How to make a screen split on Xiaomi with Android 11: all ways + error solving

The split-screen (or multi-window) feature on Xiaomi’s Android 11 smartphones allows you to work with two apps simultaneously — for example, chatting in the messenger and watching videos, or copying text from the browser into notes. Despite the obvious benefits, many users face difficulties in activating this mode: somewhere the button is hidden in the depths of MIUI, somewhere the function is disabled by default, and in some cases it is completely absent due to manufacturer restrictions.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to enable split screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with Android 11 firmware (including MIUI 12, MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13). Particular attention will be paid to models where the function is hidden or unstable – for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro. You will also learn how to avoid typical errors (such as the lack of a button in the control panel) and what to do if one of the applications does not support multi-window.

1. Checking for split screen support on your Xiaomi

Before you try to activate the mode, make sure your device physically supports this feature.On some Xiaomi budget models (like the Redmi 9A or POCO C31), the screen split can be turned off at the firmware level - even if the smartphone is running Android 11.

How to check:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If you MIUI 12 or later, chances of multi-window support are high.
• 📱 Open any app (like YouTube), then swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger, a recent app bar should appear» (🟦), function.
• 🔧 Some models (such as the Mi 11 Lite) require you to pre-enable the option in the developer settings.

⚠️ Note: On Android Go Edition devices (e.g. Redmi Go or Go) POCO C3) Screen splitting is absent fundamentally - this is a limitation of the lightest version of the OS.

Method 1: Standard inclusion through the recent applications panel

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi devices with Android 11.

1. Open the first app you want to use in a multi-window (like Chrome).
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger to open the recent apps panel.
3. Click on the app icon (at the top of the window) and the context menu will appear.
4. Select the option "Share the screen" (or "Multi-window").
5. At the bottom of the screen, a list of recent apps will open – select the second for a paired display.

If the split screen button is not on the menu, then the function is disabled in the system settings.

First appendix | opens.

Recent Applications Panel activated |

Application icon clicked (not closed!)|

Selected "Separate screen" |

The second appendix is selected from the list-->

Method 2: Activation through Developer Settings

On some models (e.g. POCO F3 or Mi 10T), the split screen function is hidden and requires manual activation.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times in a row on MIUI Version until you become a developer!

Additional settings → Developer settings

Enable the free form of the multi-window

Force resize activities

Turn it on.

Reset the device.

After the reboot, a split-screen button will appear in the recent app bar — even if it wasn’t there before — which works on 90% of Xiaomi Android 11 devices, except for the most budget models.

Method 3: Splitting the screen with gestures

If your device supports gesture navigation (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 NFC), you can turn on a multi-window without the recent app panel:

1. Make sure that the settings include gesture navigation: Settings → Display → Navigation on the system → Gestures.
2. Open the first appendix.
3. Swipe up from the bottom edge and hold your finger to open the recent panel.
4. Without letting go of your finger, pull the app window upwards – it will be fixed at the top of the screen.
5. At the bottom of the screen, select the second app.

8.Frequent questions about splitting the screen on Xiaomi