Modern Xiaomi smartphones have large enough displays to allow the user to work comfortably with several tasks.Share split, or Split Screen, is one of the most popular options in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS. It allows you to run two applications side by side, which greatly improves productivity when working with text, watching videos or communicating in instant messengers.
However, many owners of Redmi and Xiaomi devices do not know how to activate this mode, since the standard button is often hidden in the depth of the menu or not at all in the basic settings. Unlike standard navigation, where you need to swipe and hold, MIUI provides a separate mechanism for managing windows. Understanding the logic of multitasking in this operating system will help you use the gadget at full capacity.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to activate Split Screen mode, how to set up automatic separation for your favorite programs, how to change the size of windows and what to do if a particular application refuses to work in this mode, and we will look at both classic methods and hidden features available through special system settings.
Preparing the device for multitasking
Before you start splitting your screen, you need to make sure your device is ready to work in this mode. Most modern Xiaomi smartphones released in the last 4-5 years support this feature out of the box. However, to properly operate the system requires several conditions, ignoring which can lead to failures or inability to activate the option.
First of all, check that your device has an up-to-date version of the operating system. Developers regularly make changes to the MIUI and HyperOS interface, so the old instructions may not match the current menu. It is also important that there is enough free space in the phone’s memory, since running two applications simultaneously consumes more RAM and processor resources.
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For stable operation Split Screen is recommended to have at least 2 GB of free RAM, otherwise the background application can be constantly unloaded.
It should also be borne in mind that some applications do not support horizontal orientation or interface adaptation by their nature. In such cases, the system may force one of the windows to close or prevent splitting. Split Screen on Xiaomi only works with applications optimized for tablets or large screens.
If you plan to actively multitask, it makes sense to clear the cache of heavy programs in advance, which will reduce the load on the system when switching between windows and make the interface smoother. Owners of models with 3 GB of RAM and less may face limitations, as the system will aggressively unload background processes.
The standard way to activate through the menu of recent applications
The most common and versatile method of running two apps simultaneously on Xiaomi is to use the running program menu, which requires no additional settings and is available immediately after you buy the device, and works on all versions of the shell, from the old MIUI 10 to the latest HyperOS.
To activate the mode, you need to perform a sequence of actions. First, run the first application you want to see at the top of the screen. Then fold it up and open the menu of recent applications. Depending on the type of navigation you choose (buttons or gestures), this is done either by pressing a square button or swiping from the bottom up with a delay.
In the list that opens, find the card of the application you've launched. In the upper right corner of the card (or if you press it long enough in new versions), a special icon will appear. It looks like two rectangles located above each other.
☑️ The algorithm for enabling Split Screen
Once you click on the split icon, the top of the screen will lock, and the bottom of the screen will open the selection menu for the second app, you can select it from the recommended list or find it in the general list of all installed programs. It is important to note that the system will only offer those applications that technically support splitting the screen.
Once you select the second program, the screen will split into two workspaces, and the boundary between them is adjustable: just pull the dividing line up or down to change the proportions of the display, which is especially useful if you want the video to occupy most of the screen and the correspondence to be compact.
Using the sidebar for quick access
For those who use split-screen mode frequently, the standard method through the task menu may seem too long. There is a faster way to use the MIUI shell, the Sidebar, which allows you to run a second application on top of any open window in just one click.
To use this method, you first need to activate the panel itself in the settings. Go to Settings → Additional features → Sidebar (the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version). Make sure that the switch is activated and the list of applications displayed selects those you plan to use in Split Screen mode.
When the panel is set up, the startup process is like this: open any application, then swipe from the edge of the screen (usually to the left or right, where the bar is located) inwards. A floating menu will appear with selected applications. Tap the icon of the desired program to run it in the second window.
What to do if the side panel does not appear?
The main advantage of the sidebar is that it allows you to open multiple applications in sequence, creating the effect of real multitasking. You can quickly switch between messenger, browser and notes without closing the main working application, this is especially true for users who correspond while working or studying.
But remember, the sidebar takes up a fraction of the screen's usable area, and if you have a smartphone that's less than 6 inches, it might not be the most convenient solution, so you'd better go back to the classic method through the task menu.
Setup automatic separation for specific applications
Advanced MIUI settings have a useful feature that allows you to automatically start splitting the screen for certain pairs of applications, which eliminates the need to manipulate the task menu every time, an option that is especially useful for scenarios that repeat from day to day.
You can set up automation through a hidden menu or a special multitasking setting. You need to find the auto-splitting item. Here you can specify that when you start, for example, YouTube, the system should immediately prompt you to open Telegram or WhatsApp in the second window, which creates a ready-made working template.
To access advanced settings, you sometimes need to activate additional developer options. Go to Settings → About Phone → Click 7 times on the MIUI version to make the developer menu appear. Then, in the Additional → Special Features section, look for settings related to window display.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Forced scaling | Makes applications work in Split Screen | High risk of interface bugs |
| Free window | Opens the application in a floating window | Increases RAM consumption |
| Minimum width | Changes the pixel density (DPI) | Changes the size of the fonts throughout the system |
| Activity in the background | Allows the operation of the second annex | Increases battery consumption |
Using these settings requires caution. Forced activation of the mode for unsupported applications can cause the program interface to go, buttons to become non-clickable, or the application to fly out immediately after launch, so it is better to experiment with automation on secondary programs.
If you set up automatic splitting, but you don't like the result, you can always reset the settings of a particular application. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, select the desired program and click Clean → Reset. This will return the behavior of the application to its original state.
Solving Application Incompatibility Problems
Quite often, users are faced with a situation where one of the applications simply does not want to open in split-screen mode, the system either does not show it in the list of available ones, or closes immediately after trying to launch, this is due to the fact that the application developers decide whether to support the adaptive interface.
The most common problem is with banking apps and some secure messengers, which for security reasons can block multitasking to prevent screenshotrs or other apps from intercepting data, and in such cases, it is almost impossible to circumvent the restriction of regular funds.
However, for many other programs, there is a workaround through the engineering menu or ADB-The easiest way to check for updates for a problem application is to check for updates for a problem application in Google Play or Mi GetApps. Often, Split Screen support is added to new versions of the software.
⚠️ Note: Use of third-party modified versions of applications (MOD) To circumvent restrictions can lead to the blocking of the account in the service or leakage of personal data.
It's also worth considering the orientation of the screen, and some apps are rigidly locked in portrait mode and can't rotate, and when you split the screen, they may not behave properly if you try to rotate the smartphone horizontally, so you'd better use vertical orientation for both windows.
If the app is critical to you but doesn’t support splitting, try to find its web version in the browser. Chrome or Yandex browsers work perfectly in Split Screen mode, and you can access the desired functionality through the site by sharing the screen with another app.
Controlling windows and changing proportions
Once you have successfully split the screen, you have to manage the two windows in a convenient way. Xiaomi has the flexibility to adjust the proportions of the display. The boundary between the apps is not static, you can move it around, giving priority to one of the windows.
To change the size of the windows, find a dividing line in the middle of the screen, and it usually has a small strip or marker on it, and you press that area and drag the border up or down, and you'll notice that one app gets bigger and the other gets smaller, which is convenient when you need to, for example, watch a full-size video and communicate in a narrow strip.
Some versions of MIUI have a floating window inside the split mode, so if you click on the window control menu (three dots or a special button in the corner), you can roll one of the applications into a floating bubble, which allows you to temporarily free up space on the screen without completely closing the program.
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The optimal window ratio is 60% for the main task and 40% for the secondary task, as this provides a balance between readability and functionality.
One window is closed in the standard way: swipe from the bottom up (when you navigate gestures) or click on the cross/button back, while the second application remains deployed to the full screen, and if you want to close both applications at once, the easiest way to fold them in the task menu and clear the memory.
Keep in mind that using two apps at once significantly increases the battery load. If you’re in Split Screen mode for a long time, it makes sense to turn down the brightness of the screen or turn on the power saving mode so that the phone doesn’t run out at the most inopportune moment.