Modern smartphones have so powerful processors and large displays that using only one app at a time seems wasteful. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often look for a way to increase their productivity by running two windows on a single display. This feature, known as Split Screen or split screen, is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, but its activation is not always obvious to beginners.
Split screen mode allows you to, for example, watch videos on YouTube while you type a message in the messenger, or compare products in an online store without switching between browser tabs. However, like any advanced feature, it has its own features in the Android ecosystem from the Chinese manufacturer. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for activating, configuring and troubleshooting.
It's important to understand that not all apps support this mode of operation. Some developers software block the possibility of running in a smaller window to preserve the functionality of the interface. However, for most popular services - from social networks to navigators - this option works flawlessly and makes multitasking much easier.
The main ways to activate Split Screen on MIUI and HyperOS
There are several proven methods to split the screen in two. The choice of the specific method often depends on the version of the operating system installed and the user's personal preferences. The most common and intuitive method is to use the menu of recent applications.
To run a split screen through the task menu, you need to do the following: first open the application, which will be located at the top of the screen. Then swipe from the bottom up (or press the corresponding navigation button) go to the menu for managing running applications.
In the list that opens, find the application card you want. Some versions of the MIUI shell require you to hold your finger for a long time to preview the program, after which the system control buttons appear. Other versions require you to click on the menu icon (three dots or an application icon) and select the option "Share the screen".
☑️ Activation algorithm through task menu
After selecting the mode, the top half of the display will be fixed on the selected application, and at the bottom the system will suggest selecting a second program from the list of frequently used or all installed applications. If the desired program is not in the quick offers, click on the menu button in the lower right corner for the full list.
Using the sidebar for quick access
The second, more modern and convenient way is to use a sidebar, which allows applications to run in a floating window or split-screen mode without having to fold the current program, which is especially true for HyperOS versions and new MIUI builds.
To use this method, you first need to make sure that the function is activated in the settings. Go to Settings → Special Options → Sidebar and turn on the switch. Here you can add the necessary applications to the favorites list for quick access.
When you use any app, swipe from the edge of the screen to the center (usually on the right or left, depending on the settings), a translucent panel with icons will appear, click on the icon of the second application you want to open, it will run in a floating window.
⚠️ Attention: If you run the app from the sidebar, it will open in a floating window.To put it in split screen mode, click on the top of the floating window (where the name is) and select the appropriate split icon.
The advantage of the sidebar is that you can easily swap apps, close one of the windows, or turn them on the whole screen with a single touch, which makes the interface more responsive and less congested than the classical method.
Why isn't the sidebar coming up?
Size setting of windows and interface management
Once you've managed to split the screen into Xiaomi, you'll be challenged with a comfortable content layout, which allows you to dynamically change the proportions of the space you occupy, which is critical for reading text or watching videos.
There's a dividing bar between the two apps that are running, and if you click on it and drag it up or down, you can change the size of the active window, but you have to be mindful of the system constraints: no application can take up less than 30-40% of the screen, otherwise it will just close.
- 📱 Top window: usually prioritizes content that requires constant visual control, such as a video or map.
- 💬 Lower window: ideal for supportive tasks such as correspondence, calculator or notes.
- 🔄 Switching: The dividing strip often has a button to quickly change application locations without having to close them.
To exit split-screen mode, drag the separation line to the top or bottom of the display, depending on which application you want to keep active. Alternatively, press the Home button or make a gesture unless the system settings indicate a different behavior.
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Use horizontal orientation to work with documents. In landscape mode, a split screen turns into two vertical columns, which is convenient for comparing tables or code.
Table of compatibility of functions in different modes
Not all functions work equally well in multi-window mode. Some applications can behave unpredictably, while others are optimized for this, and here is a table showing the behavior of popular types of programs.
| Type of application | Split Screen Support | Features of work |
|---|---|---|
| Social networks (Telegram, VK) | Complete. | Notifications are received in real time, media is played. |
| Video services (YouTube, Netflix) | Partial | In the background window, the video can stop without a Premium subscription. |
| Games | Limited. | Many games are forced to close or go to full screen mode. |
| browsers | Complete. | You can open two different tabs in the same browser in different windows. |
The standard video player Xiaomi perfectly supports window mode in the window, allowing you to watch the movie on top of other applications. Third-party players may require additional permissions in the battery settings to work in the background.
If an application closes immediately after a split-screen attempt, it means that the developer has banned the feature at the program manifesto level, in which case it is almost impossible to circumvent the restriction without root rights.
The horizontal division problem and its solution
Many users are wondering how to split the screen horizontally, so that the windows are side by side rather than above each other. By default, in portrait orientation, the system always divides the screen with a horizontal line.
To get vertical separation (when the windows are on the left and right) you need to flip the smartphone into landscape mode, but here lies an important nuance: both running applications must support horizontal orientation.
If one of the apps is rigidly fixed in portrait mode (such as some versions of Instagram or TikTok), the system will not allow the screen to split vertically, in which case one of the windows will occupy the entire screen, and the second will curl up or disappear.
⚠️ Attention: Forced screen rotation through system settings doesn't always help if the application itself doesn't have an adaptive interface for landscape mode. Expect distortions or black fields to appear.
Newer versions of HyperOS offer improved tablet support even on larger smartphones, allowing more flexibility in window management, but requiring high processor performance to smoothly render the interface.
What to do if the screen split doesn’t work
It is not uncommon for a function to simply not activate or not work correctly. Most often, the problem lies in a lack of RAM or a conflict of application versions. For stable operation of Split Screen on devices with 4 GB of RAM and less, it is recommended to close the background processes before activating the mode.
The first step in diagnosing is to check for system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix multitasking errors. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for a new version of MIUI.
The second reason could be a crowded system launcher cache, cleaning up the Security or Settings app cache sometimes helps to bring functionality back, and it's also worth checking if the power saving mode is on, which often limits the background activity of applications.
- 🔋 Energy savings: Turn off hard limits for apps you plan to use in split screen.
- 🧹 Memory: Free up at least 500MB of RAM before running two heavy-duty applications.
- 📲 App Version: Make sure that the programs used are updated to the latest version via Google Play or GetApps.
If nothing helps, reset the special features settings, which won't delete your personal data, but will return all system interface parameters to factory values, which often resolves software conflicts.
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The stability of the split screen depends on the amount of free RAM and optimization of specific applications by developers.