How to permanently disable the floating window on Xiaomi smartphones: the full guide

Xiaomi’s floating window is one of the most annoying MIUI features that appears without warning and interferes with work, and it can be a mini window with ads, an update notification, an offer to activate Mi Account services, or even a system warning about low battery power. In some cases, the window blocks interaction with the interface, and in others it simply hangs on top of all applications, distracting attention.

Compounding the problem, the manufacturer doesn’t always provide an obvious way to disable this feature. Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15) and the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the solutions may differ. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from standard settings to the use of ADB and third-party utilities.

It is important to understand that floating windows come in three types:

1. System notifications (low charge, updates)
2. Banners (promotions from Xiaomi)
3. Application windows (mini versions of instant messengers or games)

Each type requires a different approach. If you have tried to disable them through Settings → Notifications, but without success, do not despair: below you will find solutions for the most persistent cases.

1. Disable floating windows through standard MIUI settings

Let’s start with the simplest method, which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12-15 firmware, which will help remove notification windows and some banner ads, but does not affect mini-windows of applications (for example, a floating WhatsApp or Telegram).

Steps to shut down:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Select Floating Notifications (or Pop-ups depending on version).
3. Turn off the slider Allow floating notifications.
4. Scroll down and manually disable floating windows for each app (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Browser, Security).

If your MIUI version doesn’t have Floating Notifications, try an alternative path: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (menu) → Special Permissions → Floating Windows.

You can completely prohibit any programs from showing windows on top of other applications.

Exception: On some models (e.g., POCO F4 or Redmi K50), floating system notification windows (e.g., low charge) are turned off separately: Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Notifications → Disable “Show notification at low charge”.

2. How to remove Xiaomi banner ads (including floating ones)

Floating windows are a separate story: Xiaomi integrates promotional materials into system applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video, Security), and they can appear even on a locked screen.

Methods of removing advertising:

• 🔧 Disable personalized advertising: Settings → Confidentiality → Advertising → Disable "Personalized recommendations" and "Show interest-based advertising".
• 📱 Ban Advertising in System Applications: Open Settings → Apps find Mi Browser, Mi Video, Security → Notifications → Turn off all permissions to display notifications.
• 🌐 Use alternative apps: Install Google Chrome or Firefox instead of Mi Browser, and YouTube or YouTube for video viewing VLC.
• 🛡️ Ad Blocker: Apps like Blokada or AdGuard can block ad requests at the level of the adverts. DNS.

Important: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 for the European market) will automatically disable ads when the device is linked to a Mi Account in the EU region. If you use global firmware but live outside of Europe, this method will not work.

If the ads continue to appear, check to see if there are apps from third-party vendors (like Clean Master or UC Browser) that can also show floating banners.

3. Disabling application mini windows (PIP-regime)

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) allows some applications (e.g. YouTube, Google Maps, WhatsApp) to run in a mini window on top of other programs. Sometimes it's convenient, but often the window stays on the screen even when it's not needed. Here's how to remove it:

Method 1: Disable PiP for a specific application

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app that shows a mini window (like YouTube).
3. Click Additional (or Permissions depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Find the Show over other windows or Picture-in-Picture and turn it off.

Method 2: Completely disable the PiP at the system level

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Picture-in-Picture option and turn it off.

⚠️

Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 10), disabling the PiP through Developer Mode may cause video players to crash. If YouTube or Netflix stops playing video correctly after the changes, return the settings to the game.

If the mini window is already on the screen and does not close, try:

• Swipe it down beyond the upper bound (on some versions of MIUI, this works).
• Press and hold the window, then choose Close or Curl.
• Rebooting your phone is sometimes the only way to remove a “hung” window.

4.Using ADB to Deeply Shut Down Floating Windows

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is a way for power users, and it requires connecting your phone to your computer, and it allows you to turn off floating windows at the system resolution level, which is impossible to do through a graphical interface.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times Press → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
6. Run the command to disable floating windows for all applications: adb shell pm grant com.miui.securitycenter android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW Next: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

To turn off the floating windows of a particular application (for example, Mi Browser) use:

adb shell appops set com.android.browser SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW deny

(Replace com.android.browser with the desired application package).

⚠️

Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change the permissions for system applications (for example, com.miui.home or com.android.systemui) unless you are sure of the consequences. MIUI settings ADB may throw off.

If the floating windows keep popping up after you execute the commands, try restarting your phone and repeating the procedure.

adb shell appops set [application package] SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

💡

Before using ADB, create a restore point in TWRP (if you have a customized Recovery installed) to help return the system to working condition if something goes wrong.

5. Third-party applications to block floating windows

If you don't want to mess around with ADB or go through settings, you can use third-party utilities that block permissions or intercept system notifications. Here are the most effective solutions:

Top.-3 applications:

How to use App Ops:

• 📱 Install the app from Google Play.
• 🔍 Find an app that shows floating windows (like Mi Browser) in the list).
• 🚫 Turn off the permission. SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW (or display over other windows).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️

Note: Applications like the Xposed Framework require root rights, which voids warranty and can lead to unstable system performance, only use them if other methods have failed and you understand the risks.

If you don't want to install additional programs, try LADB - it's a local version of ADB that works right from the phone.The interface isn't the most friendly, but the functionality is the same as the classic ADB via PC.

6. Resetting settings as a last resort

If the floating windows came after a MIUI update or a questionable application was installed, and all of the above methods didn't work, the last option is factory reset, which is a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to remove all unwanted windows associated with system failures.

How to properly reset the settings:

1. Back up important data (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Erase All Data (not Settings Reset – it will only delete user settings, not system files).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It can bring back floating windows.
• 📱 Do not install apps that have previously shown ads.
• ⚙️ Turn off floating notifications and ads immediately (see Section 1 and Section 2).

⚠️

Note: Some models (Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 13) may require re-activation of the device via Mi Account after reset. Make sure to remember the username and password, otherwise the phone will turn into a brick.

If floating windows return even after reset, it may indicate:

• Firmware problems (for example, the beta version of MIUI with bugs).
• Malware that has penetrated system files.
• Hardware failure (rarely, but occurs on devices with damaged memory).

In such cases, you should contact the Xiaomi service center or reflash your phone manually through Fastboot.

💡

Resetting is a last resort, and in 90% of cases, the floating window problem can be solved through settings or ADB without resorting to radical methods.

7 Prevention: How to Prevent Floating Windows in the Future

To prevent floating windows from reappearing, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI, Avoid beta versions – they often contain notification bugs.
• 📱 Do not install applications from unverified sources (especially “cleaners” and “optimizers").
• 🛡️ Use an ad blocker (AdGuard or Blokada) from the first days of using your phone.
• ⚙️ After each major update, check the permissions in Settings. → Special permits → Floating windows.
• 🔍 Periodically scan your system for viruses using Malwarebytes or built-in Security (but disable ads in it!).

If you frequently encounter floating windows after upgrades, consider installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that lacks system advertising and unnecessary notifications, but requires unlocking the bootloader and may void the warranty.

For users POCO Redmi with global firmware has another life hack: switch the region of the phone to the European Union (EEA). This will turn off most of the advertising, because the EU has strict data protection rules. → Additionally. → Region.

FAQ: Frequent questions about floating windows on Xiaomi