How to Open Floating Windows on Xiaomi: Full Instruction

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have powerful screens and powerful processors that are literally designed to multitask. However, many device owners do not even suspect that they can run two apps on the same screen or use floating windows to instantly access instant messengers. This is not just convenience, but a real way to increase productivity without switching between a dozen tabs all the time.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can activate this mode, from standard MIUI settings to hidden Developer Options features. You’ll learn to resize windows, fix them on the screen, and use special gestures for quick control, which will turn your smartphone into a pocket-sized work tool.

The HyperOS and earlier versions of MIUI offer flexible window tools, but they are often hidden in non-obvious menu locations. We'll go through every step so you can customize the interface to suit your gadget usage habits.

What are floating windows and why do they need them?

A floating window is a separate interface layer that appears on top of the main active application. Unlike split-screen mode, where two apps divide the display in half, a floating window can be any size and located anywhere on the screen, which is especially true for owners of Xiaomi smartphones with large diagonals.

Using window mode allows you to watch videos on YouTube and chat to Telegram simultaneously without interrupting the playback of content. You can have a dialogue, taking screenshots in the gallery or checking maps. MIUI is optimized for working with multiple active processes, so even budget models cope with this load without significant delays.

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Use floating windows for calculator or notes while working with documents – this will save you a lot of time switching applications.

It's important to understand the difference between a split screen and a floating window. A split screen rigidly captures applications at the top and bottom of the display. A floating window moves freely, can be rolled into an icon or closed with a single touch. Xiaomi's multitasking is extremely efficient for large data.

• 📱 The ability to run up to 4 applications at the same time (depending on the model).
• ⚙️ Flexible adjustment of size and transparency of each window.
• 🚀 Instant access to frequently used functions without leaving the current task.

Preparing a smartphone to work with windows

Before you start experimenting with the interface, you need to make sure your system is ready to multitask. First of all, check the firmware version. The floating window feature works well on MIUI 12 and later, and also on HyperOS. If you have a very old version of Android, some features may not be available or not work properly.

It's also worth freeing up RAM. While the system is good at allocating resources, running a few heavy applications in windows may require more RAM. Close background processes that you don't need right now to ensure smooth animation and quick response.

In the display settings, it is recommended to check the zoom. If the fonts are set to "Large", the floating window controls can overlap the content, and the optimal is considered a standard or slightly reduced scale for comfortable work with interface elements.

How to enable split screen on Xiaomi

The most basic level of multitasking is split screen. To activate it, open the first app, then swipe from the bottom up (or "Menu") to the list of running apps. Find the app icon on top of its preview and click on it. In the menu that appears, select the "Share screen" (or the icon of two rectangles).

Then the screen splits in half. At the bottom, select the second app you want to run. Both apps are now active. However, to turn one into a floating window, you need to do an additional action. At the separation boundary or in the special window control menu (three dots or a strip in the middle), select the option "Floating window" or simply pull the dividing line if the interface allows transformation.

⚠️ Attention: Not all apps support split screen mode.Social media and instant messengers work great, but some banking apps or games may be forced to close or require a full screen.

There is a faster way for advanced users to go to Settings → Additional settings → Multitasking (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI) and you can activate hidden gestures, such as long-pressing the status bar or swiping with three fingers to instantly start the mode.

Starting a floating window from the side panel

The most convenient and modern way to work with windows on Xiaomi is using the Sidebar, a menu that goes to the side of the screen and contains shortcuts of frequently used applications that are ready to run as a floating widget.

To set up the panel, go to Settings → Special features → Sidebar. Activate the "Always Show Sidebar" switch. Under "Applications," you can add any programs you use most often. Once turned on, the panel will be available by swipe from the edge of the screen in any application or desktop.

To start the window, just tap the app icon in the sidebar, it will open on top of the current content, you can drag it, resize it by pulling corners, or roll it into a small floating icon, which is ideal for video conferencing or listening to music.

• 🎨 Possibility of adjusting the transparency of the background of the side panel.
• 📂 Grouping applications into categories for quick access.
• 🖱️ Support for dragging text and images between windows.

Configure and manage windows in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi's shell window management interface is constantly being improved. Current versions of HyperOS have the ability to create complex scenarios. When the app is floating, look at the bottom window control panel, and there are buttons for fixing, folding and closing.

The soaring window feature is particularly noteworthy. If you run an application in this mode, it will behave like a separate widget. You can open several of these windows at the same time, but the system may limit their number depending on the amount of RAM your device has. 2-3 active floating windows usually work comfortably.

To fine-tune your sizing, use corner markers. If you pull a corner, you can stretch the window to the full screen, or you can shrink it to the size of a small weather widget. Some apps support an adaptive interface that changes the layout of the elements as you change the size of the window.

Importantly, MIUI 14 and later has a window state memory feature, so if you roll up a floating window and turn it around later, it will retain its position and size, which is critical for those who use a smartphone for remote work or trading.

Solution and Hidden Functions

Sometimes users find that floating windows do not open or are unstable. Most often the problem lies in the energy saving settings. The system can aggressively close the background processes, considering them as extra workload. To avoid this, find the desired application in the list of installed, click "Start" and select "No restrictions".

Another common problem is application incompatibility. Some developers are software-prohibiting their software from running in windows. In this case, it helps to turn on developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone → Click 7 times on the MIUI version. Then in Advanced Settings → For developers, find Force activities to be resizable.

⚠️ Note: Enabling hidden developer features may cause some applications to work unstable or display the interface incorrectly.

Also worth mentioning is the “Soaring Icons” feature, which in some firmware versions allows you to configure the appearance of small messenger icons on top of other fast notification applications, and this is implemented through the notification settings of a particular application in the Notifications → Display Style section.

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If standard methods fail to open the window, the option "Forced Activity" in the developer menu solves the problem in 90% of cases.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions