How to Open Two Windows at the Same Time on Xiaomi: A Detailed Guide to Pictures and Videos

Have you ever tried chatting on WhatsApp and watching YouTube videos at the same time, switching between apps on a Xiaomi smartphone? An agonizing exercise, isn't it? Fortunately, the manufacturer has a split-screen (multi-window) feature in the MIUI shell that allows you to run two apps in parallel. But here's the problem: not everyone knows how to activate it — especially on newer versions of the firmware, where the path to settings is constantly changing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to enable two-window mode on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark, from the classic swipe gesture to the hidden developer settings. You’ll learn which models support out-of-the-box and which will require a workaround. We’ll also compare multi-window mode with alternative solutions (such as floating windows) and give recommendations for optimizing performance while running multiple applications.

1.What Xiaomi models support two windows?

The split screen feature appeared in MIUI 8 and has since undergone several changes, and is now available on most Xiaomi devices, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Flagship models (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold, Black Shark: Out of the box support with advanced settings (including floating windows).
• 📲 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 12/13, POCO X5/F5): basic function, but may require activation in settings.
• 📵 Budget smartphones (Redmi) A2, POCO C55): Limited support (only for standard applications).
• ⚠️ Outdated devices (Xiaomi Mi 8, Redmi 5): feature may be missing or not work.

Important: On smartphones with a Snapdragon 4xx series processor (such as the Redmi 9A), multi-windows are often turned off by the manufacturer due to performance limitations. Before setting up, check your device model in Settings → About Phone → Model.

If your device is not on the supported list, don’t despair – in the section on alternative methods, we will explain how to get around this limitation.

Method 2: Activation of multi-windows through gestures (fastest)

This is the standard method that works on most MIUI 12-15 devices, and you don't have to dig through the settings, it's all done in two taps.

1. Open the first app (like YouTube).
2. Click on the “Recent Apps” button (square in the bottom navigation bar).
3. In the list of open applications, find the icon of the second application (for example, Telegram), pinch it with your finger and drag it to the top or bottom of the screen.
4. Release your finger and the screen will split into two parts.

If the gesture doesn't work, check:

• 🔄 Is the function enabled in settings: Settings → Special facilities → Multi-window.
• 📱 Do you use navigation gestures (not buttons) and some firmware only works with gestures.
• 🔒 Are there any restrictions for a particular application (for example, games or banking applications often block multi-windows).

Video Instructions: If the described method seems complicated, check out the official video from Xiaomi (available on YouTube).Please note that the interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI.

3. Method 2: Including through system settings

If the gesture didn’t work, try activating the function manually, a method that is suitable for devices where the multi-window is disabled by default (for example, on some POCO or Redmi with custom firmware).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Select the option "Multiwindow" (on some firmware it may be called "Share screen" or "Mode of two windows").
3. Activate the slider "Enable multi-window".
4. In the "Activation Method" section, select "Gist" or "Button" (depending on your preferences).

If the item "Multiwindow" in the menu is not:

• 🔍 Your firmware does not support the function (relevant to the MIUI Global on budget models).
• 🛠️ The function is hidden and requires activation through the developer settings (see next section).

Method 3: Activation through developer settings (for experienced)

On some devices (especially custom firmware or MIUI China), the multi-window function is hidden, and unlocking it requires you to turn on developer mode and make changes to system settings.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone. Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI" (A notice will appear saying, “You have become a developer!").

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Multiwindow.

"Force resize activities"

Reset the device.

Warning:

⚠️ Attention: Changing the developer settings can cause the system to run unstable. Do not activate settings that you do not know the purpose of. For example, turning on "Do not limit background processes" can cause overheating and rapid battery discharge.

If the function does not work after restarting, check:

• 🔄 Version MIUI: on MIUI 12.5 Enhanced and later additional restrictions may apply.
• 📦 Application compatibility: Some programs (such as TikTok or Netflix) block split screens.

5. Alternative methods: floating windows and third-party applications

If the standard two-window mode doesn’t suit you (for example, due to screen size limitations), consider alternatives:

How to turn on floating windows:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Multi-window.
2. Activate the "Floating Windows" option.
3. Now, when you open the app, press its icon in the recent taskbar and select Open in a floating window.

Floating windows consume 15-20% more battery than a standard split screen due to the extra load on the processor.

💡

If you need to switch between two apps frequently (like correspondence and maps), try the “Paired Apps” feature in MIUI. It allows you to pin two programs to the lock screen for quick access.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful multi-window activation, users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• ❌ The function does not work in games: Most games (e.g., games, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact locks split screen. No solution, it's game developers' restriction.
• ❌ Apps close when split: Check if the "App Fix" option is enabled in the multi-window settings. Also make sure you have enough RAM (on devices with 2-3 GB of RAM, the function may not work stable).
• ❌ No sound in one of the windows: Go to Settings → Sound and turn off the "Separate Sound" option (if it is active).
• ❌ Screen flickers when dragging: It's a bug MIUI 14 on some devices. It helps roll back to MIUI 13 or upgrade to the latest firmware version.

Tip for gamers: If you need to play and watch a YouTube guide at the same time, use Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. It works in most video players and is not blocked by games.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-With screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), long-term use of multi-windows can cause the matrix to burn out due to static interface elements.

7. Optimization of performance when working in multi-window

The simultaneous operation of two applications increases the load on the processor and RAM. To avoid lags and overheating, follow these recommendations:

• 🔋 Close background applications: Before activating the multi-window, clear the list of recent tasks (Recent button" → "Close it all down").
• ⚡ Enable Performance Mode: Go to Settings → Battery → Performance mode and select "High performance".
• 🌡️ Control the temperature: Use the app CPU Monitor for monitoring heating. If the temperature is above 50°C, take a break.
• 📉 Limit animation: In the developer settings (Settings) → For developers, reduce the scale of animation to 0.5x — It'll reduce the load. GPU.

For flagship owners (Xiaomi 14, Black Shark 5): Your devices are equipped with a liquid cooling system, but even this has limits. When using a multi-window intensively (for example, streaming + video editing), it is recommended to connect an external cooler or use your smartphone in a horizontal position for better heat sink.

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On devices with 6 GB of RAM and above, multiwindow works stably, but on budget models (3-4 GB) it is better to limit yourself to light applications (messengers, browser).

8.Comparison of multi-windows on Xiaomi and other brands

How does the split-screen functionality on Xiaomi compare to solutions from Samsung, Google or Apple?

Bottom Line: Xiaomi offers one of the most flexible multitasking tools among Android devices, second only to Samsung in the number of windows open simultaneously. However, in practice, the difference is minimal - most users use no more than two apps at a time.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions