Owning a modern smartphone means having to solve many tasks at once, and the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is no exception to this rule. Users often face a situation when they need to urgently copy text from one source, watch video instructions while chatting or compare product characteristics in different stores. Standard mode of operation, when only one application is open, in such cases it seems inefficient and inhibits productivity.
Fortunately, the MIUI operating system that runs your gadget offers a powerful tool to address this problem: split-screen allows you to run two apps side by side, effectively using the display space. It's not just a convenience, but a real way to turn a budget smartphone into a powerful multitasking tool.
However, despite the obvious utility, many device owners do not know how to activate this mode, as by default it can be hidden or disabled. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to activate, configure and use the split screen feature on Xiaomi Redmi 9. We will look at both standard methods and hidden system features that will help you manage application windows as efficiently as possible.
System preparation and compatibility check
Before you start setting up, make sure your software is multitasking ready. Xiaomi Redmi 9 comes with different versions of the MIUI shell, and the location of some settings may vary slightly. First of all, make sure your system is updated to the latest available version, as there may have been errors in the old builds that block split-screen mode.
It's important to understand that not all applications support split mode, and software developers can program to prevent their product from running in a smaller window, most often games and some video players that require full-screen display to work properly.
To check the basic readiness of the system, perform the following actions:
- 📱 Go to the Settings menu and select About Phone section.
- 🔄 Click on the version several times MIUI, Check for system updates.
- 📲 Make sure you have enough free RAM installed.
- 🔋 Check the battery level as the two apps simultaneously increase power consumption.
⚠️ Note: If you have custom firmware installed or the system has been modified by root rights, standard activation methods may not work or lead to system instability.
It’s also worth noting that the screen resolution of Xiaomi Redmi 9 is 1080 by 2340 pixels. When splitting the screen, each application will get about half of this space, which can make the font too small for comfortable reading in some programs.
Activation of the function through the settings menu
The most reliable and standard way to enable split screen is to activate the corresponding switch in system settings, which can be hidden from the user’s eyes by default on some firmware versions so as not to overload the interface with unnecessary controls.
To enable, you need to go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and that's where the deep system settings that affect the behavior of the interface are hidden. Find a line called Split screen and activate the slider.
Once you turn on this option, the system will start tracking your actions in the multitasking menu. Now, when you open the list of running applications, compatible programs will have a special icon or action menu that allows you to turn the window into split-screen mode. This action does not require rebooting the device and takes effect instantly.
In some versions of MIUI, the path may be slightly different. If you don't find the right item in the "Advanced" section, try searching for it in the "Advanced" category. Xiaomi's developer logic sometimes changes the layout of features depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EU, China).
💡
If you can't find "Share Partition" in the settings, search by settings. Just type "Share" into the search bar at the top of the settings menu, and the system will open the switch.
Remember, activating a feature in settings is just the first step: it gives the system permission to start the mode, but it doesn't automatically start it, and you still need to do certain actions in the menu of running apps to really split the screen in two.
Using the menu of recent applications
The main method of running split screen on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is tied to the menu of running applications. This is logical, since you first have to run programs that you plan to use simultaneously. The interface of Windows management in MIUI is quite intuitive, but has its own features.
Open the first app you want to use, like a browser or messenger. Then fold it or go to the home screen without closing the program completely. Now call the menu of recent apps. Depending on your navigation settings, this is done either by swiping from the bottom up with a delay or by pressing a square button.
In the list that opens, look for the running app card. At the top of the card (or if you press long, depending on the version of MIUI), you will see three horizontal dots or an icon that resembles two rectangles, and clicking on this item will open an additional action menu.
In the list that appears, select Divide screen, and then the selected application will collapse and occupy the upper (or left if the phone is horizontal) half of the display, and the remaining free part of the screen will open the selection menu of the second application.
☑️ Split-Screen Launch Algorithm
Now you can pick the second app from the list, or you can find it in the general list, and once you touch the icon of the second program, it will occupy the remaining space, and the screen will be separated by a horizontal or vertical line that you can move.
⚠️ Note: When working in split screen mode, some features such as a fingerprint to unlock or Face ID, This may not work properly if the active window covers the sensor area.
Setup and management of split windows
Once you've successfully split the screen in two, you have a wide range of space management capabilities, and the boundary between the two windows is not static, and you can change the proportions to give priority to one of the applications.
In the center of the screen, on the dividing line, there's a special control marker, and if you drag it up or down (left or right horizontally), you can resize the active window, which is especially useful if you just want to see the status in one application and you want to actively work with the content in the second.
On the dividing line are also other useful controls:
- 🔄 Change button: allows you to quickly change applications places.
- ❌ Closing button: Closes one of the windows, returning the second to the full screen.
- ⬇️ Closure: allows you to temporarily hide one of the windows, turning it into a floating widget.
- 🔒 Fixing: In some versions, you can fix the proportions of windows.
Control in each window works independently. You can scroll through the social media feed in the top window while the video is still playing in the bottom window. However, consider the load on the Redmi 9 processor. Simultaneous operation of two "heavy" applications, such as the navigator and the game, can cause the interface to slow down.
Secrets of Windows Management
If one of the applications does not support split screen, the system may suggest running it in floating window mode, an alternative multitasking option that is often even more convenient than a classic split screen for certain use cases.
Alternative methods and floating windows
The classic split screen divides the display in half or in a predetermined proportion, but sometimes a more flexible approach is required.The Xiaomi Redmi 9 supports floating window mode, which allows applications to run on top of others in the form of small movable widgets.
To activate a floating window, it's often enough to just run an application in split-screen mode, and then press the fold button on the dividing line, and the application will turn into a small window that you can move around the screen and change its size, which is ideal for messengers or calculators.
There is also a hidden method of activation through the developer menu, although it requires caution: activation of the function Forced resize resolution allows you to run in split mode even those applications that do not officially support this, but the interface of such programs may not display correctly.
Compare the main modes of multitasking to understand which is best to choose in your situation:
| Parameter | Screen splitting | Floating window | Full screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area occupied | ~50% of the screen | ~15-20% of the screen | 100% screen |
| Number of applications | Two at once. | A few on top of others | One active |
| Ease of input | High (half-screen keyboard) | Medium (keyboard overlaps) | Maximum. |
| Impact on the battery | High. | Average. | Normal. |
The use of floating windows is especially important when watching videos or reading articles, when you need to quickly respond to a message without interrupting the main process.
Solutions and optimization of work
Despite the system’s debugging, Xiaomi Redmi 9 users may encounter some difficulties when using the split-screen function, most often due to a lack of RAM or conflicting versions of applications.
If one application closes when trying to split the screen or the system suggests closing the other, it is a signal of a lack of resources. The 3 or 4 GB RAM installed in the basic versions of Redmi 9 can be completely occupied with background processes, in which case it is recommended to close unnecessary tabs in the browser and heavy applications before starting the split screen.
A common problem is that the keyboard is not displayed correctly. When you try to type in the bottom window, the keyboard may cover half the usable space or not appear at all, the solution is to temporarily deploy the application to the full screen to type text or use voice input.
The main problems and ways to solve them:
- 📉 Interface brakes: Close background apps and reduce animation in developer settings.
- 📱 App closes: Update the app via Google Play Store or Mi Store.
- 🔋 Fast Discharge: Turn off geolocation and Bluetooth in an unused app.
- 🎨 Color distortion: Check the color profile settings in the Screen section".
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to split the screen while playing games or watching high-resolution video if the smartphone gets too hot.This can lead to processor trotting and a sharp drop in performance.
Also worth mentioning is the Sidebar feature (if available in your version of MIUI), which allows you to quickly run applications in floating mode without having to climb into the menu of recent tasks each time, adding frequently used programs to this panel significantly speeds up the work.
💡
Optimizing split-screen work on Redmi 9 is directly dependent on the amount of free RAM. Close unnecessary background processes for stable operation.