example, YouTube in your browser allows you to enable PiP even without a Premium subscription.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even if you set up the PiP correctly, there may be failures, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.The floating window closes immediately

Causes and solutions:

• 🔄 Update the app – legacy versions may not support PiP.
• 📵 Check the permissions: some applications (e.g, VLC) Require access to "Display on top of other windows" (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Overhead display).
• 🔧 Reset the application settings: Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

2.PiP doesn't work on YouTube without Premium

YouTube is officially blocking PiPs for free accounts.

• 🌐 Use YouTube in Chrome browser (request desktop version).
• 📱 Install a modified app (such as Vanced or ReVanced), but consider the risks of blocking your account.
• 💰 Get a YouTube Premium trial (1 month free).

3.The PiP window does not move or freeze

This is a typical problem for devices with MIUI 13 and below.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version (in) MIUI 14+ HyperOS bugs fixed).
• 🛠️ Enable "Window animation" in the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → The scale of window animation: 1x).

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If the floating window is unstable, first check the compatibility of the application with your version. MIUI/HyperOS. Often the problem is solved by a simple software update.

Additional settings and chips

On Xiaomi, you can customize the PiP mode to suit your needs. Here are some useful tricks:

1. Change in size and transparency of windows

HyperOS and MIUI 14 have advanced settings:

• 📐 Press and pull the corner of the window to change its size.
• 🔳 Twice tap the window to roll it into the corner of the screen (a small icon will appear for quick deployment).
• 🎨 In some firmware, you can configure the transparency of the window through Settings → Screen. → PiP mode → Transparency.

2.Fast gesture control

On devices with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), additional gestures are available:

• 👆 Swipe up the window - turn to the full screen.
• 👇 Swipe down - roll into an icon.
• 👉 Swipe left/right – move the window to the edge of the screen.

3. simultaneous use of multiple PiP windows

On Xiaomi Pad 5/6 tablets and smartphones with HyperOS, you can open up to 3 floating windows at the same time.

1. Open the first application in PiP mode.
2. Start the second video/call and roll it out the window.
3. Repeat for the third appendix.

Windows can be dragged onto each other to change the order of display.

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If you need to use PiP frequently, add a shortcut for quick access, and then hold the app icon on the home screen and select Picture-in-Picture Mode (not available on all models).

FAQ: Frequent questions about floating windows on Xiaomi