How to Set a Screen Split on Xiaomi: Instructions

Multitasking in a modern smartphone is no longer just a convenient option, becoming a necessity for efficient work and entertainment. Owners of devices based on the MIUI shell and HyperOS often face the desire to simultaneously watch video and chat in the messenger or compare the characteristics of goods in two different browser tabs. However, the standard procedure for activating this feature is not always obvious, especially given the constant changes in the interface of the manufacturer.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the known ways to activate Split Screen mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. You will learn not only about standard methods, but also about hidden settings that allow you to run in a split screen even those applications that do not officially support this feature by the developer.

Before we get to the action, it’s worth noting that the layout of the controls may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the specific shell modification. However, the logic of the system remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the Chinese giant. We will look at both the software methods and hardware button combinations that are guaranteed to lead to the desired result on most current models.

Preparing the device for multitasking

Before you try to activate split screen, you need to make sure that your device is technically ready for this load. Split Screen mode requires additional RAM resources, since the system has to keep two full-fledged processes active at the same time. On older models with less than 3 GB of memory, this can lead to a noticeable decrease in performance or automatic closure of background applications.

It is important to check the version of the operating system installed, as in very old versions of MIUI (below 10), the functionality may be limited or absent from global firmware. It is also recommended to close unused applications from memory to free up resources for stable operation of two windows. This is especially true for heavy games or applications with high-resolution graphics.

There is a category of applications that default to blocking split-screen work, often involving banking customers, some DRM content-protected video services, and navigators. Android security prevents sensitive data from being displayed on top of other windows to prevent third-party programs from screenshotting or intercepting information. Understanding this limitation will save you time looking for a non-existent setting.

⚠️ Attention: When using split-screen mode, battery consumption increases significantly. Two active processes load the CPU and screen more than one application, so keep an eye on the level of charge during long run.

Activation through the menu of running applications

The most common and standard way to enable Xiaomi split screen is to use the recent task menu, which works on the vast majority of devices, whether they use gesture or on-screen buttons. The algorithm is simple but requires a certain sequence, the violation of which can lead to the application opening to the full screen instead of splitting.

First, run the first app you want to see at the top of the screen. Once it opens without closing it, go to the task menu. To do this, swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger (when you control gestures) or press the Menu button (square or three bars) on the navigation bar. In the list that opens, find the card of the application that you launched.

On the application card, press and hold your finger, or click on the app name icon at the top of the card (depending on the MIUI version). In the context menu that appears, select Screen Partition (an icon with two rectangles). The screen blinks, and the selected application will occupy the upper half of the display, and the menu of the second application selection will appear at the bottom.

• 📱 Select the second app from the recent list or find it in the general list to place at the bottom of the screen.
• ↔️ The boundary between windows can be moved by dragging the dividing line, changing the proportions of the content display.
• ❌ To exit split screen mode, drag the dividing line completely up or down, or close one of the windows with a cross.

Using the sidebar for quick access

For users who often use multitasking mode, Xiaomi developers have implemented a handy tool – the application sidebar. This is a floating menu that is always available on top of any running application and allows you to instantly run a second application in Split Screen mode without having to fold into the task menu.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Special Features → Sidebar. Turn on the activation switch and select the list of applications that will be displayed in the panel. Once set up, when working in any application, you can call the sidebar swipe from the edge of the screen and click on the icon of the desired application to open it on top of the current or in split mode.

The advantage of the sidebar is that you can access it quickly, so you don't have to interrupt watching a video or reading an article to find a second app, but just swipe it, pick a messenger or a calculator, and the system will offer you the placement options, which is especially convenient for students and document professionals.

Path to settings: Settings → Features of the possibility → Sidebar → Show sidebar

However, it is worth considering that the sidebar can cover part of the usable screen space, especially on models with a diagonal of less than 6 inches. In such cases, it is recommended to add only the most necessary tools, such as the Calculator, Notes or Recorder, to avoid cluttering the interface.

Configure additional windows for unsupported applications

One of the most common problems is the inability to run popular applications such as Instagram, YouTube (in some regions), or specific games in split-screen mode, and the system marks them as incompatible with Split Screen mode. However, there is a hidden mechanism in MIUI that allows you to bypass this restriction and force the application to run in the window.

This requires activating the app debugging mode, not through the developer menu, but through special code or feature settings. In newer versions of the shell, this feature is often hidden in the About menu. You need to click on the build number several times to activate the developer mode, then in the developer menu, find the option "Forced scaling" or similar, associated with Freeform mode.

A safer and simpler method, available without digging deep into the system settings, is to use the Floating Windows feature. Launch an app that doesn't want to share the screen, select Floating Window from the recent task menu, and then you can move it freely, resize it, and actually use it with another application, although technically it won't be a classic Split Screen, but a Picture-in-Picture mode with advanced features.

Floating windows are often a more flexible alternative, because they allow you to open not two, but three or more windows at once, you can text, watch videos and control the exchange rate by switching between thumbnails, the main thing is not to abuse the number of open processes, so as not to cause the device to overheat.

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If the app closes when you try to split the screen, try first running it in a floating window and then swiveling it halfway through the screen by pulling the top corner, which often bypasses system constraints.

Windows control and hidden gestures

Shared screens can't be used effectively without basic controls, MIUI and HyperOS have a convenient window interface that allows you to quickly change your priority or close unnecessary tabs, and mastering these steps makes your smartphone a powerful working tool.

The central divider bar is the main control element. A short tap on it often triggers a menu of additional options, where you can swap applications, close one of them or deploy the active window to the full screen. Prolonged pressing and dragging allows you to change the proportions, giving priority to the upper or lower application depending on the need.

There's also a useful quick-switch feature, which is that if you fold one of the apps in a split-screen, it can stay in the background as a thumbnail. In some firmware versions, a double-tape dividing line automatically changes the apps in places or deploys an active window. Experiment with gestures in secure apps to remember the system's response.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps display content correctly when the screen is changed, for example, the vertical news feed on social networks may become too narrow for comfortable reading, and the control buttons in games may move beyond the visible area.

To return to normal operation, drag the dividing line to the very edge of the screen and suggest closing one application and leaving the other on the full screen is normal and does not result in data loss, however, unsaved text in the input fields can be lost if the application is not autosaved.

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The central stripe divider is the main control tool. A short tap gives the menu, drag and drop changes size, and a swipe to the edge closes the mode.

Solving Typical Problems and Errors

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may experience situations where split screens don’t work, disappear, or behave in an unstable way, most often due to a conflict of application versions or overflowing RAM, and in such cases, don’t panic, as most problems are solved by simple actions.

If the split button is grey or missing, check if the app settings include random press protection or specific interface settings, and make sure that the device does not activate One Hand mode, which changes the interface scaling and may conflict with windows.

If one of the applications in the split screen freezes or turns black, try turning the device over. Changing the orientation of the screen (from portrait to landscape and back) often causes the system to redraw the interface and reset the hanging process. If this does not help, force the application to close through the task menu.

• 🔄 Rebooting the device: a universal solution for resetting system caches of the interface.
• 📉 Memory Cleanup: Close all background apps before launching Split Screen.
• 🛠 Update: Make sure all apps in Google Play or GetApps are updated to the latest versions.

One of the things that I'm talking about is the black screen problem when you run a second application, which is often the case with heavy games or augmented reality applications, and in this case, the system blocks rendering of the second window to save GPU resources, and the only solution is to use these apps only in full screen mode.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions