Multitasking is one of the key factors affecting the usability of a modern smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 devices often wonder how to efficiently switch between applications or work with two programs simultaneously. The split screen feature, also known as Split Screen, allows the contents of two applications to be displayed side by side on the same display, which significantly improves productivity.
In the Android-based MIUI operating system, the implementation of this mode has its own features and hidden settings. It is not always obvious to the user where exactly the switch is hiding or which combination of gestures activates separation. Understanding these nuances will allow you to maximize the use of your gadget.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to activate split screen mode, examine application compatibility and solve possible problems with the function, learn how to quickly change the size of windows and understand why some programs do not support this mode.
What is a split screen mode and why is it needed?
Split screen mode is a feature of the Android operating system, adapted by the MIUI shell for Xiaomi smartphones. It divides the display into two independent areas, each of which can run a separate application, which turns your smartphone into a kind of mini-tablet, allowing you to watch videos and chat in the messenger at the same time.
The main value of this feature is that it saves time. You no longer have to constantly fold one application to open another, and vice versa. Multitasking becomes a real, not just a theoretical possibility. You can copy text from your browser and paste it into your notes immediately, without losing context in any of the programs.
⚠️ Note: Not all applications are optimized for split-screen operation. Some programs may not display correctly or forcefully unfold to the full screen.
Split Screen is especially useful for devices with a large screen size, such as the Redmi Note 9. The large amount of useful space allows you to comfortably place the interface elements of two programs without making them too small to perceive.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
Before you start setting up, make sure your device is ready to multitask. While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 has the technical specifications for this task, software limitations can make adjustments. First, check the version of the installed firmware. MIUI.
For stable operation of the split screen function, it is recommended to use the current version of the operating system. Older versions of the shells may contain errors or do not have full support for modern standards of multitasking Android. Software updates often bring improvements in the interface.
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Before activating the function, close the unnecessary background applications to free up RAM and ensure smooth operation of both windows.
Also, consider that split-screen mode consumes more CPU and RAM resources. If your device is running a lot of heavy processes at the same time, the system can automatically limit Split Screen to maintain performance.
- 📱 Make sure the screen size allows you to comfortably place two windows (minimum 5.5 inches).
- 💾 Check for free RAM (at least 1 GB free is recommended).
- 🔄 Update system applications and the shell itself MIUI until the last available version.
- 🚫 Turn off power saving mode, which may limit the background activity of applications.
Method 1: Activate through the menu of recent applications
The most common and intuitive way to enable split screen on the Redmi Note 9 is to use the menu of recent apps.This method does not require deep immersion in settings and is available immediately after unlocking the device. It is ideal for quickly activating the feature in everyday use.
To start, open the app you want to place at the top of the screen. Then roll it up or go to the menu of running tasks. Depending on the type of navigation (gestures or buttons), this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay or pressing the appropriate button. In the list that opens, find the desired application.
☑️ Activation algorithm through task menu
At the top of the app card, you'll see its name and a small icon. Click on this icon. In the context menu that appears, select "Share the screen" (or "Icon" consisting of two rectangles), and the screen will split in half: the top will remain the selected application, and the bottom will open the menu of the second program.
Now, select the second app from the list or run it through the desktop, it will occupy the bottom of the display, there will be a dividing bar between the windows, which you can move, you can change the proportions of the display, which allows you to make one window larger if the content in it requires more space.
Method 2: Configure through special features
If the standard method through the task menu seems inconvenient or you want to have faster access to the function, you can use the special features settings. There is a separate section in the MIUI shell dedicated to simplifying the control of the device, where the additional switch hides.
To activate this option, go to the basic settings of your smartphone. Find the Additional settings section and select Special Features. In the list that opens, find a tab or item related to window management or splitting. The exact name may differ from firmware version to version, but the logic remains the same.
Activate the screen split switch. Then, in the side menu of special features (which is called by swiping from the edge of the screen or pressing a floating button), the corresponding tool will appear. By clicking on it, you can select the application to run in split screen mode without having to go to the task menu.
⚠️ Attention: Using the side menu of special features can overlap part of the interface in games or applications with a non-standard aspect ratio.
This method is especially useful if you use the same pair of applications often, and allows you to run Split Screen from almost anywhere on the system, which greatly speeds up the workflow, but it is worth remembering that the constant presence of a floating control can interfere with some use cases.
Controlling windows and changing their sizes
Once the screen is split into two, the user has the flexibility to manage the space. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 with its resolution of 1080×2340 pixels, the correct distribution of the area plays an important role. Between the two active windows there is a special dividing strip.
Drag this bar up or down, you can resize the active window, for example, if you watch a video but only want to see notifications from a chat, you can make the video player window big and the messenger window narrow, and this gives you complete control over the visual priority of the content.
In addition to resizing, the system offers additional control functions. In some versions of MIUI, when you press the dividing strip, a menu appears that allows you to roll one of the windows into a floating window or completely close it, and a function to block the orientation of the screen for each window separately is available.
Secret separator menu
It's important to note that when you change the size of the window, the app inside the window can redraw the interface. Some programs don't dynamically change the layout, so when the window is very low, some of the buttons or text may become unclickable.
Compatibility table of popular applications
Not all programs installed on your Redmi Note 9 support split-screen operation. App developers decide whether to adapt their interface to multi-window mode. Below is a table of compatibility of the most popular categories of applications.
| Type of application | Examples | Split Screen Support | Features of work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social media | Telegram, WhatsApp, VK | Complete. | It is stable and notifications are in real time. |
| Video services | YouTube, Netflix, Kinopoisk | Partial | YouTube may require a Premium to work in the background, the video may turn black. |
| browsers | Chrome, Mi Browser, Opera | Complete. | Adaptive layout, but the font can become too small. |
| Games | PUBG, COD Mobile | Absent. | Most games are forced to unfold on the full screen. |
| Office packages | Docs, Word, Excel | Complete. | Ideal for working with documents in two windows. |
If the application does not support mode, the system can give a notification that it is not adapted, or simply deploy it to the full screen, closing the second window, in which case only waiting for updates from the developer of a particular software can help.
Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
When using the split screen feature on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, users may encounter a number of typical problems, most often due to the fact that the application does not start in the second window or the interface is not working correctly, and understanding the causes of these failures will help quickly return the device to work.
One of the common problems is that you have to shut down one of the applications when you run a heavy, resource-intensive program, which is a system overload protection mechanism, and if you notice that the background window is constantly "flying out," try closing other unnecessary processes or clearing the cache.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen is split but you can’t control one of the windows (pressing is not working), try to fold and deploy the app again or restart the device.
It can also crash the MIUI shell itself when the dividing band disappears or stops responding to touch, in which case the effective solution is to restart the interface process or completely restart the smartphone, sometimes helping to disable and re-enable the function in the settings of special features.
If none of these methods work, check for system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches to correct errors in multitasking. Ignoring updates can lead to the persistence of bugs that interfere with comfortable operation.
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Rebooting the device solves 90% of software errors associated with incorrect display or operation of split screen mode.