How to set up pop-up windows on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to fine-tune the system to make the interface work exactly as the user is used to. One of the most popular features in the Android environment, which is actively developed by the manufacturer in the shell MIUI (HyperOS), is working with pop-ups. This option allows you to run applications in floating mode without deploying them to the full screen, which significantly increases the multitasking of the device.

However, in addition to the useful floating window feature, users may be concerned about the sudden appearance of banner ads or system notifications that override content. Understanding the difference between system management of app windows and blocking unwanted ads is critical to comfortable use of the gadget. In this guide, we will discuss both aspects: how to enable a convenient floating mode for instant messengers and how to get rid of intrusive pop-up ads.

Most settings don't require root rights or complex engineering menus, but all the tools are in the standard Settings section, and the key is to navigate the menu items correctly, the names of which may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region.

Enabling floating window mode for applications

The floating window feature allows you to run an application on top of another, leaving it available for quick interaction. This is especially convenient when texting while watching videos or working with documents. To activate this feature, you first need to make sure that it is enabled in the global settings of the system. Go to Settings → Special features → Floating window and activate the corresponding switch.

Once activated, window management is made available through the recent app menu, opening a list of running programs, holding your finger to the preview of the desired application, and selecting a three-point icon or window icon. Many versions of MIUI also swipe up from the bottom of the latency screen, which puts the active application in the getting stuck window mode.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps are floating. Bank clients and some secure video services may be forced to close or deploy full screen for security reasons.

It is important to note that the number of floating windows open at the same time can be limited by the amount of RAM your device has. On budget models of the Redmi Note or POCO M series, it is advisable to keep no more than one or two of these windows open to avoid interface lags.

Configure permissions to display on top of other applications

A common problem is when an app can’t open a pop-up due to lack of appropriate permissions. Android has a strict security policy that forbids programs from drawing the interface on top of others without the explicit consent of the user. To fix this, you need to manually issue permission to “Map on top of other applications.”

Find the App's item in the settings → All applications, select the desired program (for example, messenger or browser) and go to the Other permissions section. Here you need to find the Display item on top of other applications and switch it to the active state. Without this step, many quick response features or pop-up chats won’t work.

In some cases, the system may block this item if the developer mode or special features are enabled. Make sure you have an up-to-date version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell installed, as the paths to the menu may have been different in older builds.

Blocking Advertising Pop-ups (MSA)

Special attention should be paid to the topic of intrusive advertising, which can pop up in the form of banners or full-screen windows. This feature in Xiaomi devices is the MSA system process (MIUI System Ads), disabling this component allows you to significantly clean the interface from marketing noise.

To disable ads, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. Search the msa process and turn off the switch. The system will warn you that the shutdown may affect some features, and ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action. Click "Cancel" and confirm the selection.

If you can’t turn it off the first time (the system says “failed to withdraw”), try repeating the procedure 2-3 times. Usually, the second or third attempt removes the restriction. It is also recommended to turn off the personalization of advertising in the Settings menu → Passwords andbi security → Privacy → Advertising services.

⚠️ Note: After disabling system advertising in some embedded applications (for example, "Music" or "Conductor") may no longer display recommendations, but the basic functionality will remain fully functional.

The effectiveness of the lock can be checked by opening standard applications, if the pop-up banners are missing, then the setup was successful, this action does not affect the warranty of the device and is a standard shell feature.

Managing notifications and pop-up messages

Pop-up messages from instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) are often called “banners” of notifications. Their behavior is also customized for each application. To change the format of the display, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management.

Select the app from the list. Here you will see several display options: "No sound", "Sound" and "Important". In order for a message to pop up on top of the screen even in sleep mode or when using other programs, you need to select the option "Important" (or "Priority").

You can also customize the display style: classic or iOS style. Also available in this menu is the option "Pop-up notifications", which you need to activate if you want to see the text of the message in a small window on top of the screen.

Using the sidebar for quick access

To easily manage floating windows, Xiaomi has a Sidebar widget called by a swipe from the edge of the screen, and you can add frequently used apps that will run in floating window mode with one touch.

Activate the function in the Settings menu → Additional → Sidebar. Turn on the “Always Display Sidebar” switch or set it to appear in specific applications (for example, only in the browser or YouTube). In the sidebar menu, click “Add Apps” and select the ones you use most often.

Using a sidebar makes multitasking much faster. You can quickly open a calculator, translator, or notes on top of any other screen. This is especially true for owners of large-screen smartphones, where one-handed control can be difficult.

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Use the sidebar to launch the second messenger account (if app cloning is enabled) to quickly respond from both numbers without switching between windows.

Solving problems with hanging pop-up windows

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the pop-up window freezes, does not close or overlaps part of the interface, making control impossible, this can be caused by a lack of RAM or a software failure of a particular application.

The first step to solve the problem is to clean the memory. Press the button "Menu" (square or swipe up with a delay) and select "Clean all." If that doesn't help, try restarting the device. In rare cases, resetting the settings of the application itself causing the problems helps through the App menu → All Apps → [Application needed] → Clean.

If the problem is systemic and is observed after a firmware update, it makes sense to check for new security updates. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that correct errors in the interface.

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Stable operation of pop-ups depends on the availability of free RAM and the relevance of the system version.