Owners of modern smartphones in the Redmi Note line often face the need to perform several tasks simultaneously. Huge displays with a high diagonal allow you to comfortably work with two applications at once, turning the gadget into a mini-tablet. However, the standard MIUI or HyperOS interface is not always obvious to beginners, and the split screen function can be hidden in the depth of the menu or require special actions.
There are two basic understandings of the phrase “two screens”: either split screen mode, where one application occupies the top half and the other the bottom, or creating an additional virtual workspace for widgets. Both options are available on current Xiaomi models, but implemented in different ways. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to organize multitasking space so that you can make the most of your device’s resources.
Before you start setting up, make sure your operating system is updated to the latest version. MIUI shell functionality is constantly changing, and the location of some switches may vary depending on the year of release of the model. We will look at universal methods that work on most Redmi Note devices, including versions 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Split Screen Mode: Classic Split Screen
The most popular way to create two screens is to split the display into two active zones, in which you can chat in the messenger and watch a video at the same time or study a document in the browser. There are several proven methods to activate this feature on Xiaomi Redmi Note, which depend on the firmware version.
The first and most common method involves using the recent apps menu, you have to open the first app you want to use, then fold it and run the second. Then you go to the running task menu, where the cards of all open programs are displayed. Press and hold your finger on the first app card until the additional menu appears.
⚠️ Note: Not all applications support split-screen operation. Some games or specialized banks may be forced to close or display a black screen in the second half of the display.
In the context menu that appears, select an icon that depicts two rectangles above each other. The screen will split in half instantly: the selected application will occupy the top part, and in the lower system will prompt you to select a second program from the list of compatible ones. If the desired application is not in the list, it is probably not optimized for Split Screen mode.
An alternative way to activate is through the control panel. Swipe from the top corner of the screen down to open the notification curtain and quick settings. Find the "Split screen" button and activate it. After that, the system will ask you to run the first application and then the second, which is especially useful if you want to immediately start two specific tools without first opening the task menu.
Using the sidebar for quick access
HyperOS and modern versions of MIUI offer a more advanced multi-window tool, the Sidebar, a floating menu that can be called at any time on top of a running application, allowing you to run a second application as a floating window or immediately put it into split-screen mode.
First, you need to activate this function in the settings. Go to Settings → Special features → Sidebar. Here you need to turn on the "Always Show Sidebar" switch. You can also choose from this menu which applications it will be available in: in all or only in specific applications, such as in a browser or video player.
Once activated, a tiny bar will appear on the side of the screen. Swipe from edge to center to open the toolbar. Here you will see a list of frequently used applications. Drag the desired application onto the screen. The system will suggest you choose the display format: floating window or split screen. Choosing the second option will instantly create a configuration with two active zones.
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Add a calculator and voice recorder to the sidebar – these tools are often needed on top of other applications, and quick access to them will save time.
The advantage of the sidebar is that you can run more than two apps at once, although you can only work actively with two full-screen or one full-screen and several floating windows. This makes the Xiaomi Redmi Note a powerful tool for multitasking, allowing you to, for example, conduct video conferencing, while taking notes and checking email.
Floating Windows: Level Three of Multitasking
In addition to the classic splitting screen in half, Xiaomi smartphones support floating Windows, which allows the second app to be placed on top of the first in a small movable rectangle, ideal for quick responses to messages or browsing the navigator while using another application.
To run an app in a floating window, open the recent task menu. Click on the app icon you want to turn into a floating window (usually a short tap on the top of the app card where its name is written).
The control of these windows is intuitive, but it has its own peculiarities: you can drag the window over the top edge to any part of the screen. You can pull the bottom right corner, you can change the size of the window. If you pull the window to the bottom edge of the screen, it will fold into a thumbnail, continuing to play audio or maintaining a state.
| Type of window | Area occupied | Management | Best application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full screen | 100% | Standard. | Games, videos, reading |
| Separation (Split) | 50/50% | Dividing line | Copying text, chat + video |
| Floating. | ~30% | Dragging | Calculator, quick answers |
| Miniature | Minimum. | Tap to reveal | Background audio, timer |
On Redmi Note models with 6GB of RAM and more, you can comfortably keep 2-3 floating windows open, but a larger number can lead to a slowdown in the interface.
☑️ Set up multitasking
Widgets: Creating an Information Second Screen
If by "second screen" you meant the ability to put more information on the desktop, it's widgets. With the release of Android 12 and newer versions of MIUI, the widget system on Xiaomi has undergone significant changes, becoming similar to iOS. Now widgets can be of different sizes and formats, creating the effect of a rich information field.
To add a widget, press the empty area on your desktop or pinch it with two fingers to go into edit mode. In the bottom menu, select "Widgets." You'll see a library of all available widgets installed on your device. This includes tools from system clocks and weather to third-party apps like banks or habit trackers.
Drag the widget to the desktop. Many widgets support resizing. Once placed, press and hold the widget, then select the "Resize" option (if available). You can stretch the widget half the screen or even the entire screen, creating specialized dashboards.
⚠️ Warning: Placing a large number of live widgets (especially those that are updated in real time, like news feeds or maps) can significantly increase battery consumption.
The Redmi Note feature is the ability to create an "infinite" desktop, so you can add a lot of widget pages, flip through them as second, third and subsequent screens, and it allows you to organize the space on a thematic basis: a separate screen for working with calendar widgets and tasks, another for multimedia, a third for system utilities.
Set up additional workspaces
Unlike some shells, MIUI does not have a built-in Second Space feature on all global firmware, although it is present in Chinese versions. However, you can create a second screen analog with a unique set of applications and settings through the Second Space function in the security section or through user profiles.
To find this feature, go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version several times to open advanced settings, or search the settings by typing in the “Second Space” query. If the feature is available, the system will create a completely isolated environment with a separate password, gallery and contact list.
This is useful if you need to separate your work and personal screens on the same device, switching between them via a lock screen or notification panel, and in this mode, the apps are not visible from the main profile, which ensures data privacy.
Why did Second Space disappear?
If standard tools fail to create a second profile, consider using third-party launchers. Apps like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow you to create separate groups of desktop pages, hide application icons and customize unique gestures, which actually implements the concept of personalized screens.
Solving Display and Scaling Problems
When using split screen modes, users often face the problem of incorrect display of the interface. Some applications may not stretch over the entire allocated half of the screen, leaving black bars on the sides. This is due to the fact that the application is not optimized for the aspect ratio of your display in Split Screen mode.
To fix this, you can use hidden developer settings or special utilities to change the DPI (dots per inch). However, a safer method is to use the App Scaling function. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Application Scaling (the path may be different), here you can force the application to run in full-screen mode or change its proportions.
Also worth checking is the screen resolution settings. In Settings → Screen → Screen resolution, make sure the recommended value is selected. Setting maximum resolution can improve clarity, but sometimes causes conflicts in older applications when running in two windows.
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If the app doesn’t open in the second window, try running it in full screen first, and then activate screen splitting through the recent task menu.
If the system interface starts to "glue" or the windows stop moving, cleaning the system cache will help. Go to the storage settings and clear temporary files. This often solves problems with the freezing of the processes responsible for multitasking.