How to Set Up Screen Split on Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI or HyperOS shells, have enormous processing power that often exceeds that of many budget laptops. Split Screen is one of the most useful features for those who are used to doing several tasks simultaneously without switching between applications. You can watch YouTube videos while responding to messages in the messenger, or copy text from a document by inserting it into notes.

However, despite the popularity of this option, many users have difficulty activating it, as standard gestures do not always work in an obvious way. In some versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the latest HyperOS, the multitasking algorithms may differ, requiring a specific sequence of actions.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to activate split-screen mode, from standard gestures to the use of hidden developer settings. We will also look at the list of applications that are guaranteed to support this feature, and methods for circumventing restrictions for programs that are not officially adapted by the manufacturer for working in the window.

The standard way to activate through the menu of recent applications

The most common and safe method for enabling Split Screen on Xiaomi smartphones is based on working with the menu of running applications. This method does not require root rights or installing third-party software, which makes it available to any user.

Next, you need to find an icon or a text label that controls the window. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may look different, but the logic remains the same. You usually need to click three dots or hold the application preview to see additional options.

After selecting the split screen mode, the system will prompt you to open the second application.

For successful activation, follow this algorithm:

• 📱 Open the first app and go to the recent task menu (bottom-up latency swipe or menu button).
• 👆 Click on the app icon at the top of the preview or hold your finger on the window preview (depending on your gesture settings).
• 📺 Select “Separate Screen” in the context menu that appears.
• 📲 Select the second application from the list of proposed or find it in the task menu.

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If you don’t see the “Separate Screen” option, try changing the display settings of recent apps in the Settings menu → Desktop → Recent Tasks.

Using a sidebar for quick multitasking

The Sidebar feature is a great tool for quickly accessing frequently used applications without having to fold the current window.This tool is especially handy when you need to quickly open a calculator, notes or messenger over a video or game. Activating the Sidebar allows you to turn any running application into a floating window or split the screen by simply dragging the icon.

To take advantage of this method, you first need to make sure that the feature is activated in system settings. By default, it can only be disabled or configured for certain categories of applications, such as games or video players. Expanding the list of supported programs gives you full control over multitasking.

The process of setting up and using is as follows:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → Sidebar.
• ✅ Turn on the Sidebar switch and select Always Show or add the desired apps manually.
• 👉 Swipe from the edge of the screen in the area where the panel appears to call the menu.
• ↔️ Drag the icon of the second app onto the screen area, splitting it in half.

Particularly worth noting is that some versions of HyperOS have changed the sidebar menu layout to improve ergonomics. If the standard swipe doesn't work, check if you have Full Screen Immersion mode for a particular application that blocks system elements from appearing.

Customization of gestures and navigation buttons

Controlling split screens depends on the way you navigate your Android system, and users who are used to the classic three buttons at the bottom of the screen and those who use full screen gestures will perform slightly different actions, and understanding these differences is critical to quickly activating the feature.

With classic navigation buttons (Back, Home, Menu), the process is often simplified by having a dedicated button to control the windows. In gesture mode, you will have to rely on swipes and long-term clicks, which requires a certain skill.

A comparison of activation methods is presented in the table below:

If you recently upgraded your smartphone to a new version of Android or MIUI, the system may have reset your navigation preferences to standard. Check the current settings in Settings → Additional settings → System navigation to make sure you use the usual management method.

Application compatibility and circumvention of restrictions

One of the most common problems faced by Xiaomi owners is the message “The app does not support split screen” because software developers must explicitly specify in the program code support for adaptive interface. Many old or specific applications (such as some banking clients or games) do not have such markup.

However, there is a way to force almost any application to run in split-screen mode, which would require activating the latent capabilities of the system for developers. Attention: using this method can lead to incorrect display of the application interface, since it is not designed to work in a narrow window.

To activate forced separation, follow the following steps:

• 🛠 Go to Settings. → About the phone and 7 times quickly click on the version MIUI HyperOS to become a developer.
• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Advanced settings → For developers.
• 📜 Find the option “Force activities to be resizable” and activate it.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.

⚠️ Note: After enabling this feature, some applications may not work stable, fly out or display a “black screen.” If you notice strange behavior of the system, return the setting to its original state.

Once rebooted, the system will ignore the incompatibility flag set by the app developer, which allows even programs that previously blocked this feature to run in a split screen, but it is worth considering that the functionality inside the window may be limited.

Controlling windows and changing proportions

Once the screen is split into two parts, the user has the flexibility to adjust the proportions of the content displayed, which is especially useful when one application requires more space for comfortable use, such as a browser or text editor, while the second (for example, a player) can be content with a small bandwidth.

To change the size of the windows, you need to find the dividing line between the two programs running, and by pressing and holding it, you can move the boundary up or down, changing the area of each window. In some versions of the shell, you can also find a floating window mode, which allows you to move the application around the entire screen.

The main possibilities of window management:

• 📐 Size change: Dragging the central divider strip.
• 🔄 Application Replacement: Clicking on the window change icon in the center of the divider.
• ❌ Closing: Drag the app to the edge of the screen or pressing the cross.
• 📌 Fixing: Locking one window so it doesn’t close when you clear the memory.

Importantly, when the device is changed (screen rotated), the proportions of windows can reset or reset depending on the logic of the specific application.

Frequent errors and ways to fix them

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may experience situations where split screens don’t start, freeze or malfunction, most often due to a lack of RAM or conflicting application versions, and in such cases, don’t panic, as most problems are solved by simple actions.

If you’re trying to run a heavy app (like a high graphics game) along with another resource-intensive process, the system can automatically shut down one of them to maintain performance. Android strictly monitors the available RAM resources.

Solutions to typical problems:

• 🧹 Memory Cleanup: Before starting a split screen, close the background apps through the task menu.
• 🔄 Software Update: Make sure all apps are updated to the latest versions via Google Play or GetApps.
• 🚫 Power saving switch off: Power saving mode can limit background activity and block multitasking.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen splits but the image goes black or goes black, try folding and deploying the app again. If that doesn't work, rebooting the device is the most effective way to reset the system caches of the interface.

Also, consider that on devices with a notch in the screen (camera hole) or bangs, some applications may not properly scale at the top of the window. In the screen settings, you can sometimes find the option “Hide the notch” that helps solve visual artifacts.

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The stability of the split screen is 90% dependent on the optimization of the applications themselves by the developers, not on the power of the Xiaomi smartphone.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions