Divided screen on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: Instructions

Smartphones have long since ceased to be just a means of calling and have become powerful multimedia centers that can perform many tasks at once. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 model often wonder how to effectively organize the workspace on the display to chat in the messenger and simultaneously watch videos or read an article. Split screen mode, or split screen, is one of the most useful features of the MIUI shell, allowing you to turn your gadget into a mini-lapbook.

Activating this feature opens up new possibilities for multitasking, allowing two apps to run side-by-side on the same display. Unlike switching between tabs, both apps remain active and visible, which significantly speeds up content, but not everyone knows where the necessary settings are hidden and how to properly manage Windows on Android based on MIUI.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the available ways to activate split screen, from standard gestures to the hidden capabilities of the developer menu. You’ll learn which apps are best optimized to work in this mode, and what to do if the feature doesn’t work correctly.

System preparation and compatibility check

Before you start setting up, make sure your Redmi Note 10 software is updated to the current version. MIUI shell regularly receives updates that improve the stability of system functions, including window management. Go to Settings → About phone and check for available updates, as on older versions of firmware some features may not work properly.

It's important to understand that not all applications support split-screen operation. Some developers block this capability to maintain the integrity of their interface or for security reasons, such as banking applications. The system automatically detects compatibility, and if the application does not support the mode, it will either open to the full screen or you will see a notification that you can not split.

⚠️ Attention: Protected applications DRM, And the way that you can see it, like Netflix or banking, is that you can show a black screen in one of the windows when you try to split.

For comfortable working in split screen mode, it is recommended to increase the amount of RAM virtually, if such an option is available in your version of MIUI. This will help avoid forced closure of background applications while working two heavy programs. Also make sure that the screen settings do not include energy savings modes that may limit background activity.

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For better split-screen performance, close unused background apps before running two heavy tasks.

Classic way to activate through the menu of recent applications

The most common and reliable way to split the screen on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is to use the menu of recent apps.This method works consistently on all versions of the shell and does not require a deep dive into the system settings. First, launch the first application you want to use, such as a browser or YouTube.

Once you open the first app, swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger in the center of the screen to open the menu of running tasks. In this list, you will see cards of all open programs. Find the card of the desired application and notice the icon or name at the top of the card - there should be an icon that allows you to control the window.

Click on the control icon (usually three dots or a special character next to the application name) and in the drop-down menu, select the option to split the screen. The screen will instantly split in half: the selected application will occupy the upper or lower part, and in the remaining area the selection menu of the second application will open.

If you don't see the control icon, try changing the settings for displaying recent applications. In some versions of MIUI, you need to switch from Full-screen Apps to Classic Menu mode to allow you to manage windows through task cards.

Using the sidebar for quick access

For those who are used to multitasking, the MIUI shell offers a faster tool, the sidebar, which is a floating menu that is accessible from anywhere in the system, allowing applications to be instantly launched in split-screen mode without having to fold an ongoing task, which is especially convenient when you need to quickly respond to a message while playing or working.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Special Features → Sidebar. Turn on the activation switch and select the applications you plan to run frequently in the second window. Once set up, the sidebar will appear when you swipe from the edge of the screen in any program.

Using the panel is very simple: launch the main application, then call the sidebar swipe and drag the icon of the second application to the screen. The system automatically splits the display by placing the applications next to you, you can change their position by dragging the dividing line.

However, keep in mind that having a constantly active sidebar can consume additional battery power. If you notice that the device has become discharged faster, try turning off the panel when you do not need it, through the same special features settings.

Setting up window sizes and managing the interface

Once the split screen mode is activated, the user can fine-tune the content displayed, and there's a special dividing band between the two windows that allows you to change the proportions of the space you occupy, so you can make one window bigger if you're watching a video, for example, and the other one is just used to control notifications.

To change the size of the window, tap the dividing strip and drag it up or down. Depending on the orientation of the device (portrait or landscape), the movement will be vertical or horizontal. The system remembers the last used proportions for a pair of applications, which speeds up subsequent launches.

Each window is managed independently: you can scroll through the tape in one app while the other is playing video, but remember that the CPU resources are shared between tasks, so in heavy games or video rendering, performance can fall.

⚠️ Note: When you try to roll one of the windows into Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, the second app can automatically turn on the full screen.

To exit split screen mode, just drag the dividing strip to the very edge of the display, completely closing one of the applications. The alternative is to press the Home button, which will return you to the main screen, but the applications will remain running in the background.

Application compatibility and limitations issues

Despite the convenience of the feature, Redmi Note 10 users may experience a situation where the system refuses to run the application in split mode, often because the application developer did not put support for the adaptive interface for small windows, in which case the system may force the application to close or not show the split option.

Especially often, problems arise with applications that require a constant vertical or horizontal position of the screen. If one application is rigidly fixed in landscape orientation and the second in portrait orientation, the system may have difficulty rendering, in which case, try to change the orientation of the device or turn off the autorotation of the screen.

There is also a limit to the number of processes running simultaneously, and although the screen is split into two parts, two full-fledged applications are technically running, and if your device runs out of free RAM, the system will aggressively kill background processes, which can lead to a restart of one of the windows.

Some users try to circumvent the restrictions using the "Secure App" mode or special modifications, but this can lead to unstable operation of the system. MIUI.

Hidden opportunities and the mode of the developer

For advanced users who don't have enough standard functionality, there are hidden settings in the developer menu, where you can force split-screen support for applications that don't officially declare it, and be careful, because this can lead to incorrect display of the interface.

To get to the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number several times. Once the message "You are a developer" appears, a new option will appear in the settings menu "Additional" or "Extended settings." Inside, find the "Developers" section.

In the options list, look for Force Resize, which allows split-screen applications that normally block the feature to be activated, but the interface of such applications can go off or become unreadable.

adb shell settings put global force_resizable_activities 1

This command, entered through a computer with ADB installed, can also activate hidden zoom functions if settings through menus are not available.Using ADB requires certain knowledge and USB connectivity, but gives maximum control over the system.

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Forced inclusion of split screen mode through the developer settings can disrupt the layout of the application, making the buttons non-clickable.

Remember that using experimental features increases the risk of system errors. If the phone starts to run slower or reboot more often after the hidden options are turned on, return all the developer settings to the original values.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)