How to Open a Floating Window in Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Multitasking on a smartphone has become a necessity for the modern user. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often wonder how to effectively use a large screen to work with multiple applications simultaneously. A floating window allows you to run a messenger, calculator or video on top of the main application without interrupting current activities.

The implementation of this feature in the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS system has its own features, which depend on the firmware version and device model. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to activate floating mode, adjust gestures and solve common problems. You will learn to manage windows like a professional, increasing your productivity at times.

It's worth noting that the interface may be slightly different across global and Chinese versions of software. However, the basic principles of split-screen and floating widgets remain the same across the ecosystem. Let's start by exploring the tools of multitasking in detail.

What is a floating window and why is it necessary?

A floating window is a special application display mode in which content is opened in a separate, sizeable container on top of the main interface. Unlike a full-screen mode where only one application is active, a floating view allows you to interact with two or more programs at the same time, this is especially true for devices with a screen diagonal of more than 6 inches.

The main advantage of this feature is that it can quickly handle secondary tasks without losing the context of the main work. For example, you can watch videos on YouTube or stream on Twitch while simultaneously texting to Telegram or checking email. The Android system on which MIUI is based provides powerful tools for implementing this scenario.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support floating window mode. Some games and heavy programs may be forced to close or open full screen due to developer restrictions.

Using floating windows makes it much faster to run routine tasks, so you don't have to constantly roll out and deploy applications, wasting time on transitions between them, and the workflow optimization becomes apparent after the first minutes of using this feature in everyday life.

There are several types of windows: a mini window for quick reconciliation, a split screen for full-time work with two applications, and a sidebar for quick access. Understanding the differences between these modes will help you choose the most suitable tool for a particular situation.

Basic ways to activate through the menu of recent applications

The easiest and most obvious way to open an application in floating mode is to use the running program menu, which works on most versions of MIUI and does not require a deep knowledge of system settings. First, open the application you want to run in floating mode.

Then swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger to go to the Recent Apps menu. At the top of the open app card, you'll see some icons. Among them, there may be an icon that resembles two rectangles or a dotted box, and clicking on it will open up additional window management options.

• 📱 Click on the floating window icon in the task menu for instant transition.
• ↔️ Use the split screen button if you want to place two apps side by side.
• ❌ Close the extra tabs so as not to get confused in the list of running processes.
• ⚙️ Check the menu settings if window management icons are missing.

Once activated, the app will fold into a small rectangle that you can move around the screen, and you can change the size of the window by pulling corners or edges, allowing you to tailor the interface to your needs, which is especially useful when typing or browsing tables.

If the standard icon is missing, you may have changed the operating algorithm in your version of the shell, so try to pinch the app card in the menu of recent tasks. The context menu should offer options for splitting the screen or floating. Alternatively, you can use the sidebar, which will be discussed below.

Using the sidebar for quick access

The Sidebar (or Toolbar) is one of the most convenient tools in Xiaomi’s arsenal, allowing you to run any installed applications in the form of a floating window in one touch, without interrupting the current task, which is ideal for a quick response to a message or checking the exchange rate.

To activate this function, you need to go to the system settings. Find Settings → Special features → Application sidebar. Here you need to turn on the activation switch and select the applications that will be displayed in the quick access list.

Once set up, the panel is swiped from the edge of the screen where the bar is located, a list of selected applications will appear, a click on the icon will open the program in a floating window, and if the application is already running, it will simply unfold on top of the current content.

It is important to adjust the transparency and position of the panel correctly so that it does not interfere with everyday use, but is always at hand. The sidebar is especially useful in horizontal mode, when standard control buttons can be hidden. This makes navigation more intuitive and faster.

⚠️ Note: In some full-immersion games and apps, the sidebar can automatically hide. To force it, try swiping a little further from the edge of the screen or changing the transparency settings.

Windows management and screen splitting

The floating windows in HyperOS and MIUI are controlled through gestures that require minimal habituation, and the main action is dragging and drag, and you can move the window over the top (header) and move it anywhere on the display, so you can position the information as easily as possible for the eyes.

The resizing is done by grabbing the edges or corners of the window. Depending on the version of the system, when you stretch the window to the edges of the screen, it can automatically go into full-screen or split-screen mode. Splitting the screen divides the display in half, allowing you to work with two applications on an equal footing.

• 🖐 Pull the bottom edge of the floating window to unfold it to the full screen.
• 📉 Swipe down to the point to fold the application into thumbnail or close it.
• ✋ Touch and hold the edge of the window for precise sizing adjustments.
• 🔄 Shake the device (if enabled) to reset the window position.

To close a floating window, you just have to click the cross in the corner or swipe down until the red zone appears (depending on the theme of the design). If you use split-screen mode, there is a special stripe separator between the two windows, and by moving it, you can change the proportions of the space you occupy.

Some users prefer to use navigation gestures to control windows, such as a bottom-up retention swipe that can show all open floating windows as thumbnails, allowing you to quickly switch between tasks or close unnecessary processes, freeing up RAM.

Set up parameters in MIUI and HyperOS

Deep multitasking is available in a special section of the system. Go to Settings → Desktop or Settings → Additional settings, where, depending on the firmware version, there may be a floating window. Here you can set the behavior of the system when you start applications.

Newer versions of HyperOS have introduced a smart window allocation feature, which suggests that you open the app in floating mode if the algorithms think it’s appropriate (for example, when you open a link from a messenger), you can turn it off if it seems intrusive, or set up an exception list.

The performance settings deserve special attention. Multiple windows require more CPU and RAM resources at the same time. In the Expansion of Memory section, you can add virtual memory from storage, which will help avoid lags when you multitask actively.

⚠️ Warning: Turning on too many background processes and floating windows can cause accelerated battery discharge.

You can also find a window fixing option in the settings, which allows you to fix the floating window on top of all the other interfaces so that it doesn't close accidentally, which is useful when you're watching video instructions or watching the match progress while working on other programs.

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Tip: For devices with less than 6GB of RAM, it is recommended not to keep more than two heavy floating windows open at the same time to avoid rebooting applications.

Solving Common Problems and FAQs

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may encounter situations where the floating window doesn't open or behaves incorrectly. Often the problem lies in the limitations of the application itself or lack of system resources. First of all, try restarting the device.

If the feature stopped working after the firmware update, check the access rights settings. The application may be denied output over other windows. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → [Application needed] → Other permissions and make sure that the Display option on top of other applications is activated.

In rare cases, cleaning the security cache or resetting the interface settings helps. You should not immediately resort to a complete data reset, since the problem is often solved by software. If the problem is observed in only one particular application, it is likely that it is simply not optimized for window mode.

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Competent setup of floating windows turns the Xiaomi smartphone into a powerful tool for work, allowing you to perform several tasks simultaneously without losing comfort.