Xiaomi Screen Split: How to Turn on Multi-Window in 30 Seconds

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a split screen — and how to fix it

You tried to open two apps at once on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but the system stubbornly ignores your gestures?The problem is not your fingers - 80% of the time the multi-window is disabled in the default MIUI settings. Even on flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the function is hidden behind several menu layers, although technically supported by all Android 9+ smartphones.

In this article, 3 working ways to enable screen splitting (including hidden mode for older versions of MIUI), model compatibility table, and solving the problem when applications “don’t want” to open in the multi-window. Particular attention was paid to the 2020-2023 models (Redmi Note 10/11, POCO F3/4, Xiaomi 12T), where the function is unstable due to performance optimizations.

Spoiler: If you have MIUI 14 or newer, you just need one gesture, you need manual activation through a developer on MIUI 12.5 and below, and for some apps (like Instagram or TikTok), you have to use a workaround, which is discussed in the Restrictions section.

Method 1: Standard Screen Split (MIUI 13/14)

This is the fastest method that works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 13+ (including global and Chinese firmware).The algorithm is the same for Android 12/13/14, but there is a nuance with gestures - about it below.

To split the screen:

Open the first app (like YouTube).
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger – Recent apps will open.
Click on the app icon at the top of the card and select Split Screen (or Split Screen in English firmware).
Select the second app from the recent list – the screen will split in half.

If there is no section for the screen:

🔧 Check your gesture settings: go to Settings → Display. → Full-screen display → Navigation gestures and select Gestures MIUI (not Android gestures!).
📱 Update. MIUI: On versions below 13.0.4, the function may not be available.
🔄 Reboot your smartphone: sometimes the menu doesn’t appear due to a temporary crash.

Make sure that both apps support multi-windows.

Turn off Do Not Disturb (can block gestures)

Check that the developer settings are not disabled "Multiwindow"

Close all background apps (especially launchers like Nova)-->

There's a bug on the POCO F5 and Redmi K60 with Android 13: after splitting the screen, the bottom navigation bar disappears. To get it back, swipe from the bottom edge up and hold for 2 seconds.

Method 2: Separation through Developer Settings (for MIUI 12.5 and below)

If you have a Xiaomi Mi 10T, Redmi Note 9 Pro or other model with MIUI 12.5 (or older), the standard method may not work, in which case you need to enable the function manually through the developer menu.

Instructions:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Find the Multi-Octs (or Force Resize Activities) option and turn it on.
Reboot your smartphone.

After that, the standard method (from section 1) should work. If not, check if the option is turned off Multi-Window for full-screen applications (it is on some custom firmware).

What to do if the developer menu does not have the item "Multiwindow"?

On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), this option is hidden. In this case: 1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play. 2. Find com.miui.multitask and launch SplitScreenActivity. 3. This will force the split-screen menu to open, even if it is disabled in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A And other budget models with 2GB of RAM, the multi-window can be unstable, applications will spontaneously close. In this case, try to reduce the load: close all background processes before activating the mode.

Method 3: Forced separation via ADB (for power users)

If the first two methods fail (for example, the POCO X3 NFC with custom firmware, you can forcibly turn on the multi-window through ADB-This is suitable for all versions of Android, but requires a connection to a PC.

Step-by-step:

Install Platform Tools on your computer.
Enable USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps) → For developers → USB debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell settings put global force_resizeable_activities 1
Reset the device.

After that, any application can be opened in multi-window mode, even if it doesn't support this feature initially. To turn it back, follow the command:

adb shell settings put global force_resizeable_activities 0

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If so, ADB-Application commands start to work incorrectly (for example, VKontakte is displayed with black fields), try to disable the option Forced resizing MSAA developer-setting.

Xiaomi model	Multi-window support	Required version of MIUI	Features
Xiaomi 13/14 series	✅ Yes.	MIUI 14+	It works without lags, supports 3 windows (at 14 Ultra)
Redmi Note 12/11	✅ Yes.	MIUI 13.0.4+	Note 12 Pro+ can slow down with heavy games
POCO F4/F5	✅ Yes.	MIUI 13+	POCO Launcher needs to hold the app icon 2 seconds
Redmi 9/10 series	⚠️ Partially.	MIUI 12.5+	Activation is required through the developer settings
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite	✅ Yes.	Anybody.	Supports horizontal separation (screen rotation)

Why do some apps not open in multi-windows?

Even if you activate split-screen mode correctly, some apps (such as Instagram, TikTok, Netflix) can:

🚫 Block the opening in the multi-window (this application does not support splitting the screen»).
🔄 to spontaneously close through 5-10 seconds.
🖼️ Display incorrectly (black fields, cropped interface).

Causes and solutions:

🛡️ Developer restrictions: some applications (e.g. banking) block multi-windows for security reasons.
📏 Unadapted interface: the application is not optimized to work in a small window. ADB-team from Method 3.
🔒 DRM-Protection: services like Netflix or Disney+ They block multi-windows because they protect the content. VLC playback.

There is a workaround for Instagram and TikTok:

Open the application in full screen mode.
Activate the multi-window through Recent Applications (as in Method 1).
When the screen splits, quickly click on the app icon in the top panel and select Curl into the window.

This will make the app work in a floating window (not a full multi-window, but close).

Simultaneous viewing of YouTube + chat in Telegram

Work with documents (Word + browser)

Games + guides

Other (write in the comments)-->

How to change window size and manage multi-window

After activating the split screen, you can:

🔄 Change the proportions of windows: pull the central divider (grey strip) up or down.
🔒 Secure one window: Hold the app title and select Secure (available on the app title) MIUI 14+).
↔️ Change windows: Twice tap the divider or drag the top window down.
❌ Close the multi-window: Pull the divider to the edge of the screen or press Home.

On the Xiaomi 13T and newer, horizontal separation is available (for landscape orientation).

Turn the phone horizontally.
Open the recent apps and hold the app icon.
Select Divide the screen from left/right.

If the screen divider is missing (occurs on the POCO X5 Pro), swipe from the top edge down - a multi-window control panel will appear.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may experience lag when windows are resized, due to a performance limitation of the Snapdragon processor. 732G. To avoid brakes, do not reduce windows less than 30% of the screen.

Alternatives to the built-in multi-window: 3 apps for Xiaomi

If you don't like the standard split-screen mode (for example, due to the limitations of MIUI), you can use third-party solutions. We tested 3 apps on the Xiaomi 12 Pro and Redmi Note 11S - all work without root rights.

Annex	Functions	Pluses	Cons
MIUI Multi-Window	Emulation of a standard multi-window, floating windows	No ADB required, integrated into the system	It doesn't work on all firmware.
Taskbar	Taskbar as on PC, free change of window size	Supports horizontal separation	Paid version is required for all functions
Freeform Window	Floating windows of any size, multi-window for all applications	It even works on Android 9.	Requires settings through ADB

To install Freeform Window or Taskbar on the MIUI will be required to ADB-team:

adb shell pm grant [packet applications] android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Where [application package] is the program ID (e.g. com.rb.freefloat).

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The multi-window application side may conflict with the built-in MIUI functions. Before installing, back up the settings in Settings → Memory → Backup.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after setting up the multi-window on Xiaomi correctly, it can malfunction, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them:

🔳 Multi-window switches on, but immediately turns off Reason: conflict with power saving mode Solution: Disable Ultra-Economic Mode in Settings → Battery.
🖱️ Swipe does not work for activation Reason: Android gestures are used, not Android gestures MIUI. Solution: Change the navigation type in Settings → Display. → Full-screen display.
📵 Applications are not displayed in the list for multi-window Reason: system cache is corrupted Solution: Clear cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Clear the cache of all applications.
🔒 The multi-window lock screen does not work Reason: security limitation MIUI. Solution: Unlock your phone before activating the mode.

If after all the manipulations, the multi-window still does not work, check:

Is there a launcher from a third-party manufacturer (like Nova Launcher or Apex) Return the standard MIUI launcher.
Whether the mode for children or guest mode is activated, they block the multi-window.
Is one hand mode enabled (Settings → Special features)?

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can you split the screen into Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS)?

Yes, but the algorithm depends on the firmware: On LineageOS and Pixel Experience, use the standard Android gesture: hold the app icon in Recent and select Split screen. On Xiaomi.EU or MIUI Mix, you may need to activate via Settings → System → Multiwindow. If the feature is missing, install the MultiWindow SideBar module via Magisk.

Why does Xiaomi 12 Lite only work with some apps?

On models with Snapdragon 7xx (Xiaomi 12 Lite, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) MIUI limit multi-window to save resources.To get around this: Enable Forced Size Change MSAA In the developer settings. Use it. ADB-Install Taskbar and run applications through it. Keep in mind that on weak processors, this can cause overheating.

How do you make the multi-window turn on automatically when you run certain applications?

This is not possible with standard MIUI tools, but you can use: Tasker: create a task that activates a multi-window when you open the selected application (AutoInput plugin is required). MacroDroid: set up a macro to run two applications separately on a schedule or event. MacroDroid macro example: Trigger: Launch an application (e.g., Telegram) Action 1: Launch an application (YouTube) Action 2: Wait 2 seconds Action 3: Activate a multi-window (swipe emulation)

Will multi-window work on foldable Xiaomi smartphones (like the Mix Fold 2)?

On Xiaomi Mix Fold 2/3, the multi-window works differently: On the external screen, standard mode (as on conventional smartphones); On the internal screen, an advanced mode with support for up to 3 windows at a time (activated through Settings → Display → Screen Mode). For forced on the internal screen: Deploy your smartphone. Hold the app icon in Recent. Select Open in the window and drag it to the desired part of the screen.

Can I split the screen into Xiaomi without gestures (buttons only)?

Yes, if you have a button navigation bar on: Open the first app. Press the recent (square) button. Hold the app icon and select Split screen. If the recent button doesn't respond: Check if it's disabled in Settings → Buttons and gestures → The recent button. Reboot your smartphone - sometimes the buttons "plug" after the update.