Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have long evolved into powerful mobile computers that can perform many tasks at once. Users often face the need to chat in the messenger while watching videos or editing documents. The standard full-screen mode in such situations becomes inefficient, forcing them to constantly switch between applications and lose the context of the task. It is to solve this problem that Xiaomi engineers have introduced advanced multitasking features.
The split-screen and floating windows feature allows you to run multiple programs on a single display, significantly improving productivity. However, not everyone knows how to activate these capabilities correctly, since the paths to settings may differ in different versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways that will help you turn your smartphone screen into a convenient workbar with multiple active windows.
It is important to understand that the ability to work in multiwindow mode depends on the technical characteristics of the device. Smartphones with low memory may not support the simultaneous operation of heavy applications or do it with significant delays. Before you start setting up, make sure that your device meets the minimum requirements for comfortable use of these functions.
The main advantage of using window mode is the ability to control several processes at once. You can watch a training video while taking notes, or compare products in an online store, keeping a chat with a consultant open. This flexibility of interface management makes using a Xiaomi smartphone as close as possible to working on a personal computer.
System Preparation and Device Requirements
Before you try to run applications in floating or split mode, you need to make sure that the software is up to date. Older versions of the MIUI shell may not have built-in tools for easy window management or work with them unstable. Check for updates in the Settings → About Phone section and install the latest available firmware version.
Also worth noting is the amount of free RAM that multiple windows require significant system resources to keep applications active, and if the phone is overloaded with background processes, the system can force one window to close when switching to another, which will negate the benefits of multitasking.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with less than 4GB of RAM, the use of heavy applications in a split screen can lead to strong heating of the case and rapid battery discharge.
Activating advanced window management features often requires the inclusion of special options in the developer menu, a hidden partition that provides access to advanced interface settings, and without activating these settings, many functions can be invisible to the user or run in limited mode.
Activation of Developer Mode for Extended Functions
To get full control of the behavior of windows, you need to unlock access to hidden system settings. This process is safe unless you change the settings that you are not sure about, but it is mandatory to enable some types of forced window mode. Go to the Settings menu. → About the phone and find the line "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS».
Click on this line quickly 7-10 times in a row, the system will tell you that you have become a developer, after which a new option will appear in the main settings menu "Additional" or "Extended settings", where you hide the menu you want. Inside the "Developers" section, you need to find the option responsible for scaling applications.
☑️ Setting up the developer mode
In the list of parameters, look for a item called Forced Size or Force desktop mode (the name may vary depending on the location), which causes the system to try to run any application in window format, even if the developer did not provide such a possibility, which is especially useful for older or poorly optimized applications.
Once this feature is enabled, you may need to restart the device to apply the changes.Be prepared for the fact that some applications may not display correctly, since their interface was not adapted to work in a small window, in which case it is better to disable the function for a specific application or globally.
Use of the split screen function
The most popular way to organize space on the screen is split-screen mode, where the display is divided into two equal or proportional parts. To activate it, open the first application, then swipe from the bottom up (or menu button, depending on the type of navigation) call the menu of running tasks. At the top of the application card, you will see an icon resembling two rectangles.
Clicking on this icon will roll the application to the top or bottom of the screen, and then the system will prompt you to choose a second program to run. After selecting the second application, the screen will be divided by a horizontal line, which can be adjusted, which allows you to allocate more space for video content or, conversely, for a text editor.
| Action. | The result | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Swipe on the dividing line | Changing the proportions of windows | Minimum window size is limited |
| Pressing the section line | Closing of one of the windows | Requires a precise hit. |
| Launch of the third annex | Replacement of one of the open | Only two windows at once. |
| Screen rotation | Changing the orientation of windows | Not all apps support all apps |
It is important to note that not all applications support split-screen operation. Some programs, especially banking applications or games with a unique interface, may be forced to unfold to the full screen or refuse to run in a second window, in which case the system usually issues a notification that it is impossible to separate.
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For quick access to the split screen feature, add the split screen widget to your desktop or control panel, which will allow you to run pairs of applications with a single touch.
Configuring and using floating windows
Floating windows are a more flexible tool that allows you to place applications on top of other programs in small movable blocks. To put the application in this mode, open the menu of recent tasks, press and hold your finger on the application icon or swipe the card in the direction (depending on the version of MIUI).
You can move the window around the screen, change its size, fold it into a sidebar or unfold it to the whole screen, and this is ideal for a calculator, voice recorder or messenger that should always be at hand, and these windows are controlled through special markers at the edges or through the top panel of the window itself.
Newer versions of HyperOS have a sidebar that makes it much easier to work with floating windows, so you can set up a list of apps that are always available as a floating window and call them at any time just by swiping the panel from the edge of the screen, and it doesn't interrupt the main application, but just overlays an extra layer of interface on top of it.
⚠️ Warning: Too many floating windows open at the same time can lead to a drop in system performance. 2-3 floating-windows.
Working with the sidebar and saving scenarios
The Toolbox is the central element of multitasking management in the Xiaomi ecosystem, allowing not only floating windows to run, but also saving bundles of applications. For example, you can create a Work script that automatically opens the email client, calendar and notes in the right windows.
To set up the panel, go to Settings → Special Features → Sidebar. Here you can select the apps that will be displayed in the list, as well as adjust the behavior of the panel. Some apps allow you to run multiple copies of them in different windows at once, which is useful for maintaining multiple social media accounts.
The secret of the sidebar
Using saved combinations saves time and eliminates the need to manually open and position windows every time, and remembers not only the list of running programs, but also their location on the screen and the size of windows, which makes the smartphone a powerful tool for performing repetitive tasks.
Solutions and compatibility
Despite the advanced functionality, users may face problems when working in window mode, often simply refuse to run not on the full screen, in such cases, the use of third-party launchers or special utilities for managing windows available in the GetApps store or Google Play helps.
Another common problem is that the interface is not scalable enough, text can become too small and buttons can be pressed, and to solve this problem, the developer menu has a Smallest width option, which allows the interface elements to be scaled globally, making them more convenient to work in small windows.
If an app crashes when you try to open it in the second window, try clearing its cache or upgrading to the latest version.Developers are constantly improving their products' compatibility with multitasking modes, so updating often solves the problem.
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The compatibility of applications with window mode depends primarily on the developer of the application, and not only on the shell of the smartphone.