Modern smartphone users demand maximum performance and multitasking from their devices. Xiaomi Redmi 9C, despite its budget cost, offers a wide range of options for those who know how to set up the system correctly. One of the most popular features is the floating window mode, which allows you to open several applications at once and switch between them without closing current tasks. This is especially true for those who are used to communicating in instant messengers while watching videos or reading news.
However, the standard MIUI shell interface does not always provide immediate access to these functions in the usual form. Owners of the 9C model often find that the usual gestures or buttons do not work as described on the Internet for flagship models. This is due to the optimization of the system for the limited resources of the MediaTek Helio G35 processor. However, it is quite possible to activate Mi Window mode or advanced split screen options if you know the right paths in settings and hidden commands.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to run applications in floating mode. We will look at both standard methods provided by developers and more advanced options through engineering menus or special applications. You will learn how to effectively manage windows, change their size and fix the desired programs on the screen, turning your smartphone into a powerful tool for work and entertainment.
Multitasking features on Redmi 9C
Understanding the memory architecture on your device is the first step to a successful setup. Xiaomi Redmi 9C is equipped with 2 or 3 gigabytes of RAM depending on the modification, which is a rather modest indicator for modern standards. Android Go system or the lightweight version of MIUI automatically limits the number of background processes to ensure smooth operation of the main interface. Which is why the floating windows function here works somewhat differently than on the top models of the Mi or Redmi Note series.
When you run an application in floating mode, it continues to consume CPU and RAM resources. If you run too many of these windows, the system can begin to forcefully close background tasks, which will lead to a reboot of tabs in the browser or stop downloading files. So optimizing resource use becomes critical. The user must control which applications should really remain active in the background and which can be closed.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to run more than two heavy applications (e.g., navigator and game) in floating mode at the same time, this can cause a critical system error and forced device restart due to a lack of RAM.
Also, consider the features of a screen with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels. The small size of the matrix physically limits the comfortable use of several windows at once. The interface of the controls can become too small, which makes it difficult to accurately press. However, for simple tasks such as a calculator, voice recorder or text editor, this format is ideal.
Activate through the menu of recent apps
The easiest and safest way to run an application in a floating window is to use the built-in task manager. This method does not require root rights or installing additional software. First open the desired application, then swipe from the bottom up (or click the corresponding navigation button) go to the menu of recent applications. Here you will see the cards of all running programs.
On the card of the required application, find a special icon that looks like a rectangle with two stripes or the letter W. In some versions of the firmware, this control can be hidden and only appears when you press the application card long enough. After clicking, the context menu will open, where you need to select the option Floating window or Float Window. The application immediately folds up into a small movable unit that can be moved around the screen.
☑️ Checking the readiness to start windows
It is important to note that not all applications support this mode natively. System utilities such as Calculator, Recorder or Notes float in stable mode. Social networks and instant messengers are also usually correctly displayed in a reduced format. However, some heavy games or specialized software can be forced to unfold to the full screen, ignoring the command of the system.
To control the size of the window, use special markers at the corners or stretch gestures. Pulling over the edge, you can increase the visibility or, conversely, fold the application into a thumbnail. To close the window, you just drag it to the bottom of the screen where the removal zone will appear, or click on the cross at the top of the floating block.
Use of the screen split function
If a floating window seems too small, the alternative is split-screen mode. Unlike a floating window that hovers over other applications, this mode divides the display into two equal or proportional parts. To activate, also go to the menu of recent apps and click on the split-screen icon (usually located next to the app's closing button).
Once the mode is activated, the top half of the screen is occupied by the first app, and at the bottom, the system will suggest selecting the second one, so you can select any program from the list of recently used apps, or find it in the general list of all installed applications, which allows, for example, watching YouTube videos at the top and chatting to Telegram at the bottom without switching between tabs.
| Parameter | Floating window | Split screen |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Free movement | Fixed separation |
| Number of windows | One active (usually) | Two at once. |
| Memory consumption | Average. | High. |
| Support for games | Limited. | Partial |
To change the separation ratios, pull the dividing line up or down in the middle of the screen, which will give priority to one of the applications, making its viewing area larger. However, remember that on a Redmi 9C screen with a diagonal of 6.5 inches, too much reduction of one of the windows can make the content unreadable.
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To quickly exit split screen mode, drag the dividing line completely up or down until one of the applications disappears.
Customization through special features and debugging
For more advanced users who are not satisfied with standard restrictions, there is the possibility of activating additional functions through the developer menu, which allows you to unlock hidden options for scaling and forcing applications to run in window mode. Be careful, as changing system parameters can affect the stability of the interface.
To start, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings, then select About Phone and find the MIUI Version line. Quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer. Then a new Developer item will appear in the main settings menu, in the Additional section.
Inside the developer menu, scroll down to the drawing or window section. Find Forced Scaling or Force activities to be resizable. Enabling this option allows even apps that don't officially support this feature to float, but the result can be unpredictable: the program interface can go, and the buttons become non-clickable.
⚠️ Warning: Including options in the developer menu is at your own risk. Do not change the settings that you are not sure about, so as not to disrupt the work of system services.
Also worth looking at is the Sidebar feature, which in some regions and firmware versions allows you to add applications to run quickly in a floating window, and you can find it by Settings → Special Features → Sidebar, where you can add the right utilities and swipe them from the edge of the screen in any application.
What to do if the developer menu is missing?
Third-party applications for window management
If the built-in features of MIUI 12 or 14 on Android 10-12 aren't enough, Google Play Store apps come to the rescue, creating their own layer on top of the interface, emulating the operation of floating windows. One of the most popular and proven solutions is the Floating Apps app or its counterparts, such as Multi Window for Xiaomi.
These programs work by creating a virtual desktop inside the main one, and you run an application like this, and it opens up its own interface, where you can run a browser, a calculator, a notebook, and even multiple instances of the same application, which is especially useful for those who need to have multiple conversations at the same time.
The main advantage of third-party solutions is that they are independent of the manufacturer’s system limitations, which can work even on devices with a stripped-down version of Android. However, this method has a downside: such applications consume additional battery power and take up space in RAM, which can be palpable for the Redmi 9C.
When you install this software, you'll need permission to display it over other windows, and without that permission, you'll have to go to permission settings, find the installed application, activate the appropriate switch, and you may need permission to access the storage to save the settings.
Problem Solving and Optimization
Budget smartphone owners often find that when the floating window is turned on, the phone starts to run slower, which is a normal reaction of the system to increased load, and to minimize lags, it is recommended that all unnecessary background applications be closed through the memory cleanup menu before starting multitasking mode.
Another common problem is that the floating window automatically closes when a heavy application is launched. The system prioritizes the active application by resetting less important processes. This can be solved by adding the desired application to the memory cleaner exception list (autostart).
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For the stable running of floating windows on Redmi 9C, it is critical to have at least 500 MB of free RAM before running the second application.
If the floating window is stuck and doesn't respond to touch, don't rush to reboot the phone. Try folding it up to a minimum size and then turning it around again. Often this reboots the process of rendering the application interface. It also helps to switch the theme to a standard one, since third-party themes can conflict with system windows.
Remember to regularly clean the cache of your system and applications. Accumulation of temporary files can slow down the interface, making multitasking uncomfortable. Use built-in optimization tools or proven cleaning utilities, but avoid aggressive "accelerators" that consume a lot of resources themselves.