How to split the screen in 2 parts on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Multitasking on a modern smartphone has become a necessity for efficient work. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to simultaneously watch YouTube videos and chat in a messenger or compare products in two different browsers. The split screen function, or Split Screen, allows you to turn your gadget into a powerful working tool without requiring you to buy a tablet or use expensive accessories.

However, activation of this feature is not always obvious, as the settings of the MIUI interface and the new HyperOS may vary depending on the firmware version and region. Many users do not even suspect that their phone is able to display two applications side by side using only standard system tools. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to activate, configure hot zones and solve typical problems that you can encounter when trying to start split mode.

It should be noted that the correct operation of the function depends on the screen resolution and the optimization of the applications themselves by developers. Not all programs support window mode, so the list of compatible software can vary. Next, we will consider step-by-step algorithms of actions that will help you customize the screen space as convenient as possible for your tasks.

System preparation and compatibility check

Before you start to activate the partition, you need to make sure that your operating system is working correctly and has the necessary permissions. In most cases, the feature is built-in by default, but on some global firmware versions or in early MIUI builds, it may have been hidden or required additional inclusion in the developer menu. Verification of the software is the first step that will eliminate many potential errors.

It's also important to understand that hardware constraints play a role: on low-cost models with low RAM, the system can force background applications to close when the second window starts. This is normal behavior to keep the device running. If you plan to actively use multitasking, it's recommended that you close the unnecessary heavy processes before you start.

To check for availability, go to the settings menu and find the section for additional features of the interface. The path may differ, but it usually looks like this:

Settings → Additional functions → Screen splitting

In some cases, the system will suggest adding a feature shortcut to the control panel, which will make it easier to access in the future, but will require a couple of additional steps to configure the interface.

⚠️ Note: If you didn’t find the “Screen Partition” item in the main settings, maybe your version of the shell MIUI requires inclusion through the menu “Advanced settings” or the function of hidden features.

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Use search in your phone’s settings by typing the phrase “separate” to instantly find the menu item you want, regardless of the firmware version.

Activation through the control panel and hot keys

The most common and quick way to run two-window mode on Xiaomi devices is to use a control panel (curtains), which works on most current models and does not require deep immersion in the system settings, but it must pre-activate the appropriate switch in the menu of options.

Once you turn on the feature in the settings, a new icon will appear in the drop-down curtain that looks like two rectangles separated by a vertical line. Pressing it puts the phone into app selection mode. You select the first program, it occupies the top of the display, and then select the second for the bottom.

There is also a method using hotkeys, which can be even faster for power users. Depending on the version of the shell, it can be a long press on the Menu button (square) or the use of special navigation gestures. For example, a three-finger swipe is often used as an alternative trigger if it is configured in the corresponding menu.

• 📱 Open the first application you want to use.
• 📱 Swipe up from the bottom edge and hold your finger to open the menu of recent apps.
• 📱 Click on the app icon from the top of the card and select “Screen split».
• 📱 Select the second app from the list or open it through the desktop.

This is the basic algorithm for classic navigation, and if you use full-screen gesture control, the logic may vary slightly, but the way you choose from a list of recent tasks remains the same.

Set up a Hot Zone for Advanced Multitasking

For those who want to take splitting to the next level, MIUI and HyperOS have a Hot Zone (or Sidebar) feature, which allows apps to drag and drop into special areas of the screen, instantly running them in split mode, especially when you need to quickly open a calculator, notes or messenger over a working browser or video.

To activate this feature, you need to go to the split screen settings and find the item responsible for "Hot Zone Management" or "Sidebar." After turning on the side faces of the screen (usually left and right), barely noticeable markers will appear, and when you drag and drop an open application to such a marker, it will automatically fold into the second window.

Setting up the zones allows you to personalize the experience, so you can choose which apps are available to run quickly, and which side of the screen is more convenient to call the panel, and that makes the smartphone a kind of floating-window desktop operating system.

Using a Hot Zone takes some getting used to, but it speeds up document work and communication significantly.You can drag text or images from one app to another as long as both support this data sharing feature.

The use of separation mode in games and media

Many users wonder if you can split the screen while playing or watching a video, and the answer depends on optimizing a particular app, and media players and streaming services like YouTube or Netflix are more likely to support small windows, allowing you to chat in parallel. However, the heavy 3D-Games rarely support split screens, as they require all the CPU resources and a full display of the interface.

When you try to run a partition in the game, the system may issue a warning that the application does not support this feature, or simply do not respond to commands, in which case you can try to run the game in Smooth Window mode (if available in Game Turbo), which is analogous to splitting, but with a floating window on top of the game.

For video content, the situation is more favorable: you can watch a movie in the upper half of the screen, and in the lower half you can flip through the social network feed or read the news. It is important to consider that in split mode, video can be played without sound, if the second application also uses audio output, or sound can be a priority for the active window.

• 🎮 Games: Support rare, possibly falling FPS.
• 🎬 Video (YouTube, Movie Search): High compatibility, works consistently.
• 📚 Reading (Books, PDF): Excellent compatibility, convenient for notes.
• 💬 Social networks: Full support, you can have a dialogue in two chats.

Experiment with different combinations to find the optimal balance between performance and usability for your use cases.

⚠️ Warning: Long-term use of split screen, especially with video and games, leads to accelerated battery consumption and heating of the device housing.

Controlling windows and changing proportions

Once you split the screen in two, you have the flexibility to manage the space, and the boundary between the windows is not fixed: you can drag the dividing line up or down, changing the proportions of the display, and this is useful when one application needs more space for content, for example, when viewing tables or drawings.

At the top of each window, there are special control buttons, usually three: roll up, resize the entire screen, and close the application. The resize button allows you to instantly deploy the selected window, hide the second one, or reverse the position, eliminating the need to close applications and run them again.

There's also a smooth transition feature available, so if you click on the Menu button when you're active on a split screen, you'll see both apps as cards, so you can close one of them or run the third one by replacing one of the current windows, which creates a full multitasking management loop.

Action: Tug the dividing line


Result: Change in the ratio of window areas (for example, 30/70 or 50/50)




Action: Double pressing the dividing line




Result: Automatic window alignment equal (50/50)

The ability to manipulate windows quickly comes with practice, and in a few days of use, you'll be doing it automatically, without even thinking about the mechanics of the process.

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Flexible change of window sizes allows you to adapt the interface to a specific task: more space for video or more space for the keyboard.

Problem Solving and Frequent Errors

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may experience situations where split screens are not working or are not working properly, most often because of incompatibility of a particular application. Some programs, especially banking or DRM-protected content, block work in the background or in smaller windows for security reasons.

Another common reason is a lack of RAM, and if you have a lot of heavy applications open, the system may not start the second window to keep the entire device from freezing, in which case it will help to clear the memory before starting the function.

If you notice that after updating the firmware feature disappeared or started to glittle, try resetting the interface settings or check for updates for the problematic application in the Google Play or GetApps store.

• 🛠 The app does not open in the second window: Check the compatibility list in the settings.
• 🛠 Screen flashes or goes out: Display drivers issue or overheating.
• 🛠 Cannot change window size: Blocked by special access settings.
• 🛠 The sound comes from just one app: Normal Android behavior when mixing audio.

In extreme cases, when software methods do not help, it may be necessary to reset the settings to factory, but this is an extreme measure that requires prior data backup.