Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have at least once encountered a situation where applications open in two windows at once or stick in split-screen mode. This can occur due to accidental pressing of a key combination, the features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, or due to software failures. Screen splitting is a useful feature for multitasking, but when it is turned on spontaneously, it seriously interferes with normal operation with the device.
In this article, we will go into detail about all the ways to force Split-screen to close and return the standard interface, what gestures and settings are responsible for this function, how to fix system bugs and what to do if none of the standard methods help. It takes only a couple of minutes to restore normal display if you follow the instructions.
Before you get into action, you need to understand why the system might have switched to this mode. Often users accidentally activate the function, trying to just fold the application or close it. Understanding the mechanics of how windows work will help you avoid similar situations in the future and effectively manage the display space.
The main reasons for the appearance of a split screen
The split-screen feature on Xiaomi devices is implemented quite deep in the system, which sometimes leads to unwanted activation. Most often the problem lies in specific control gestures. For example, prolonged holding of the Menu button (three stripes) or swipe with three fingers can be configured as triggers to trigger Split-screen. If you are used to using certain gestures for navigation, the system may perceive them as a separation command.
Another reason can be software conflicts between running applications, some programs are not optimized for window mode, which causes the interface to stick, and in such cases, even after one of the windows is closed, the second one can remain stretched half the screen, creating the illusion of a malfunction.
⚠️ Note: If the split screen appeared after installing a new application or system update, there is a high probability of conflict of versions of the software. In this case, simply closing the windows may not help, you will need a deeper cache cleaning.
On a low-cost Redmi series with little RAM, the system can force separation to optimize resources, although this is rare, and understanding the reason will help you choose the right method of solving the problem.
- 📱 Accidental pressing of a key combination or gestures.
- 🔄 Shell software failure MIUI/HyperOS.
- ⚙️ Conflict of unoptimized application with system interface.
Quick closing through standard gestures
The easiest and most obvious way to get things back to normal is to use standard window controls, and in most cases, just close one of the apps so that the second one automatically turns to the full screen, and you have to find a dividing line between the two windows, and it usually has a button or a strip on it.
Click on this bar and select the option "Close" or "Deploy." Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. If you use navigation with buttons, try pinching the "Menu" button or swiping from the bottom of the screen up to call the menu of running applications, and close the extra window from there.
☑️ Checking the window's closure
Sometimes the system requires confirmation of actions. If one window doesn't turn back after closing, try to fold it and reopen it. This action resets the display parameters for a particular application. Rebooting the program often solves the problem of visual artifacts.
In some versions of the firmware, it is possible to completely disable the partition function for a particular application, to do this, you need to go to the application settings through the recent task menu and uncheck the corresponding tick, which will prevent accidental start of the mode in the future.
Disabling the function in the system settings
If manual window closure doesn’t help or the function is activated constantly, it makes sense to turn to system settings. In Xiaomi shells, multitasking management is put into a separate section. To get there, open Settings and find Additional Features or Special Features.
Inside this menu, you'll find the partitioning section that's responsible for splitting the screen, which can be called "floating windows," "screen splitting," or "multi-window." Here you'll see a list of applications that are eligible to run in this mode, and disabling permissions for all or specific programs ensures that they no longer open in two windows.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen splitting | Additional functions | Off. | Blocks the launch of the regime |
| Floating windows | Special opportunities | By choice. | Allows windows over others |
| Sidebar. | Floating windows | Off. | Remove the Quick Access Menu |
| Control gestures | Additionally. | Standard. | Prevents accidental swipes |
When you change the settings, it is recommended to restart the device, so that the new settings take effect and clear the memory of old processes, and reboot is a universal treatment for many small Android software ailments.
💡
If you can't find "Share partition," search by settings, type "section" or "split" in the search box, and the system will show you the path.
Management through the menu of recent tasks
The recent task menu is the running app control center on your smartphone, and that's where the split-screen mode is most often randomly activated, and when you press the thumbnail of an application or swipe in a certain direction, the system offers use cases, including splitting.
To exit mode, open the recent task menu (a bottom-up latency swipe or menu button). Find an app that doesn't display correctly. There may be icons on top or bottom of the app card. Click on an icon that looks like two rectangles, or select the Full-screen option if available in the context menu.
If the application is stuck and doesn't close with standard methods, try to force it to stop. In the recent task menu, press the app card and select Stop or Close everything, which is guaranteed to complete the process and remove it from memory, resetting all visual bugs.
⚠️ Warning: Forced shutdown of system applications (such as "Themes" or "Security") can cause the interface to work in an unstable way.
Also in the recent task menu, you can customize the behavior of swipes, if you accidentally start partitioning, change sensitivity, or turn off gestures in the Settings → Screen → Navigation section. Switching to classic three-button management often solves the problem of random activation.
Solving interface freeze problems
There are times when the interface is so hung that neither the buttons nor the sensor respond to the closing commands of the windows, the screen can blink, the image twitches, but you can't get out of the separation mode, and then you need to resort to more radical measures.
The first step is a forced reboot, which is done by pressing the power button for a long time (10-15 seconds) on most Xiaomi and Redmi models, vibrating and turning off, ignoring all the hanging processes, and then starting in a clean state.
If the problem is repeated regularly, the cache of the system launcher or specific application may be overflowing. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the problem program, select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't be confused with cleaning up data, as this will remove your logins and settings inside the application.
- 🔋 Perform a complete restart of the device with the power button.
- 🗑️ Clear the problem app's cache in the settings.
- 📉 Reduce the number of simultaneous running background processes.
What if the screen is black but the phone is working?
Resetting and debugging through ADB
For advanced users who are not helped by standard methods, it is possible to manage windows through USB debugging.This requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and installing ADB drivers.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI build number. Then in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging USB." Connect the phone to your PC and type a command to close all windows or reset the display settings.
adb shell wm size reset
adb shell am stopservice com.android.systemuiThese commands will reset the window resolution and restart the system interface, which is guaranteed to remove any artifacts of separation, but use this method with caution, as the wrong commands can disrupt other functions.
As a last resort, if the problem is deep system failure, you may need to reset completely to factory settings.Be sure to back up your data to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer before doing so.Reset will bring the phone back out of the box by removing all setting conflicts.
💡
Use of the ADB-commands are a powerful tool for solving interface software errors, but require caution and a computer.