Multitasking is a key advantage of modern smartphones, allowing users to work with multiple applications without the need to constantly switch between them. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to use the messenger and browser simultaneously or watch videos while chatting. The standard Android interface provides powerful tools for organizing the workspace, which in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS are implemented especially flexibly.
Split Screen activation does not require root rights or third-party software, as it is built into the default system.Split Screen allows two apps to be pinned to the top and bottom of the display, making them fully active and touch responsive, which significantly improves productivity, especially on devices with a screen diagonal of more than 6 inches, where there is enough space for comfortable display of content.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can activate multitasking, customize window behavior, and solve common problems, learn how to use floating windows, fix applications, and optimize your system at high load, and understand these mechanisms will make your smartphone a full-fledged working tool.
Methods of activating split screen mode
There are several proven ways to run two apps at once, and the choice of the specific method depends on the version of the shell installed and the user’s personal preferences. The most common option is to use the menu of recent applications, which is available on Xiaomi devices.
In the list that opens, you need to find the card of the desired application and click on the icon located in the upper right corner or under the program name. In the drop-down menu, select the option Split screen (or icon with two rectangles), then the screen will split in half, and at the bottom there will be a list of recent programs from where you want to choose the second application.
⚠️ Note: Some system applications or heavy games may not support split screen mode and the system will issue a notification that the feature cannot be started.
An alternative method involves using a sidebar if it is activated in the settings, which allows you to drag and drop applications directly over the current window, and some models with the updated HyperOS swipe three fingers down the open application, which instantly activates the split mode.
Setting up the sidebar and floating windows
The sidebar is a handy tool for quickly accessing frequently used applications without leaving the current context. To activate this interface element, you need to go to Settings, then select Additional and find Floating Windows or Sidebar, and you can turn on the display panel and select the list of applications that will be displayed in it.
Once activated, a translucent bar will appear on the side of the screen, which, when you click on it, opens up a list of selected programs. You can drag any application from this list to the current screen, and it will open as a floating window. The floating window can be moved around the screen, resized and folded into a sidebar, which provides maximum flexibility in control.
- 📱 The ability to run video on top of other multitasking apps.
- 💬 Quick access to messengers without interrupting the main task.
- 🎮 Using a calculator or notes while playing or working.
It is important to note that floating windows consume more RAM than conventional background processes. If you notice a slowdown in your device, it is recommended to close unused floating applications through Task Manager.
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Use a floating YouTube or video player window to watch tutorial videos or streams while you’re working in a text editor or browser.
Use of gestures to control windows
Split screen and floating windows are much more efficient when you use special gestures, split screen mode has a dividing band between two active windows, and dragging that band up or down can change the proportions of space you occupy, giving priority to one of the applications.
If you drag the dividing strip to the edge of the screen, one of the apps will close and the other will occupy the entire display. To exchange applications, you just drag one of the windows across the dividing line to the other side, which requires a certain skill, but it speeds up work after a short training session.
The following steps are used to control floating windows:
- A short tap on the top of the window opens the control menu.
- Double tap on the header opens the window to the full screen.
- The swipe down from the bottom of the window folds it into the sidebar.
On devices with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, the animation of switching between windows is as smooth as possible, which improves the visual perception of multitasking.
Specifics of work in HyperOS and MIUI 14
The HyperOS shell, which replaced MIUI, brought a number of changes to the logic of multitasking, improved background stability, allowing split-screen applications to stay active longer and not reboot when switching. Windows management interface became more minimal and intuitive.
MIUI 14 and earlier often had the problem of forcing back-end applications to be closed by energy saving systems. HyperOS optimized resource allocation algorithms, but users should still check battery settings for mission-critical applications.
☑️ Checking multitasking settings
The table below shows a comparison of multitasking capabilities across different shell versions:
| Function | MIUI 12-13 | MIUI 14 | HyperOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen splitting | Basic | Improved. | Optimized |
| Floating windows | Limitedly. | Full support | Expanded |
| Background stability | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Gesture management | Standard. | Expanded | Intuitive. |
Solving the problems of forced closure of applications
One of the most common problems Xiaomi users have is an aggressive power saving system that can close one of the windows in split mode. To prevent this, you need to manually adjust the behavior of a particular application. Go to Settings, select Apps, and find All Apps.
In the list, find the desired program (for example, a navigator or messenger) and go to Activity Control or Battery. Here you should select No Limits mode, this will prevent the system from killing the application process, even if it is in the background or in a split screen.
⚠️ Warning: Setting “No Limits” mode can lead to increased battery consumption, as the application will be constantly active.
It is also recommended to fix the application in memory, to do this, open the menu of recent tasks, pinch the application card or pull it down (depending on the version of MIUI) until the lock icon appears, this action ensures that cleaning the memory with the Crack button will not affect the application.
Why does the app still fly out?
Features of multitasking on Xiaomi tablets
Xiaomi Pad and Redmi Pad have a significantly larger screen, which opens up additional possibilities for organizing the workspace. Here, split screen mode is native and often used by default in landscape mode. The system allows you to run up to three to four applications simultaneously in the form of floating windows.
Windows are controlled in a similar way to smartphones, but with scale in mind. You can freely resize each window by stretching it to half or a third of the screen. Drag-and-drop content between windows, such as images from gallery to document, works stably and conveniently.
- 🖥️ Support for external keyboards and mice for PC-like experiences.
- 📑 Ability to group windows into sets for quick switching between tasks.
- ✍️ Using a stylus to work in one window while an open video is in another.
For tablet owners, the “Second Space” function or work with multiple profiles is especially relevant, which, combined with split screen, creates a powerful working environment.
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Xiaomi tablets offer the most comprehensive multitasking experience, close to desktop operating systems, thanks to the large screen and interface optimization.