How to Make Double Screen on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

Multitasking on a modern smartphone has ceased to be just a convenient option and has become a necessity for most users. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often look for a way to simultaneously chat in the messenger and watch videos, or copy text from the browser immediately into notes. Screen splitting is a regular feature of the MIUI and HyperOS shell, which allows you to turn your gadget into a powerful working tool without the need to install third-party software.

However, despite the obviousness of the feature, many users have difficulty activating it, as the settings menu may differ from firmware to firmware. Sometimes the desired option is hidden in deep sub-paragraphs, and in other cases, specific actions are required to run. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for activating the two-window mode, from standard gestures to using hidden system capabilities.

It’s important to understand that working with two active applications requires certain CPU and RAM resources. If your Redmi is in the budget segment, working in split screen mode can lead to faster battery discharge or periodic slowdowns of the interface. However, the right setup allows you to minimize these effects and get the most out of a large display.

System preparation and compatibility check

Before you try to run two apps at once, you need to make sure your device’s software supports this feature to the fullest. In modern versions of MIUI (starting with the 12th) and the new HyperOS, split-screen mode is on by default, but in older builds it had to be activated through the developer menu.

Also, not all applications are optimized to work in a smaller window. Social networks, browsers and video players usually work correctly, while some games or specialized software can be forced to unfold to the full screen or close.

To ensure smooth operation, it is recommended to close the background processes that consume a lot of memory, this is especially true for models with 3 or 4 GB of RAM. Freeing up resources will allow the system to switch between windows faster and avoid departures.

• 📱 Make sure the version MIUI Updated to the latest available model.
• 🚫 Close heavy games before starting split screen mode.
• ⚙️ Check for updates for key applications (browser, instant messengers).
• 🔋 Charge the device at least until 20-30% avoiding high-load shutdowns.

It's worth noting that the horizontal orientation of the device can affect the display of windows. In landscape mode, windows are side by side, occupying half the width, while in portrait mode, they divide the screen horizontally, which is the behavior of the interface standard for Android systems.

Classic Activation Method via Recent Apps Menu

The most common and intuitive way to run a dual screen on Xiaomi is to use the menu of running apps, which works on the vast majority of devices and does not require deep immersion in the system settings. The algorithm of actions is simple, but requires a certain sequence of clicks.

First, open the first app you want to use, then fold it and open the second. Then call the recent task menu. Depending on the navigation settings, this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay (gesture) or pressing a square button (three buttons).

Above the application card (usually at the top of the preview or next to the name) is a special icon that resembles two rectangles or a split icon. Clicking on it will open a drop-down menu where you need to select the option to split the screen (or "Split screen"). After that, the screen will split in half, and at the bottom there will be a list of the remaining running applications to select the second window.

⚠️ Note: If you don’t see the split icon above the application card, it means that the selected program does not support multi-window mode, in which case the system will not allow you to share the screen with this particular application.

Once you activate the mode, you can resize the windows, pulling a black or gray dividing line between the two apps, which allows you to prioritize one of the windows by making it larger if the content requires more space, such as watching videos or reading text.

Use gestures and sidebar for quick access

For users who value speed and convenience, the MIUI shell offers alternative window management techniques. The Sidebar is a powerful tool that lets you run apps in a floating or split window literally in one touch without interrupting the current task, which is especially convenient when you need to quickly respond to a message without leaving a game or video.

To activate this feature, go to the settings and find the section responsible for additional functions. The path may vary, but most often it looks like: Settings → Additional functions → Sidebar. Here you need to turn on the activation switch and select a list of applications that will be displayed in the menu.

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Add to the sidebar only those applications that you use for multitasking most often (calculator, notes, messengers), so as not to clutter the list with unnecessary icons.

Once set up, while in any application, swipe your finger from the edge of the screen (top or bottom, depending on the setting) to the center to call the panel. Clicking on the app icon will trigger it. If you run the app from the panel while another one is open, the system will often prompt you to choose the mode: floating window or split screen. Choosing the split mode will instantly create a dual screen.

There are also hidden gestures that can work depending on the firmware version, such as holding three fingers from the bottom up the screen sometimes activates split mode if this action is assigned in special features, but this method is less stable and can conflict with other screenshot gestures.

Size setting of windows and separator management

One of the key features of working with a dual screen on Redmi is the ability to fine-tune the proportions. The standard 50 by 50 separation is not suitable for all use cases. For example, when watching video at the top of the screen and typing at the bottom, the video window often needs to be larger to keep the subtitles or details of the image readable.

To change the proportions, find the dividing strip between the windows. It usually has three points or a thickened line. By pressing and holding this area, you can drag the border up or down (in portrait mode). In some versions of MIUI, a fixed aspect ratio is available, which you can select by clicking on special marks on the separator.

You can’t shrink an app to a narrow bar, because it makes the interface unreadable and non-functional. The minimum window size requirements are dictated by the apps themselves and the Android system constraints.

⚠️ Note: When changing the window size, some elements of the application interface may change or disappear. This is normal behavior of adaptive layout, but in rare cases can lead to temporary incorrect display of buttons.

If one of the applications has stopped responding or is not displayed correctly after changing the size, try rolling it up into a floating window and turning it back, or closing it completely through the task menu, which will help refresh the interface rendering.

Floating windows as an alternative to splitting screen

Often, users looking for a “dual screen” actually need a floating Windows feature. Unlike a strict split screen where two apps share space equally or in a predetermined proportion, a floating window allows one application to overlay one on top of another, move it freely and resize it.

The way you run a floating window is through a recent task menu or a sidebar. When you select an app from the recent task menu, instead of "Share the screen," you select the "Window" option. The app will open as a small rectangle that you can drag around the screen.

Control of the floating window is also intuitive. At the top of the window, there's a control panel: a close button (cross), a fold button (turns the window into a small icon in the corner of the screen), and a full-screen unfold button. The side edges of the window allow you to resize it, which gives you even more freedom than a standard split screen.

Floating windows are particularly effective on large-diagonal devices, where standard separation may not be enough to handle three or more tasks comfortably: You can have an open browser, run video on top of it, and a calculator or notes on top of the video.

Solution: Why Screen Split Doesn't Work

Despite the system's cleverness, users may find themselves in a situation where the dual screen is not activated, most often because of the lack of support for the mode of a particular application. Some software developers block the possibility of working in a split screen to ensure the correct display of ads or prevent cheating in games.

Another reason could be a lack of RAM, where if there are a lot of heavy processes in the background, the system may force one of the applications to close when it tries to split, in order to free up resources for the active window, in which case it helps to clear the memory before starting the mode.

Problems can also arise from bugs in the firmware itself. If the feature worked before but stopped, try restarting the device. In rare cases, resetting special features settings or updating a problematic application to the latest version through Google Play or GetApps helps.

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to reset system caches.
• 📉 Close all unnecessary applications before launching a split screen.
• 📲 Update both apps you plan to use.
• 🔍 Check if the "Energy Savings" mode is on, which may limit background activity.

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If the application does not support screen splitting by regular means, the use of third-party launchers or modified versions of applications can violate the guarantee and stability of the system.

In some cases, activating forceful permission for all applications helps, but this feature is hidden in the developer menu and requires caution. To access it, you need to click on the build number several times in the About section, and then find Force activities to be resizable. Enabling this option causes the system to try to run in split mode even those applications that do not support it, but the result can be unpredictable.

To sum up, the dual screen feature on Xiaomi Redmi is a powerful productivity tool. Using split modes and floating windows correctly makes your smartphone a full-fledged multitasking computer. Experiment with settings, find proportions and app combinations that are convenient for you to unlock the potential of your device at 100%.