Modern smartphones have so powerful processors and large displays that using them for one task at the same time becomes irrational. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often wonder how to divide the screen into 2 parts, for example, to chat in the messenger while watching a video or copy text from one article to another. Split Screen (split screen) in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS is implemented quite conveniently, but has its hidden activation features.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the existing ways to run multitasking on smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer, and you will learn not only about standard methods through the menu of recent apps, but also about special gestures, as well as how to make it work in this mode even those applications that do not officially support split screen.
Separating the display into Xiaomi is not just a visual effect, but a full-fledged productivity tool. The device’s RAM is distributed between running windows, so it is important to understand the principles of the background processes. Proper configuration will allow you to efficiently use the resources of the gadget without losing performance.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device is technically ready to work in multitasking mode. Most current Redmi Note models and flagship Xiaomi Mi support this feature out of the box. However, on low-end models with a small amount of RAM (less than 3 GB), the system can forcefully limit the number of applications running simultaneously to maintain stability.
It is also critical to check the firmware version installed. In older versions of MIUI, the algorithms for working with windows may differ from current HyperOS. If you have not updated the software for a long time, it is recommended to go to the settings and check for new versions of the system, since optimizing memory in new builds often improves split screen performance.
It’s worth considering that some system restrictions may be imposed by the app manufacturer itself, such as banking clients or apps with secure content, which can block work in a smaller window.
The classic way through the menu of recent apps
The most common and reliable method of split-screen activation is available through the standard running task menu, which works on the vast majority of Xiaomi and Redmi devices regardless of the shell version.
Then swipe bottom-up (or click Menu navigation if you have classic buttons enabled) to go to a list of recent apps. In this list, find the card of the running application. In the upper right corner of the card (or if you press it long, depending on the version of MIUI), an icon that resembles two rectangles or three dots will appear.
☑️ The Split Screen Launch Algorithm
Once you click on the split icon, the screen blinks, and the top half is occupied by the selected application. At the bottom, the second application selection menu automatically opens. Select the desired program from the list, and it will occupy the remaining space. You can now swap applications in places using the central dividing line.
It is important to note that in some versions of the firmware, the split icon may be hidden. If you do not see it immediately, try pinching the application card with your finger for 1-2 seconds. The option Split screen or Split screen should appear in the context menu that appears.
Use of special gestures for separation
For users who appreciate speed, the MIUI shell provides the ability to run the mode through system gestures, this method requires pre-activation in hidden or advanced interface settings, gestures allow you not to interrupt the current process and instantly open the second window.
The most common swipe is three fingers down the screen. However, by default, this feature can be disabled or reassigned to create a screenshot. To activate the desired mode, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Keyboard shortcuts (the path may vary slightly in different versions of HyperOS).
⚠️ Note: Activation of the "Three Fingers" gesture for splitting the screen may conflict with the screenshot creation function. The system will prompt you to select a priority action or require you to change the way you create screenshots.
Once you set up the gesture, the process is this: you open the first app, swipe three fingers down, and the screen is split in half, and then you pick the second app from the list, which saves time and avoids unnecessary transitions to the task menu.
There is also a variation of gesture for devices with navigation buttons: long-term pressing of the Menu button (square) can sometimes trigger a split screen menu if this option is enabled in the button settings. Check Settings → Additional settings → Full screen mode.
Size setting of windows and process management
Once the screen is split in two, the user can have flexible space management, there's a gray stripe separator between the two active windows, and dragging it up or down can change the proportions of the area that they occupy, which is especially useful if one application requires more space to display content, such as a browser or a map.
In the center of the dividing line, there is often a small button or area that you click on to trigger an additional window control menu.
- 🔄 App replacement: Allows you to quickly change the app at the top or bottom of the screen without accessing the general menu.
- ❌ Closing the window: Closes one of the apps, leaving the second one on the full screen.
- 📐 Size fixation: In some versions MIUI You can fix the proportions so that the accidental touch does not change the size of the windows.
Keep in mind that you need to use resources: Two heavy applications, such as a game and a navigator, can heat the case and accelerate battery discharge, and the system can automatically shut down one of the background applications if the amount of free RAM reaches a critical minimum.
What happens to the sound when the screen is split?
Launching Unsupported Applications via ADB
Some app developers are banning their software from split-screen mode, considering it to be an incorrect use of the interface, and as a result, such applications may appear gray or not in the split menu, but there is a way to get around this restriction for Xiaomi owners with developer rights (or just debugging enabled).
This will require a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, first enable USB debugging in the Developer menu on your smartphone, then connect your phone to your PC and type a command that compulsorily allows you to scale all applications to run in multi-window mode.
adb shell wm size force-reset
adb shell settings put global force_resizable_activities 1After executing the command and restarting the device (Redmi or Xiaomi), the system will try to run absolutely any applications in a split screen, even those that were not initially optimized for this.
| Parameter | Standard regimen | Mode through ADB |
|---|---|---|
| Available applications | Only optimized | All installed |
| Stability of work | Tall. | Medium (possible bugs) |
| Impact on the battery | Optimized. | Increased expenditures will be possible |
| Difficulty setting up | Low (gestures/menu) | High (PC needed) |
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Use of the ADB-The commands allow you to run even banking applications and games in a split screen, which usually block this feature.
Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
Despite the system's cleverness, users may encounter situations where splitting screens are not working or not working properly, a common problem is the spontaneous closing of one of the windows, which usually indicates a lack of RAM, in which case it is recommended to close unnecessary background processes or reduce the quality of graphics in heavy applications.
Another common complaint is that you can't drag the dividing line, which can happen if one of the apps doesn't support resizing the window, in which case you can try replacing the problematic app with a similar one, or use the floating window mode instead of splitting the screen completely.
⚠️ Note: If the screen on Xiaomi has turned black or got stuck after activating the split mode, do not rush to make a complete reset. Often, simply turning off the screen with the lock button and re-energizing after a few seconds helps.
Also worth mentioning is compatibility with Second Space. In some rare cases, activating guest mode or a second space can reset multitasking settings. If you use these features, check for split screen after switching between profiles.
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For maximum smoothness of work in split screen mode, turn off the animation of the windows in the "Developers" menu by setting a value of 0.5x or 0x. This will visually speed up the system response.