Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful hardware that allows you to perform many tasks at once, often when you need to quickly switch between the messenger and the browser or copy text from one note to another, the standard mode of using one application on the full screen in such cases becomes inefficient and slows down.
MIUI and the new HyperOS offer advanced window management tools, so you can split the screen in half, run the app in floating mode, or use the sidebar for quick access, making your smartphone a full-fledged working tool, comparable to a tablet or laptop.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can activate multitasking, learn how to run a split screen, adjust floating windows, and optimize the process of working with multiple applications at once, which will save you time and improve productivity of your device.
Using the standard multitasking menu
The most common and reliable way to run two apps at once is to use a built-in menu of running tasks, which works consistently on all current versions of Xiaomi’s firmware, and you need to open both apps you plan to use and fold them so they remain in memory.
Next, call the multitasking menu. Depending on the type of navigation you choose (buttons or gestures), this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay or pressing a square button. Find the card of the first application and click on the icon, which usually looks like two rectangles or a split icon. If you don't see this icon right away, try pinching the app card or swiping it down.
Once the mode is activated, the screen will split into two parts, with the first app at the top or bottom (depending on orientation), and the rest of the area will have the second app selected from the list of newly opened ones, and you can adjust the size of the windows by dragging the dividing line, which allows you to make one app the main app and the second the reference app.
- 📱 Click on the split icon in the task menu to activate the mode.
- 🔄 Select the second application from the list of recommended or all programs.
- 📏 Adjust the border between windows for comfortable viewing of content.
Not all applications support split mode, and some developers block this feature to ensure that the interface is displayed correctly, in which case the system will issue a notification that it is impossible to split the screen.
Activation of the function through the side panel
To make windows more flexible, MIUI has a special tool called Sidebar, which is a floating menu that is available on top of any open application, and allows you to run minor programs in the form of mini windows instantly without interrupting the main application.
To take advantage of this method, you first need to activate the panel itself in the settings. Follow the Settings path → Additional features → Sidebar and turn on the switch. Here you can select the applications that will appear in the quick access list, this can be a calculator, voice recorder, notes or instant messengers.
When you're set up, just swipe from the edge of the screen to the area where you're working, and you'll see a translucent tab that opens the app list when you click on it, and you'll pick one that will float, and you can move that window around the screen, resize it, or fold it into a narrow bar for quick access.
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Use the sidebar to run the calculator or translator on top of the browser – this greatly speeds up the work with data.
An important advantage of the sidebar is the ability to run multiple floating windows at the same time, but it is worth remembering the performance of the device: too many active processes can lead to slowing down the interface on older models of smartphones.
- ⚙️ Enable the function in the "Additional Features" section in the settings.
- 📂 Add frequently used apps to the panel list.
- 🖱️ Call the swipe panel from the edge of the screen while working.
Floating windows for maximum efficiency
Floating windows represent a separate level of multitasking, different from splitting the screen in half, and allow you to create a picture-in-picture for any app you support, which is especially useful when watching videos or waiting for a response in chat, when you need to do other things in parallel.
You can run the app in floating mode from the sidebar as described above, or through the menu of recent apps, if this option is available in your version of HyperOS. The window can be dragged to any corner of the display. With prolonged pressing on the header of the floating window, a control menu appears where you can fix it, deploy it to the full screen or close it.
Special attention should be paid to the function “Paired Apps”, which allows you to run a second instance of the same application, for example, two accounts WhatsApp or Telegram. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → Cloning of applications. Once you create a clone, you can open the original in normal mode, and the clone in a floating window or split screen.
⚠️ Note: Some system applications and games may not display properly in floating mode due to interface scaling limitations.
And you also use a gesture to control the behavior of floating windows, and if you pull a floating window to the bottom of the screen, it will fold into a thumbnail, and this allows you to temporarily free up your workspace without completely closing the application.
☑️ Checking multitasking settings
Application compatibility and system limitations
Not all programs work equally well in multitasking mode, but it is up to app developers to decide whether to allow split screens for their products, and most often, the limitations are for applications with a unique interface that is difficult to adapt to narrow screen bars.
If the application does not support partitioning, the system may suggest running it in full screen mode, closing the second window, or even refuse to start the second instance. In some cases, enabling forced scaling through the developer menu helps, but this can lead to unstable operation of the program.
Below is a table showing the typical behavior of different categories of applications in split-screen mode on Xiaomi devices:
| Category of annex | Support for separation | Features of work |
|---|---|---|
| Social media | Complete. | Stable, notifications are delivered on time |
| Video hosting | Partial | Videos can go out when folded, you need a PiP mode |
| Games | Limited. | They often require a full screen and can be taken out. |
| Banking applications | Forbidden. | Blocked by Android security policies |
| Office packages | Complete. | Perfect for working with documents |
Consider that the active use of two heavy applications simultaneously increases battery consumption and CPU load.The device can heat up, and background processes can be limited to the system to save resources.
Controlling windows with gestures and buttons
The effectiveness of two-window operation depends on how well you know how to control gestures, MIUI and HyperOS provide easy navigation, which makes it easier to switch between running tasks.
When using gestures, a swipe from the bottom up with a stop in the middle of the screen opens the multitasking menu. From there, you can quickly switch between split windows. If you prefer classic buttons, the Menu button (square) performs the same function. To close one of the windows in split mode, you just drag the dividing line to the end towards the closed application.
There is also a useful life hack for quick switching: If you have two apps open in a split screen, a double tap on the recent button (or corresponding gesture) can instantly shift focus between the top and bottom, although this depends on the specific version of the firmware.
The Secret to Fast Navigation
Remember that in landscape mode (horizontally) window management becomes even more convenient, since the screen space allows you to place two full-fledged interfaces side by side without much damage to the readability of the text.
Solutions and optimization of work
Users often face a situation where the second app "falls asleep" or is unloaded from memory while you're running in the first window.It's an aggressive Android and MIUI energy saving policy that tries to keep the battery powered by closing the background processes.
To prevent an important application from unloading, you need to change the battery settings for a particular program. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the desired application, select Battery and set No Limits mode, which will give the application the right to work in the background for as long as you want.
It is also worth checking the amount of RAM. On devices with 4 GB of RAM and less simultaneous operation of two “heavy” applications (for example, the navigator and the browser with video) can cause constant reboots of tabs, in which case it is recommended to close unnecessary background processes through the memory cleanup menu.
⚠️ Warning: Forced application memory retention without restrictions can lead to faster battery discharge during the day.
If splitting doesn’t work anywhere, check to see if the Simplified Interface mode (the older mode) is on, and many multitasking features are blocked by developers to make it easier to use your smartphone.
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For stable operation of two windows, be sure to configure the power saving mode for applications on “No restrictions”.