How to split the screen in 2 parts Xiaomi Redmi 9

Multitasking on mobile devices has long ceased to be just a convenient feature and has become a necessity for modern users. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often wonder how to effectively use a large display space to work with multiple applications at the same time. Screen split, or Split Screen, allows you to watch videos and chat in the messenger, copy text from the browser into notes or compare products in online stores without constantly switching between windows.

The MIUI operating system that runs on Redmi 9 is very deep, but it has its own activation features. Unlike some other shells, it offers not only classic splitting mode, but also floating windows, which enhances control. Understanding how split screens work can help you significantly speed up your day-to-day tasks and make your smartphone more productive.

It’s worth noting that not all apps support splitting, as it depends on software optimization by developers. However, for most popular programs like YouTube, Telegram, Chrome and the gallery, this feature works consistently. Below we’ll discuss in detail all the ways that you can activate, customize the interface and solve typical problems that users face.

Basic ways to activate screen splitting

There are several proven methods to start splitting screen mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9. The most common and intuitive way is to use the menu of recent applications. To do this, you need to open the desired application, then swipe from the bottom up (or click the appropriate navigation button) to the menu of running programs. At the top of the application card, you will see the name of the program, under which there are three icons: a lock, a cross and an icon that resembles two rectangles.

The third icon is responsible for splitting the screen, and when you click on it, the current app will occupy the top half of the display, and at the bottom you will see a list of recently used programs to select the second window, and if you don't see the program in the list, you can use the search bar or open it through the desktop, and then it will automatically stand in the second half of the screen, which is standard for MIUI 12 and later.

The second way involves using special gestures if the navigation settings include gesture control without buttons. In this case, to activate the function, you need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold your finger in the center, going to the menu of recent applications, then repeat the action with a click on the separation icon. Some users prefer to use a sidebar that can be swiped from the edge of the screen, but it must first be configured in the corresponding menu.

A third, less obvious method is available through the control panel. By lowering the notification curtain down to the end, you can find the "Share Partition" shortcut. Clicking on it activates the first app selection mode. There is also the option of using the Google Assistant or Xiao AI voice assistant (if it is configured and supports Russian in your region), saying "Share the screen." However, voice control often requires a stable Internet connection and can work slower than manual input.

Interface configuration and window management

Once the screen is split into two, the user has a flexible space management tool at their disposal, the boundary between the top and bottom window is not fixed. You can drag the black dividing line up or down, changing the proportions of the content display. This is especially useful when you want one application to occupy a large part of the screen, for example, when watching a video, and the second served only for brief references or text input.

At the top of each of the split windows is a special control panel, hidden by default. If you touch the center of the separation line or pull it, additional options may appear. In some versions of MIUI, there is an application replacement feature without leaving the split mode, you need to click on the menu bar at the top of the particular window and select another program from the list, which allows you to quickly change bundles of applications on the fly.

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To quickly replace the application in split mode, click on the program name at the top of the window and select a new one from the drop-down list without closing the mode.

The important thing is that you can roll one of the windows into a floating window, and if you select the option in the window control menu, the app will turn into a small floating block that you can move around the screen, which creates a picture-like effect, but with the ability to interact, but it's worth remembering that fully splitting the screen into two static parts consumes more CPU resources than normal work, which can affect autonomy.

To exit the split mode, drag the separation line all the way to the top or bottom of the screen, you can also press the Home button or make a gesture if the system suggests closing the background applications. In the Redmi 9 interface settings, you can also turn off vibration when switching between windows if standard tactile responses seem unnecessary.

Using a sidebar for quick multitasking

One of the most convenient features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the sidebar, which provides quick access to frequently used apps and tools. On Redmi 9, it can be activated at any time by swiping from the edge of the screen (left or right, depending on the settings), Inside the panel are application shortcuts that can be run in split-screen mode with a simple drag and drop.

To use this feature, you need to first configure the contents of the panel. Go to the settings, find the "Sidebar" section, and add the programs you want to use. When you're in any application, call the panel, click on the shortcut of the program you want, and hold it down by dragging it to the free area of the screen. The system automatically recognizes the action and splits the display in half. This is faster than every time you climb into the menu of recent apps.

The sidebar also allows you to run applications as floating windows, if you don't drag and drop them into splits, but just click. This creates a third layer of multitasking: the main application, the full-screen application (second) and a floating window on top of them. This configuration allows you to keep chat, browser and video open at the same time. However, it is worth considering that on the Helio G80 processor installed in Redmi 9, three active heavy applications can cause the interface to slow down.

Inside the sidebar, tools like screenshot, screen recording or voice recorder are also available, which can be used without interrupting work in the main windows. This makes the panel a versatile tool for those who are used to actively using a smartphone for work or study. Regularly updating the list of applications in the panel will help keep only the really necessary software on hand.

Floating windows as an alternative to separation

Although the classic split screen divides the display in half (or in a predetermined 50/50, 70/30 ratio), the floating window mode offers a more chaotic but flexible approach. In the MIUI based on Android 10 (which stands on the Redmi 9), floating windows work fairly stable. You can run the application in this mode through the sidebar or through the menu of recent applications by selecting the option "Floating window" instead of "Separate screen".

You can move the floating window around the screen, resize it, grab the corners, and fold it into a little icon in the corner of the display, which is like working with windows on a desktop computer, for example, you can read a full-screen article in your browser, and in a small floating window, respond to messages on Viber or WhatsApp. When you need to focus, the floating window is easy to turn to the edge.

It's important to understand that not all apps are properly displayed in floating mode. Some games or video players may require full-screen and force the entire display to be rolled up when trying to roll them up. In such cases, you have to go back to the classic screen split, which ensures that both apps are visible at the same time and do not overlap.

To control multiple floating windows, MIUI features a special swipe-like mode called up from the bottom navigation bar (with gestures enabled) that allows you to see all open floating windows and switch between them or close excess ones, which helps you not overload the device’s RAM, which in budget models like the Redmi 9 can be limited to 3 or 4 GB.

Application compatibility and technical limitations

No app from Google Play or Mi Store should be expected to run in split-screen mode. Many developers prohibit scaling their products, believing that the vertical format of the smartphone is not designed to display two interfaces at the same time. Banking applications are often on the list of incompatible applications for security reasons, as well as some heavy games.

If the application does not support partitioning, the system may issue a notification that "the application may not work correctly", or simply prevent the application from activating the mode by folding the application back to its normal state. In some cases, the application will start, but will be displayed with black fields on the sides or have offset interface elements. This is due to the fact that the screen resolution in split mode changes dynamically, and the application does not have time to adapt the layout.

| Application type | Support for separation | Features of work |

|:--- |:---: |:--- |

| Social networks (VK, Telegram) | Yes | Work stably, support text entry |

| Video (YouTube, Netflix) | Yes | Often require horizontal rotation |

| Banking applications | No | Security lock |

| Games (PUBG, CoD Mobile) | Partially | May require a full screen or hang |

| Browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser) | Yes | Ideal for data copying |

There is a way to force splitting of the screen for incompatible applications, but it requires activation of the developer mode. In the "About phone" menu, you need to click on the version of MIUI several times, then in the advanced settings find the item "Forced change of size of applications." However, using this feature on Redmi 9 can lead to unstable system operation or crashes of applications, so you should resort to it only in extreme cases.

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Optimal split-screen performance is achieved by using no more than two heavy-duty applications at the same time; opening a third floating window can cause lags.

Solving and optimizing productivity

Xiaomi Redmi 9 users may experience a situation where the split screen function stops working or works with errors. Often the problem lies in crowded RAM. If a lot of processes are running in the background, the system can automatically close one of the divided applications to free up resources, in which case it helps to clear the memory through the built-in optimizer or reboot the device.

Another common problem is that the touchscreen at the bottom of the screen is in split mode, which may be due to software failure of the MIUI shell. The solution may be to calibrate the screen or update the system to the latest available version, and check whether the "Energy Savings" mode is on, which can limit the background activity of applications and interfere with their simultaneous operation.

If splitting is activated but the second window remains black or white, try closing both apps completely and running them again in normal mode, and then activating the split again. Sometimes it helps to clear the cache of a particular application that is causing problems. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the problem software and select Clear Cache.

For maximum performance when using multitasking, it is recommended to disable animations in developer mode. Reducing the scale of window animation and transitions will make switching between split screens sharper and faster, which will visually speed up the interface, and this is especially true for devices with budget hardware, where every millisecond of response matters.