How to split the screen into 2 parts on Xiaomi Redmi 8: official and hidden ways

Why to share the screen on Redmi 8 and what you need to know

Multitasking on smartphones has long ceased to be a luxury – a necessity for those who are used to working with multiple applications at once. Xiaomi Redmi 8, despite its budget position, supports split screen (Split Screen), but not all users know how to activate it. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods for different versions of MIUI (from 10 to 14), including hidden chips and circumventing restrictions.

It's important to understand that split screen on Redmi 8 doesn't work for all apps, like YouTube in the official client blocks multi-window mode, and some games (like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact) can automatically fold, and we'll show you how to get around these restrictions and what alternative solutions exist.

If you've never used Split Screen, start with the official method, which is the most stable. For power users, there are ways to use ADB and third-party utilities (but beware - they require superuser rights).

Method 1: Standard screen splitting through multitasking

This is a basic method that works on all versions of MIUI without any additional settings, and is suitable for most applications, except those that explicitly block multi-window mode (for example, bank clients or some games).

Instructions:

1. Open the first app you want to pin to the top of the screen.
2. Click on the “Recent Apps” button (square at the bottom of the screen or swipe up with a delay).
3. In the list of recent applications, find the card of the desired application and pinch it with your finger for 1-2 seconds.
4. In the menu that appears, select “Separate Screen” (or icon) ⧉).
5. The bottom of the screen will show you a list of compatible apps – select the second.

You can now use two apps at once, and to swap them, pull the gray dividing line up or down, and to close the mode, pull the line to the edge of the screen, or click the cross.

Make sure both apps support Split Screen

Close unnecessary background processes (click Clean Everything in Multitasking)

Turn off the energy saving mode (it can close one of the applications)

Check that the settings disabled Full screen mode for games

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Method 2: Split screen through gestures (for MIUI 12 and later)

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added split-screen gesture support, which is faster than the classic one, but requires the feature to be included in the settings.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Screen split gestures.
2. Activate the "Gestural Turn" switch.
3. Select a gesture: swipe from the bottom edge of the screen up with a delay or swipe from the right/left edge.

How to use:

• 📱 Open the first application.
• 👆 Swipe from the bottom edge of the screen up and hold your finger for 1 second.
• 🔄 The screen will split and you can select the second app from the list.

If the gesture doesn’t work, check if it conflicts with other settings (like Navigation buttons or Full-screen gestures). Also make sure you have the latest version of MIUI installed – in older builds, gestures may not work smoothly.

Standard (through multitasking)|Gestures (MIUI 12+)|ADB-team|Party of annex|I don't use multi-windows.-->

Method 3: Split screen through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work or you want to split the screen in apps that block it (like Instagram or TikTok), you can use the same. ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling debugging. USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 8: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

File transfer

ADB Tools

Command line.

Terminal

adb.exe

adb shell settings put global force_resizeable_activities 1

Reboot the phone.

After that, any application can be opened in multi-window mode, even if it does not initially support Split Screen.

Important: After the MIUI update, the ADB settings are reset. You have to re-enter the command.

What apps do not support screen splitting

Not all programs can be opened in multi-window mode, but here is a list of the categories that most often block Split Screen:

If you critically need to split the screen in a locked app, try:

• 🌐 Use the web version in the browser (for example, Chrome in PC mode»).
• 📱 Install a modified version of the app (e.g. YouTube Vanced).
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and use an emulator (e.g. BlueStacks).

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If the app folds when you try to split the screen, try opening it in Pop-up mode first, and then expanding it to half the screen. This will work for some messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp).

Problems and Errors When Dividing the Screen on Redmi 8

Even if you do everything right, you can fail, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

⚠️ Note: If one of the apps starts to slow down or crash after splitting the screen, check the Energy Saving settings. Some apps (like Facebook or Messenger) are aggressively optimized by the system, which leads to them being closed in the background. Add them to the Exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

Problem 1: The split screen button is inactive.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Update. MIUI last-minute.
• 🛠️ Reset the settings Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset application settings.

Problem 2: The screen is split, but the second app won't open.

• 🗑️ Clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Select an application → Clear the cache).
• 🔧 Check if the Child Mode or Second Space is enabled.
• 📲 Try another app – maybe a compatibility issue.

Problem 3: The dividing line does not move.

• 👆 Try to pull the line with two fingers.
• 🔄 Restart both applications.
• 🛠️ Turn off window animation in Developer Settings.

If neither of these methods worked, it might be the firmware problem, which is where flashing to a more recent version of MIUI or custom firmware (like LineageOS) helps.

Alternative ways to multitask on Redmi 8

If splitting the screen doesn’t work or work, consider alternative options:

1. Pop-up mode (floating windows)

MIUI supports opening applications in small windows on top of others.

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Pop-up mode.
2. Activate the function.
3. Now, when you open the application from multitasking, you can select “Open in the window”.

2. Quick switching between applications

If you just need to switch between two programs quickly, use:

• 🔄 Double-click on the “Recent” button – switches between the last two apps.
• 👆 Swipe on the screen button "Home" (if you use gestures).

3. Third-party launchers with multi-window support

Some launchers (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) offer advanced multitasking features. Install them from Google Play and set up split-screen gestures.

4. Connection to an external display

If you need to work with multiple windows, connect Redmi 8 to the monitor via USB-C → HDMI adapter. In DeX mode (if supported) or through Scrcpy, you can use a full multitasking interface.

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Pop-up is the best alternative to Split Screen for instant messengers and notes, and allows you to hold a chat or notebook on top of any other application without taking up half the screen.

FAQ: Frequent questions about splitting the screen on Xiaomi Redmi 8