Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to use several applications at the same time. The Redmi 8 Pro model, with a sufficiently large screen and a productive hardware, is ideal for implementing multitasking functions. Splitting the display into two independent areas allows, for example, to correspond in the messenger, watching video at the same time, or copy text from the browser into notes without constantly switching between tabs.
The MIUI shell split screen feature is implemented in depth, but not always obvious to new users. Standard window management techniques may vary depending on the firmware version and navigation settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to activate the mode, fine-tuning the window sizes and solving the typical problems that can be encountered when using the Redmi 8 Pro.
Understanding how multitasking works greatly improves smartphone efficiency, allowing you to perform routine tasks, monitor notifications and work with documents faster, and then we will look at the technical aspects of implementing this feature and provide step-by-step instructions for various use cases.
Preparing the device for multitasking
Before you start splitting the display, you need to make sure that the system is configured correctly. On the Redmi 8 Pro, the interface can behave differently depending on the type of navigation you choose. If you use the standard three buttons at the bottom of the screen, the process will be different from gesture control. It is recommended to check the relevance of the MIUI version in advance, since old builds may have bugs that affect the stability of windows.
Also, not all applications support split mode, and some developers block this feature because they think their interface is not adaptive for either a horizontal or a smaller format, but most popular services, such as browsers, social networks, and office suites, are fully multitasking compatible.
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Before setting up, make sure that at least 500 MB of memory is free in the smartphone, otherwise the system can force the background applications to close when switching between windows.
For a comfortable experience, it is important to adjust the font size and image scale correctly. If the interface elements are too large, in split mode they can be cropped or overlapped. Go to the display settings and select the optimal resolution so that the content is read conveniently even on half the screen of the Redmi 8 Pro.
The main ways to activate screen splitting
There are several proven methods to run split-screen mode on Xiaomi. The choice of the specific method depends on your smartphone management habits. The most common option is to use the menu of recent apps, which is available when swiping from the bottom up or pressing the corresponding button.
The first method involves using a special icon in the menu of running tasks. Once you open the desired application, call a list of recent programs. At the top of the application card (or in the upper right corner, depending on the version of MIUI), you will see an icon that resembles two rectangles or a horizontal line, clicking on it will fix the application at the top of the screen.
The second way involves using gestures if the appropriate extension is enabled. On some firmware versions, long-term thumb holding on the home button or a special swipe can activate the mode. However, on the Redmi 8 Pro, the classic method works most stably through the menu of recent tasks.
- 📱 Open the first app, which should be at the top of the screen.
- 📱 Swipe from the bottom up (or click the menu button) to go to the list of recent apps.
- 📱 Click on the split screen icon (two rectangles) above the app window.
- 📱 Select the second app from the list or find it in the menu.
Once you select the second app, the screen will split into two workspaces, and you can move the boundary between them by changing the proportions of the content, making one window a preview window for video, and the other the main workspace for typing or web pages.
Setting the proportions and controlling the windows
Split screen control on the Redmi 8 Pro provides flexible space customization options. Between two active windows is a dividing band that responds to touch. Drags that band up or down, you can resize the active area. This is especially useful when you need to focus on the content of one application, leaving the second as a reference.
In the center of the dividing strip, there is often a swap or closing button on one of the windows. Pressing the center point can also roll one of the applications into a floating window if this function is supported by the current version of the shell.
⚠️ Warning: Drag the dividing line too close to the edge of the screen, one of the apps may automatically curl up or close.Act smoothly to keep both windows active.
For more precise adjustments, you can use special combinations, such as double-pressing the dividing line in some MIUI modifications aligns the windows evenly (50/50), a standard ratio considered the most ergonomic for the Redmi 8 Pro diagonal.
☑️ Checking the settings of windows
If you're working with text or tables, it's recommended that you open the bottom window to the maximum height, so the top window will take up the minimum area, only serving as an activity indicator, and this configuration reduces the workload on the processor, because rendering the top area is simplified by the system.
Working with floating windows and additional functions
In addition to the classic splitting screen in half, Xiaomi offers a floating window feature, which is a mode where the second app opens in a small window over the main one. On the Redmi 8 Pro, this mode is often confused with splitting the screen, but technically these are different processes. The floating window can be moved around the entire display, resize it regardless of the main application.
To activate a floating window, run the application in split-screen mode, and then click on a special button in the window control menu (often looks like three dots or arrows). The selected application will "stick" from the edge and become a freely moving widget. This is convenient for viewing the navigator or calculator while you are in the browser.
The system allows you to run multiple floating windows at the same time, but the Redmi 8 Pro can limit their number to maintain performance.It is usually comfortable to work with one floating window and one full-screen application, or with two split windows without floating elements.
| Mode of work | Description | Size management | Maximum windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split screen | Two apps divide the screen horizontally or vertically | Dragging the separator | 2 |
| Floating window | Appendix on top of the main interface | Stretching around corners | Depends on RAM. |
| Full screen | Standard mode of one application | Not applicable. | 1 |
| Sidebar. | Quick access to mini-applications | Fixed/Tuneable | Up to 5 in the panel |
Using a sidebar (Game Turbo or analog for conventional applications) allows you to quickly display a calculator, voice recorder or notes in floating mode. To do this, you need to configure the panel in the Settings → Special features → Sidebar. Added applications will run on top of any other windows.
Application compatibility and possible limitations
Not all software works equally well in multitasking mode. Some applications, especially banking or DRM-protected (video services), can block split-screen work. In such cases, when you try to split, you will see a notification that the application does not support this feature, or it will simply fold.
Problems can also arise with games, although the Redmi 8 Pro is powered by a Helio processor. G90T, heavy-launch 3D-Playing in one window and browser in another can cause a drop. FPS The system can automatically limit resources for background processes to maintain the performance of the main application.
Why do some apps close in the background?
Video players can behave in an unpredictable way: sometimes the video continues to play in a small window, and sometimes the sound disappears when you switch focus. For streaming services, it is better to use the built-in Picture in Picture feature, if it is supported, rather than full split-screen mode.
⚠️ Note: When working with financial applications in split mode, make sure that the next window does not contain malware or scripts that can read information from the screen (although this is difficult to implement on Android, vigilance will not hurt).
To check the compatibility of a particular application, you can use the developer’s experimental settings, but the average Redmi 8 Pro user needs to know that most standard programs from Google and popular social networks work stably.
Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
If the split screen function is not working or is not working correctly, first check the system settings. In some cases, the mode may be disabled in the developer settings or special features. It is also worth clearing the system interface cache if there are glitches with the display of window boundaries.
A common problem is sticking the dividing line or not being able to close one of the windows, and if the problem is repeated in one particular app, try updating it via Google Play or GetApps.
- 🔍 Make sure that the settings are additional → Multitasking is not worth limiting the number of background processes.
- 🔍 Check for system updates in the About Phone section.
- 🔍 If the screen dims in one of the windows, turn off the energy savings for this application.
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The stability of the split screen depends on the amount of free RAM and the version of the installed MIUI firmware.
In rare cases, resetting interface settings helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find System Interface (or Launcher) → Memory → Clean. This won’t delete your personal data, but will return the location of icons and window settings to factory values.
Optimizing performance when working with two windows
Using two active applications simultaneously increases the load on the processor and RAM Redmi 8 Pro. To make the device work quickly, it is recommended to close unused background tabs in the browser before starting the separation mode.
Also worth paying attention to is the brightness of the screen: when working with two content sources, the brightness may be automatically incorrect, leading to excess battery consumption.
To extend the life of the battery, use a dark theme if both applications support it. AMOLED-screens (although the Redmi 8 Pro is IPS, Savings are still due to the reduction of the overall brightness of the backlight, this gives a noticeable increase in battery life.