How to Make Two Windows on Xiaomi: A Complete Screen Split Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful hardware and large displays, which allows you to effectively use them not only for entertainment, but also for solving work tasks. Often there is a need to simultaneously view video and chat in the messenger or copy text from one source to another. The standard split screen feature allows you to turn your gadget into a kind of mini-tablet, significantly increasing the multitasking of the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to make two windows on Xiaomi, what are the limitations and how to properly configure this feature for comfortable work. We will look at the current versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, as the paths to settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the software.

Split Screen mode activation opens up new possibilities for content management, so you can watch a tutorial video while taking notes, or compare products in an online store with two browser tabs open, especially for models with a screen size of more than 6 inches, where space allows you to comfortably host two application interfaces.

Preparation of the device and compatibility check

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device supports this feature. Virtually all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones released in the last 5 years have built-in support for multi-tasking. However, for the stable operation of the two applications at the same time, you need sufficient RAM.

The system automatically restricts some heavy-duty applications from split-screen to avoid overheating or freezing, most often for resource-intensive games or augmented reality applications. If you plan to use lightweight utilities, browsers and social networks, there should be no performance issues.

The split screen feature is standard for Android since Nougat 7.0, but in Xiaomi shells it can be hidden or activated by default depending on the firmware region (Global, EU, China).

⚠️ Note: On devices with less than 3GB of RAM, the system can force the background applications to close when the second window is activated, which will lead to a reboot of tabs.

For the best experience, it is recommended to close the unnecessary background processes before starting the two windows. This will free up the processor resources and provide smooth animation of the interface. Owners of older models may notice a faster battery discharge in this mode, since the processor is running in enhanced mode.

The classic way through the menu of recent apps

The most common and quickest way to make two windows on Xiaomi is to use the menu of running apps, which works on most versions of the shell without having to dig deep into the system settings, and the algorithm is simple and intuitive even for beginners.

First, run the first app you want to see at the top of the screen, then roll it up or go to the desktop without closing the program completely. Now open the second app, which will be located at the bottom of the display.

Then you need to call the menu of recent apps. Depending on the type of navigation (buttons or gestures), this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay or pressing a square button. In the list that opens, find the card of the first application.

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on the preview of the app until the context menu appears.
• 📑 Select an icon that depicts two rectangles above each other (split screen mode).
• 🔽 At the bottom of the screen will appear a list of recently used programs – select the second application.

Once you select the second app, the screen will split into two parts, so you can move the boundary between the windows up or down, changing the proportions of the display, so you can make one window bigger if you're watching a video, for example, and use the other window only to respond briefly to a message.

It's important to note that not all apps support this feature natively, so if there's no split-screen button on the menu, then the app developer has banned it, or the system has found it incompatible, and in these cases, you can try to activate forced separation through an engineering menu, but that requires a deeper knowledge.

Using the sidebar for quick access

Newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS have a handy sidebar (or floating windows) feature that allows applications to run as floating windows or split-screen mode, a modern multitasking approach that makes dual window management even more flexible.

To activate this function, you need to go to settings. The path usually looks like: Settings → Special features → Application sidebar. Here you need to turn on the activation switch and select the applications that will appear in the Quick Access list.

When the panel is set up, you can run any application in full screen mode, and then call the sidebar swipe from the edge of the screen. By clicking on the icon of the second application in the panel, you can select the "Share screen" or "Floating window" mode.

The sidebar is especially handy if you need to switch between the same pairs of applications often, such as between the calculator and the Excel spreadsheet or between the messenger and the browser.

Set up special features for advanced users

For those who want to get maximum control over splitting the screen, there are hidden settings in the special features section, where you can activate additional use cases that are not available in the standard menu, and this is especially true for users who use a smartphone for complex work.

In Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features you can find options related to managing multiple windows. In some versions of the firmware, there is a Forced Screen Sharing switch that allows you to run two-window mode even those applications that do not officially support it.

Forced mode can be unstable. The application interface may not display correctly, buttons may be too small or go beyond the visible area. Use this feature only when absolutely necessary and test each application separately.

• 🔧 Activate Developer Mode if Standard Settings Are Not Enough.
• ⚙️ Find the "Forced Scale of Activity" item for fine-tuning.
• 📱 Experiment with the orientation of the screen (portrait or landscape) for a better view.

Another useful option is the ability to pin apps to a specific window, which prevents an important program from accidentally closing when you’re actively working in the second window, a feature often used by parents for content control or educational purposes.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling forced split screen may lead to unpredictable behavior of some banking or protected applications DRM (Video services that may not be available.

Solving common problems and errors

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may encounter a situation where two windows on Xiaomi fail to open or are running with errors, most often due to overcrowded RAM or conflicting versions of applications. The first step should always be to clean up the background processes.

If the app crashes right after opening in the second window, try updating it through the Google Play store or GetApps. Developers often release patches that improve compatibility with newer versions of Android.

Sometimes the problem is systemic and involves a specific firmware update, in which case it may help to reset special features or, in extreme cases, completely reset the device to factory settings, but before that, it is worth trying softer methods.

Special attention should be paid to applications that use overlay effects (overlaying on top of other windows), such as blue light filters or floating button voice recorders, which can conflict with the system screen divider, blocking it from working.

Alternative scenarios for using multi-cone

The two-window feature offers opportunities not only for work but also for leisure. Gamers often use this mode to run a game in one window and view a stream or guide in a browser in another. While performance in a game may decrease, for turn-based strategies or card games, this is quite acceptable.

Students and students find a use for a split screen during online lessons, where video communication with the teacher is broadcast at the top of the screen, and an electronic diary or textbook is opened at the bottom, eliminating the need to constantly switch between tabs and lose the thread of the lecture.

For copywriters and text professionals, the ability to keep two documents or a document and a browser open is indispensable. Data copying, fact comparison, and information structuring are much faster. The smartphone is becoming a full-fledged working tool.

And you can also use the keyboard in any window, and you can type the answer in the messenger while the other half of the screen is playing the video without pausing it, and intelligently allocates the audio and input resources.