Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have such powerful screens and processors that using just one app at a time seems wasteful. The split-screen feature, or Split Screen, turns your Xiaomi into a real handheld multitasker, allowing you to text in a messenger while watching videos or compare products in an online store without switching between browser tabs. This feature is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, but is often hidden from the eyes of the average user, requiring activation or use of special gestures.
Enabling multitasking opens up new horizons for productivity, but not everyone knows how to run this feature correctly on a particular model. Some users look for a switch in settings, others try to guess complex swipe combinations. Xiaomi split-screen mode is activated through recent app menus or quick access system menus, depending on the firmware version. Understanding the mechanics of Windows will allow you to more effectively manage the workspace of your smartphone.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can run two programs at once, look at the nuances of how they interact, and answer frequent questions from owners of Redmi and Poco devices. You will learn how to resize windows, fix important applications, and bypass system limitations if the standard method does not work.
What is a split screen mode and how does it work?
Split screen mode is a software feature of the Android operating system, adapted by Xiaomi engineers for the needs of the MIUI shell. The essence of the technology is that the display is physically divided into two independent areas, each of which runs its own application. The upper and lower parts of the screen work autonomously: while one half is a video stream, the other can display a text document or dialogue in the messenger.
It's important to understand that splitting the screen isn't an emulation or a simple picture. Both apps continue to run in active mode, consuming CPU and RAM resources. This means that if you run heavy play and the navigator at the same time, the device can start to heat up or run slower, especially on entry-level models. Android's Priority System distributes computing power between active windows.
Windows are intuitively controlled, and there's a separate bar between two programs that you run, and you can move it up or down, you can change the proportions of the space you take, so you can make one application dominant, leaving the other as a narrow bar for reference or notification, and that flexibility makes it as comfortable as possible to work with the content.
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The split screen splits the CPU resources in half, so on Xiaomi’s budget models, there may be delays when two heavy applications are running at the same time.
How to activate split screen on different versions of MIUI
The interface of MIUI and the new HyperOS is constantly updated, and the ways to call functions may vary depending on the firmware version and region. There are several proven methods for activating the two-window mode that work on most current Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones. If one method did not work, it is worth trying an alternative option.
The first and most common way to use the menu of running applications is to open the first application, then swipe from the bottom up (or menu button) to the list of recent tasks. In this list, find the icon or name of the desired application and click on it (or swipe down the application card, depending on the settings).
The second method involves using a system menu quick access, you can call the control menu from any application (swipe from the corner of the screen or triple tap if configured), in the icon bar that appears, you need to find the icon "Share Partition" (two rectangles), after activation, the screen will split in half, and the system will suggest you choose the second application from the list.
- 📱 Swipe by card: In the recent task menu, swipe down the app thumbnail to see the hidden menu with the split button.
- 🖱️ Long press: Some firmware versions require you to hold your finger on the app icon in the recent task menu until vibrations appear.
- ⚙️ Control Panel: Call the notification curtain and find a special widget to quickly start multitasking mode.
If neither of these methods works, it may be that the feature is disabled in the system settings or not supported by a particular application, and it’s also worth checking whether Full Screen Apps mode is enabled, which can block split-screen operation for certain programs.
Setting up the sidebar for quick access
For those who often use dual window mode, the most convenient solution is to configure the sidebar (Sidebar), which allows you to keep a list of favorite applications on hand and run them in a floating window or split screen mode in one touch, without interrupting current work, which is especially true for users who constantly switch between working tools.
To activate this function, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional (or Special Features) section and find the Floating Windows or Sidebar. You need to switch the switch to the active position. Then a semi-transparent bar will appear on the side faces of the screen when working in applications, calling the Quick Access menu.
In the sidebar settings, you can choose which apps will appear on the list, and you can add messengers, calculators, notes, and browsers to the list, and when you run the app from the sidebar, it will open in a small floating window that can be stretched halfway across the screen, making it a full-fledged split mode, giving you maximum control over the workspace.
☑️ Setting up the sidebar
Controlling and changing window sizes
Once you've managed to run two apps at once, you're going to have to make the space that you want to share comfortably. The default is that the screen is split exactly in the middle, but that ratio is easy to change. There's a dark or gray stripe between the windows. You can tap on it and pull it up or down, and you can prioritize one of the apps by making the window bigger.
At the top of the bottom window (or at the bottom of the top, depending on the version of MIUI) is a special control panel, which contains several important elements: the application closing button, the full-screen unfold button and the position change button (changes windows in places), using these buttons allows you to flexibly reconfigure the interface to meet current needs without leaving multitasking mode.
Not all applications are properly displayed in a smaller or split format, but some programs, especially games or video editors, can be forced to unfold to the full screen, closing the second window, in which case the system may offer forced scaling, but the application interface may look incorrect, with cropped controls.
| Action. | Control element | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Change of size | Tug-and-tug central lane | Change in the proportion of windows (e.g. 70/30) |
| Closing the window | Cross on the divider panel | Closing one of the applications, the second remains |
| Change of position | Icon with arrows on the divider | Top and bottom applications change places |
| Full screen mode | The square icon on the divider | The selected application unfolds on the full screen |
To exit split-screen mode, simply close one of the applications or drag the dividing line to the very edge of the screen, completely closing one of the windows. The system will automatically return to the standard display of one active application.
The Developer's Secret Menu
Problem Solving: If the function is not working or not
Often users are faced with a situation where the split-screen button is simply absent or inactive. This can be due to several reasons: First, some applications themselves prohibit work in the background or in split-screen due to security reasons (for example, banking applications) or technical limitations. Second, the function can be software disabled in the system settings.
Check the special settings. Go to Settings → Additional → Special Features. Make sure the split screen switch is activated. On some global firmware, this item may be called “Split screen” or located in the “Gestural Management” section. If the switch is gray and not turned on, your device may have too little RAM to support this feature.
⚠️ Note: On devices with less than 3GB of RAM, the split screen function may not work stable or be completely disabled by the manufacturer to prevent system freezes.
If the problem is that the app crashes when you try to split the screen, try updating it through the Google Play store or GetApps. Outdated versions of programs may contain bugs that conflict with the MIUI multitasking mechanism.
- 🔄 System Update: Check for firmware updates as Xiaomi often fixes multitasking errors in new security patches.
- 🗑️ Memory Cleanup: Before launching two heavy apps, close the background processes through the RAM Cleanup Menu.
- 🚫 Game Mode: Make sure you don’t try to split the screen while inside a running Game Turbo that blocks this feature.
The Impact of Multitasking on Battery and Performance
Using two active applications simultaneously puts an increased strain on the hardware of the smartphone. The processor has to process data for two programs, and the screen has to display them, often with high brightness. This leads to accelerated battery consumption. If you plan to work long hours in split screen mode, it is recommended to have a power bank or charger at hand.
In addition, the two applications can heat the device body, especially in the summer or when using cases with poor heat transfer. If the smartphone starts to warm up, the system can automatically reduce the frequency of the processor, which will lead to slowing down the interface. In critical cases, MIUI can force to close one of the cooling applications.
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To save battery power when working in two windows, reduce the screen refresh rate to 60 Hz in the display settings if your smartphone supports 90 or 120 Hz.
Optimizing background processes also plays a role: Applications running in a small window can still continue to play audio, download files or update geolocation. Watch the battery indicator and limit background activity of minor applications through battery settings if necessary.
⚠️ Warning: Long-term use of split screen mode with bright and dynamic applications (video, maps) can cause temporary burnout OLED-screens on models with this type of matrix.