How to set up floating windows on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones today are so powerful that they often outperform the needs of the average user. However, multitasking is the tool that turns a device from a simple “bell ringer” to a pocket office. The floating windows feature allows you to run several applications simultaneously without switching between them in a hurry, especially for those who are used to working non-stop, responding to messages while watching videos or copying data from the browser into notes.

The MIUI interface and the new HyperOS shell provide flexible tools to manage screen space. You can shrink applications down to miniature widgets, drag them to any part of the screen or pin them to the side for quick access. The right setup of this feature dramatically changes the experience of interacting with the gadget, making it more productive. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods of activation and subtleties of working with windows on different versions of firmware.

It's worth noting that not all apps support the background equally well. Some heavy games or special programs can force you to turn them on the full screen, ignoring your attempts to fold them. However, for the vast majority of social networks, messengers and browsers, this mode works perfectly. Understanding the principles of the system will help you avoid conflicts and hangs.

The main ways to activate the floating mode

There are several proven methods for putting applications into floating mode in the Xiaomi ecosystem. The choice of the specific method often depends on the version of the operating system installed and the user’s personal preferences. The basic method is to use the menu of recent applications. To do this, you need to run the desired program, swipe from the bottom up (or with the “Menu” button), open the list of running tasks and click on the application icon from the top.

In the context menu that opens, select the option “Floating window”; the application will instantly shrink and turn into a mobile widget that can be moved around the screen; the alternative option is to use a sidebar. If it is activated in the settings, a simple swipe from the edge of the screen will cause a list of favorite programs that can be dragged to the workspace.

• 📱 Through the task menu: swipe from the bottom up, icon retention, window mode selection.
• 🖱️ Sidebar: swipe from the edge of the screen, drag and drop the app icon.
• 🖐 Three-finger gestures: three-fingered gestures across the screen (requires customization in special features).

And the third point to pay particular attention to is that the three-finger control feature is often hidden in the depth of the special settings, and when you activate it, you can instantly fold the active application into floating mode with a simple gesture, which saves time and makes the control more intuitive, especially on large screen diagonals.

Setting up the sidebar of tools

The sidebar (App Vault or Sidebar) is one of the most convenient tools for multitasking, and by default it can be disabled or contain a limited set of applications. To unlock its potential, you need to go to Settings → Special Features → Sidebar, and here you can add any installed programs to the quick access list.

It is important to understand that not all applications can run in floating mode stably. The system automatically filters the list, offering only compatible options, but sometimes there are inappropriate programs. Optimizing the list will help to avoid accidental launches of heavy games that can reduce the performance of the main application.

⚠️ Warning: Adding too many apps to the sidebar can lead to increased RAM consumption.Try to keep only the most necessary tools there to work.

Once set up, you can swipe the bar anywhere on the screen (or at, depending on the version of MIUI), which allows you to quickly open the calculator while working with spreadsheets or start the voice recorder without interrupting navigation, the flexibility of this tool makes it indispensable for productive work.

Window Management: Sizes and Positioning

Once the application is floating, it can be interacted with in a variety of ways. The main window has special markers at the corners or bottom, pulling at which you can resize it. The adaptive interface allows you to stretch the window half the screen, creating a split screen effect (Split Screen), or reduce it to a compact widget.

You move the window behind the top of the header. Just press that area and drag the window to the right place. If you let the window go at the edge of the screen, it can stick to the edge, turning into a narrow strip for quick access, which is convenient for messengers when you need to keep your correspondence in view all the time.

Some firmware versions also offer a floating window transparency change that allows you to see the content of the main application through the secondary, which can be useful when tracking download progress or broadcast status, but it is worth remembering that translucent elements can reduce the readability of text.

Features of working in HyperOS and new MIUI

With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has redefined the logic of multitasking, with changes to visual style and resource allocation algorithms. The system now more aggressively manages background processes to ensure smooth operation of the main application. Memory optimization has become a priority, so old floating windows can be unloaded from memory faster than in previous versions.

If a floating window is constantly “extinguished” or restarted, it may be that the system limits its background activity to save charge, in which case you need to add an important application to the list of exceptions or select “No Limits” mode in the battery settings.

The new versions also have improved stylus support, so if you use the Xiaomi Smart Pen, you can cut text or images in one app and drag them right into the floating window of another app, which implements the full-fledged Drag-and-Drop that desktop users are used to.

Solving Application Compatibility Issues

Not all app developers optimize their products for floating, and as a result, you may find yourself in a situation where the interface floats, buttons become non-clickable, or the application is forced to close, most often banking applications and some horizontally-oriented games.

• 🚫 Banking apps: often block screenshots and background work for security reasons. There's nothing you can do here, it's protecting your data.
• 🎮 Heavy gaming: may require full access to resources GPU, So the system won't let them roll out the window.
• 📺 Video services: Some streaming platforms block video output to floating window due to licensing restrictions DRM.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to bypass the blocking of floating windows in banking applications using third-party modules can lead to the blocking of the account by the bank's security service.

If the app is not behaving properly, try updating it through the GetApps store or Google Play. Developers regularly release patches that improve compatibility with new versions of Android and Xiaomi shells.

Impact on autonomy and productivity

Using multiple active windows simultaneously puts additional strain on the processor and RAM, which increases power consumption as the screen has to constantly update content in multiple zones and the processor has to process data for both applications, and on older smartphone models this can lead to noticeable slowdowns.

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If you are actively using floating windows for work, it is recommended to reduce the refresh rate of the screen to 60 Hz in the display settings. This will significantly save battery power without significant loss of comfort when working with text and static images.

For devices with less than 6GB of RAM, it is recommended not to keep more than two heavy applications open at the same time. The system can begin to force the background processes to close, which will lead to the loss of unsaved data. In such cases, it is better to use split-screen mode for two applications, and keep the rest folded.

You can control the load through built-in monitoring. If you notice a strong heating of the case when working with floating windows, close unused applications. Constant overheating negatively affects battery life and can lead to trottling (decreased processor performance).

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Floating windows are a powerful tool, but it should be used wisely, and mid- and low-end devices should not have more than 2-3 active windows open at once to avoid losing performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)