How to activate a double window on Xiaomi: all ways to MIUI

Double window (or multi-window) mode on Xiaomi devices allows you to work with two applications simultaneously on the same screen – for example, chat in the messenger and watch videos, or copy text from the browser into notes. The feature is available on most smartphones and tablets of the brand, but not always enabled by default. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to activate the mode, the nuances of working on different versions of MIUI and solve typical problems.

It’s important to understand that the ability to use two windows depends on the firmware version and device model. For example, on budget devices like Redmi 9A, the function may not be available, while flagships of the Xiaomi 13 series or POCO F5 support it out of the box.

If you've never used this feature, don't worry -- it takes less than a minute to set up, and for power users, we've provided advanced tips on how to resize windows, fix frequently used pairs of apps, and even run multi-windows through gestures.

Which Xiaomi devices support double windows?

The split screen feature is available on most Xiaomi devices released after 2018, but there are important nuances:

• 📱 Smartphones: All models on MIUI 12 and newer (e.g. Xiaomi) 11/12/13, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/F4/F5). Nana MIUI 11 older function may not work smoothly.
• 📺 Tablets: Xiaomi Pad 5/6 Supports the mode out of the box, while on the Mi Pad 4 You will need to manually activate through the developer settings.
• ❌ Excluding: budget models like Redmi 9A/9C or POCO C31 This function is often lacking due to weak iron (less than the iron). 3 GB RAM).

To find out if your device supports multi-window, check:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI.
2. If the MIUI firmware version is 12 or newer, the feature should work.
3. On older versions (e.g. MIUI 11), try to update via Settings → System Update.

If your model theoretically supports mode but the split-screen button doesn't appear, the problem may be the gesture settings or the limitations of a particular application, and we'll talk about this in more detail in the following sections.

Method 1: Activate through the recent application panel

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14. You don’t need to dig into the settings – it’s all done in two taps:

1. Open the first app you want to use in a multi-window (like YouTube).
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger to open the recent apps bar.
3. Find the app icon (its icon) at the top of the screen and tap it.
4. In the menu that appears, select Split screen (or Double window on some firmware).
5. The screen will split into two parts. In the bottom, select the second app from the recent list or click All Apps to find it manually.

You can now use two programs at once. To resize the windows, pull the dividing line up or down. To close the mode, swipe the separator to the edge of the screen or tap the Close button in the center.

Make sure that both apps support multi-windows.

Close background programs to save RAM

Connect the device to charge (mode consumes more power)

Turn off energy saving in battery settings-->

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, VK, Tinkoff Bank or PUBG Mobile can automatically close when you try to run in a multi-window, due to their internal limitations, VK Messenger instead of the main client).

Method 2: Using gestures to start quickly

If you often have to work in two windows, you can set up a gesture to start quickly, which works on MIUI 13/14 and requires you to pre-set:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures and buttons.
2. Select a Gesture for split screen (some firmwares call Quick Multi-Window Start).
3. Activate the switch and select the desired gesture: 👆 Swipe up from the corner: swipe from the bottom corner of the screen up. 👇 Swipe down from the top edge: swipe from the top edge of the screen down (less conveniently).

Save the settings.

Now, to activate the double window:

1. Open the first appendix.
2. Make the selected gesture (for example, swipe up from the lower right corner).
3. The screen will split and you can select the second app.

On Xiaomi Pad 5/6 tablets, the default gesture can conflict with system swipes, in which case, turn it off and use the method through the recent app dashboard.

💡

If the gesture doesn’t work, check if it conflicts with other system gestures (like calling Google Assistant or notifying panel).

Method 3: Manually enable through developer settings

On some devices (especially older versions of MIUI or after resetting), the multi-window function may be hidden, and to unlock it, you will need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row until you become a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Scroll down and find the option to Enable the free multi-window form (or Force enable split-screen in English firmware). Activate it.
5. Reset the device.

After that, the feature should appear in the recent app bar, and if the option is not even in the developer menu, then your Xiaomi model does not support multi-window at the software level.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling developer mode and changing system settings may cause the device to run unstable. Do not activate other options in this menu unless you understand their purpose. For example, disabling animations or changing the screen scale may disrupt the interface.

How to fix frequently used pairs of applications?

If you regularly use the same programs in a multi-window (for example, Telegram + Google Docs), you can fix them so you don’t need to choose them again every time.

1. Activate the double window in any of the above ways.
2. Open the desired applications in two parts of the screen.
3. Slip the dividing line between the windows and a toolbar will appear.
4. Select the pin icon (or save a pair on some firmware).
5. Enter the name for this combination (e.g., “Document Management”).

Now, to quickly open the fixed pair:

1. Swipe up to call the recent app dashboard.
2. Slip on the Multiwindow icon (usually at the top of the screen).
3. Select the saved pair from the list.

You can attach up to 5 pairs of apps to a single device. To remove an unnecessary combination, go to Settings → Additional Features → Multi-window → Pair Management.

Solving Typical Double Window Problems

Even if your device supports multi-windows, there may be failures, and let’s look at the most common problems and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The split screen button doesn’t appear

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔄 Outdated firmware: Update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Application restriction: some programs (such as games or bank clients) block multi-windows.
• ⚙️ Disabled function: Check the developer settings (see Method 3 above).

Problem 2: The application automatically closes in the multi-window

This is typical for applications with high security or performance requirements.

• 🔒 Use the web version: for example, instead of a banking application, open its website in the Chrome browser.
• 📥 Update the app: go to Google Play and check for updates.
• 🔧 Clear the cache: go to Settings → Annexes → [Title of the programme] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Problem 3: Multi-window lags or brakes

If the device starts to hang when working in two windows, try:

• 🧹 Close the background programs: swipe up and close all unnecessary applications.
• 🔋 Connect charging: multi-window increases the load on the processor and battery.
• ⚡ Disable animation: in the developer settings, reduce the animation scale to 0.5x.

💡

If the problem persists after all manipulations, check the device for viruses or reset the settings to factory settings (don’t forget to back up the data!).

Additional chips: how to use multi-window more effectively

Xiaomi’s dual window mode supports several hidden features that not all users know about:

• 🔄 Quick application change: in multi-window mode, swipe the dividing line left or right to swap applications in places.
• 📱 Floating window: Some firmwares can turn one of the windows into a floating one (for example, for a video call). To do this, hold the app icon in the recent panel and select the Floating window.
• 🔊 Separate audio adjustment: in a multi-window, you can independently adjust the volume for each application.
• 🖼️ Screenshot of both windows: swipe three fingers down to take a screenshot with two apps.

On the Xiaomi Pad 5/6 tablet, an advanced multi-window mode is available with support for up to three windows at a time.

1. Open the first appendix.
2. Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the center to open the sidebar.
3. Drag the second app to the left or right side of the screen.
4. Repeat the action for the third window (it will open in floating mode).

This mode is especially convenient for working with documents, when you need to keep the text editor, browser and calculator open at the same time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the double window on Xiaomi