Floating windows management on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 come with a powerful MIUI shell that offers a variety of features for multitasking.One of the most notable but sometimes annoying features is the floating window mode. Users often experience a situation where a video or app hangs over the desktop, interfering with navigation and device management.

Disabling these elements may not be obvious, because different versions of the firmware have different algorithms for action. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to remove the interfering elements of the interface and regain full control of the system.

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand what's bothering you on the screen, whether it's a picture-in-picture (PiP) feature from YouTube or Netflix, or a specific window mode launched through the menu of recent apps, and understanding the source of the problem is the first step to solving it.

Differences between floating windows and PiPs

Redmi Note 8 owners often confuse two different interface mechanisms: Floating windows in MIUI terminology are running applications that are folded into a small rectangle on top of other programs, and they continue to run in the background, consuming CPU and RAM resources.

On the other hand, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) is a technology that allows you to play video in a small window on top of other applications, which is built into Android and works independently of the settings of the MIUI shell itself.

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to close the system window by force (through Task Manager) can cause the application that created it to malfunction.

So you need to know what kind of window is active right now, and if you see a video that you can drag and drop across the screen, but you can't deploy it to the full screen without losing focus, that's a PiP. If you're looking at a thumbnail of a messenger or a browser with control buttons, that's a classic MIUI floating window.

How to Close an Active Floating Window

The fastest way to get rid of the interference element is to use standard control gestures. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 with its screen and navigation, this is done intuitively, but requires accuracy. When the window is active, it usually has a translucent bezels or control buttons around the edges.

To close, you need to press and hold the top of the window, then drag it to the specified area of the screen. Depending on the version of MIUI, this can be the top of the display (where the red cross appears or the word "Close") or the bottom. Do not release your finger until you see visual confirmation of the action.

If a simple drag and drop doesn't work, try double tapping the window itself. In some configurations, this action unfolds the app to the full screen, then it can be closed with a standard home button or swipe, which is especially true for older versions of firmware where gestures might have worked differently.

The application can stay in the background, and to clean it completely, you have to go to the menu of running applications and remove the task from there by swiping it up or clicking the cross.

Setting up the function "Picture in the picture"

If you're concerned about a video that continues to play on top of other programs, you need to change the settings of a particular program. On Android 10 and above, which runs Redmi Note 8, these rights are regulated for each application separately, which allows you to flexibly adjust the behavior of video players.

To access these settings, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find a problem app (like YouTube, Chrome or VLC) on the list. Inside the app menu, look for “Additional” or “Picture in Picture” right away.

Here you'll see the Allow Picture-in-Picture switch, which if you turn it off, the video will stop popping into a separate window when you fold the app, and instead, playback will either stop or continue in the background without the image, depending on the logic of the app itself.

⚠️ Note: Disabling the PiP function in Android system settings may affect navigation maps (Google Maps), which use this mode to display the route in a rolled-up form.

Some apps, like YouTube, may have their own internal settings that override the system. So if the system resolution is given and the window doesn't show up, check the settings inside the video player itself. There's often a "Always Turn on Window Mode" check box.

Managing through the Multitasking Menu

The MIUI shell offers advanced window tools available through the running app menu. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, this menu is called by swiping from the bottom up and holding (when navigating gestures) or pressing a square button, where you can not only close, but also change the mode of application operation.

At the top of the running app card, there are often additional icons, one of which is responsible for fixing the window, the other is for transferring to floating window mode, and if you accidentally activate this mode, you can also deactivate it here by simply clicking on the corresponding icon again.

There is also a hidden menu called App Pairs or Floating Windows in the Features settings. However, on global firmware versions for Redmi Note 8, this functionality is often stripped down or replaced with standard Android tools. Users of the Chinese version (CN) are more fortunate to have a separate section to manage these features.

If the application is not behaving properly and constantly floats, try clearing its cache. To do this, select Memory → Clear cache from the same app information menu, this will reset temporary files that may have caused the display mode to fail.

Disabling system floating buttons

Sometimes, what people mean by "floating windows" is an Assistive Touch that hangs on the screen and interferes with viewing, not an app window, but a system control that looks like an iOS button that can appear after updates or random clicks in settings.

To remove this item, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Floating button. Here you need to switch to “Off” position. If you can’t find this item, search by settings by typing the phrase “Floating”.

In some cases, this feature can be activated under the "Special Opportunities" section. The path will look like this: Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Options → Floating button. Make sure that all the switches in this menu are turned off if you do not use this feature for easier navigation.

Turning off the floating button doesn’t affect the touchscreen, but it frees up the usable screen area. This is especially important on the Redmi Note 8, where a 6.3-inch diagonal at Full HD+ resolution requires saving every pixel for a comfortable viewing of content.

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If the floating button is missing but continues to appear when certain games or applications are running, check the Game Turbo settings.

Solving problems with hanging windows

There are situations where the floating window doesn't close with standard methods, doesn't respond to touch, and overlaps important interface elements, a behavior that is characteristic of MIUI graphics subsystem failures or application version conflicts, and a more radical approach is required.

The first step is to force the app to restart. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the culprit (often System Components or a specific browser) and click Stop. If the button is inactive, try pressing Clear Data first, but remember that this will reset the app settings.

If the window belongs to the system process and is not deleted, it will help to restart the device in safe mode. To do this, press the turn off button, and when the menu appears, press and hold the "Stop" option (on some versions of MIUI) or press the volume button when you turn on the phone. In safe mode, third-party applications do not start, and you can remove the source of the problem.

⚠️ Note: If a floating window appears immediately after the phone is turned on, even before the password is entered, this may indicate the presence of an advertising virus.

In extreme cases, if the problem is massive after the system update, you may need to reset to factory settings.Be sure to back up your data through Mi Cloud or Google Account before you do so so so you don’t lose contacts and photos.

Optimization of the interface for comfortable work

Once you get rid of the unnecessary windows, you should configure the interface so that the problem does not happen again. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 has sufficient performance, but crowded RAM can provoke the system to create floating preview applications.

It is recommended to periodically clean the memory using the built-in Security tool. It is also worth turning off animations if the phone has started to run slower. This is done in the Developer Menu (you need to click on the build number 7 times in About Phone), where the animation zoom parameters are set to 0.5x or Disabled.

Keep an eye out for app updates. Floating window bugs on YouTube or Messenger are often fixed by developers in new versions. Automatic updates to Google Play will help keep the software up to date without you.

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Regular cleaning of the cache of heavy applications (social networks, browsers) prevents 90% of problems with hanging interface elements on Android.

Customizing notifications properly will also help avoid screen chaos: Turn off pop-up notifications for secondary apps, leaving only the important ones, making smartphone use cleaner and more focused.