Owning a modern smartphone like the Xiaomi Redmi 9A often requires multiple tasks at once. Users are used to texting, watching videos and reading the news without closing active apps. Unfortunately, standard Android navigation does not always allow you to comfortably switch between windows, which reduces productivity and makes you waste extra time.
The split-screen feature, known as Split Screen, solves this problem by allowing two applications to run side-by-side. On MIUI-enabled devices, this feature has its own features that may not be obvious to beginners. In this article, we will detail all the ways to activate multitasking, customize the interface and solve typical problems that arise on the Redmi 9A model.
Once you've mastered this skill, you can make a lot of sense of how you work with your gadget, so you don't have to constantly fold your browser to respond to a message, or interrupt your viewing of a video to search for information, so let's look at the technical aspects of implementing this feature on your device.
System preparation and compatibility check
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your smartphone software is up to date.The split screen feature in MIUI is constantly being improved, and older versions of the firmware may contain bugs or may not have full access to the necessary tools. Check for updates in the settings section to ensure that the system is running smoothly.
Also, not all apps support split-screen mode. Software developers decide whether to adapt their interface to work in a smaller window. Xiaomi system applications and popular social networks are usually fully compatible, while some games or specialized software can be forced to unfold to the full screen.
For comfortable work, it is important that the device’s RAM is not overloaded. Redmi 9A is a budget model, and when two “heavy” applications are running simultaneously, the system can start to work slower. Close the background processes before starting the split mode to ensure smooth animations and quick interface response.
- 📱 Make sure the version MIUI Relevant and supports multitasking function.
- 🚫 Check the list of apps that don’t support screen splitting in the settings.
- ⚡ Free up RAM for stable operation of two active windows.
- 🔋 Make sure that the battery is at least 15-20% avoiding sudden shutdown.
⚠️ Note: With active split screen mode, battery consumption can increase by 20-30%, Because the processor and the display are in high-speed mode, don't leave your phone in this mode unattended for long periods of time.
Standard activation method through the menu of recent applications
The most common and convenient way to run two apps simultaneously on the Xiaomi Redmi 9A is to use the recent task menu, which requires no additional settings and works out of the box on most firmware versions. It is intuitive and takes minimal time to learn.
To start, open the first app you want to use, such as a browser or YouTube. Then swipe from the bottom up (or click the appropriate navigation button) to call the menu of running applications. Find the card of the desired program and notice the additional icons that appear when you click on it or when you tap it long.
In the context menu that appears, select the icon that indicates the split screen (usually two vertical or horizontal bars). The screen will split in half, and at the bottom of the list of other applications will appear. Select the second program from the list or search it through the search to complete the setup of windows.
Navigation: Task menu → Long click on the application → Icon "Separate screen" → Selecting the second applicationOnce activated, you can adjust the size of each window, touch the central dividing line and drag it up or down, changing the proportions of the content display, which is especially useful if you want to see a lot of text in one window and only control buttons in the other.
☑️ The split-screen launch algorithm
Use of side panel and special gestures
The MIUI shell offers an alternative and often faster way to control windows, through a sidebar, which allows applications to run in a floating window, which can then be easily transformed into a split screen, which is convenient because it does not require interruption of current activities.
To activate the sidebar, go to the settings and find the section responsible for additional functions. Here you need to turn on the option "Sidebar" and select the applications that will be added to it, then when you work in any application, you can call the panel swipe from the edge of the screen.
By running the second app through the sidebar, you get a floating window.Click on the top of this window or use a special extension icon to expand it to half the screen.The system will automatically prompt you to go into split mode if the current app supports this feature.
- 🛠 Set up a list of apps in the sidebar for quick access.
- 🖱 Use a swipe from the edge of the screen to call the toolbar.
- 🔄 Switch between floating window and splitting screen with one touch.
- 📐 Customize the transparency and size of the floating window for maximum convenience.
Secrets of the MIUI side panel
Separation settings and window management
Customization flexibility is a key feature of working with Android windows. On Redmi 9A, you can not only resize areas, but also completely change their location. If vertical separation is inconvenient for reading texts, try turning the device or changing the orientation of specific applications, if this is supported.
Control of the input focus also has its nuances: the keyboard can overlap one of the windows if it occupies less than 50% of the screen, in such cases, it is recommended to temporarily deploy the active application to the full screen for typing, and then return it to split mode, which will ensure comfortable typing without distorting the interface.
To exit split-screen mode, you just drag the central dividing line to the very edge of the display, one of the applications will close, and the second will occupy the entire screen, and you can also use the Home button or swipe to return to the desktop, where the windows will remain in a rolled-up state until the next open.
| Action. | The result | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Drag the line | Change the size of windows | Optimum 50/50 or 60/40 |
| Swipe line down | Closing of the upper window | To focus on one application |
| Swipe line up. | Closing the lower window | To focus on one application |
| Double tap on the line | Resetting proportions | Return the standard division |
⚠️ Attention: If the screen is abruptly changed (a smartphone's turn), one of the applications may automatically close or curl up.
💡
Save application pairs. Some versions of MIUI allow you to save frequently used pairs of applications to quickly launch in split mode with one touch from the menu of recent tasks.
Compatibility issues and forced start
Despite the vast possibilities, some developers block their applications from running in a split screen, most often video players, high-security banking applications or games, in which case the system simply won’t split the screen or will make the application work at full size.
There is a method of forcing feature on incompatible applications, but it requires you to go to the developer menu. Be careful when changing these settings, as this can lead to unstable system operation or incorrect display of the interface. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.
To activate hidden features, you need to click on the build number in the About Phone section several times to unlock the developer menu. Then in the advanced settings, find the option responsible for supporting forced split screen and activate it. After rebooting, try running the problematic application again in Split Screen mode.
Path: Settings → About phone → 7 times tap on "Version MIUI" → Advanced settings → For developers → Forced permissionIt is worth remembering that even with the forced option enabled, the application can behave unpredictable: buttons can shift, text can become unreadable, and functionality partially. Redmi 9A can heat up when you try to run two resource-intensive processes that are not optimized for such work.
- 🔍 Not all apps support code-level screen splitting.
- ⚙️ Forced Enablement is Available via Developer Menu.
- ⚠️ Possible visual bugs and malfunctions in the application.
- 📉 Product performance may decrease when you start heavy games.
💡
Forced screen splitting is an experimental feature, and use it only for testing, as the standard MIUI tools provide the best stability.
Optimizing performance when working with two windows
The Redmi 9A is powered by a MediaTek Helio G25 processor and, depending on the modification, 2 or 3 GB of RAM, which may not be enough to comfortably run two “heavy” applications at once, and the system can begin aggressively unloading background processes, leading to constant reboots of tabs or applications.
To minimize delays, it is recommended to close all unnecessary applications before starting the split mode, it is also worth turning off live wallpaper and reducing the screen refresh rate in the settings, if such an option is available, to reduce the load on the GPU and battery.
If you notice that the phone is starting to get very hot, immediately close one of the applications. Prolonged processor operation at the limit of possibilities can lead to trottling (reduced frequency of the processor for cooling), which will make work with both windows impossible due to lags.
⚠️ Warning: With a low battery charge (less than 15%), the system can automatically turn off split screen mode or limit background activity to save energy.