How to make a split screen on Xiaomi Redmi Note: all the ways and settings

The split screen (or multi-window mode) feature on Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones allows you to work with two applications simultaneously – for example, chatting in the messenger and watching videos, or copying text from the browser to a document. Despite the obvious benefits, many users do not know how to activate this mode correctly or face errors when using it.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to enable split screen on Redmi Note models. 12/11/10/9 Pro and other devices with a shell MIUI. You will learn not only basic settings, but also hidden features of the mode, as well as solving typical problems - from the lack of an option on the menu to app freezes. MIUI 14/13/12, The interface and the available functions may differ significantly.

Which Redmi Note models support split screen?

The multi-window feature is available on most modern Xiaomi smartphones, but its implementation depends on the firmware version and hardware capabilities of the device.

• 📱 Redmi Note 12/12 Pro/12 Pro+ — full support MIUI 14 (including gestures for quick separation).
• 📱 Redmi Note 11/11 Pro/11S — requires updating MIUI 13.5+ steady-work.
• 📱 Redmi Note 10/10 Pro/10 Lite – Supported, but some gestures may be missing.
• 📱 Redmi Note 9/9 Pro/9T — works only MIUI 12.5+, Lags are possible while working with heavy applications.

On budget models (like the Redmi Note 8 or older), the feature can be disabled by default or run with limitations. On devices with 3GB of RAM and less multi-windows, it is often disabled due to the risk of system overload.

To check for support on your device, go to Settings → Special Features → Screen Split. If there is no option, then the feature is either disabled at the software level or you need a firmware update.

Method 1: Split screen through the panel of recent applications

This is the fastest and most versatile method, working on all supported models.

1. Open the first application you want to use in multi-window mode.
2. Click on the “Recent Apps” button (square in the bottom navigation bar or swipe up with a delay on gesture navigation).
3. In the list of open applications, find the card of the desired application and press it (on MIUI 14) or tap the application icon (on MIUI 12/13).
4. In the menu that appears, select Divide Screen (or Multi-Window).
5. Select the second app from the recent list or through the main menu.

The screen will split into two parts, and a dividing strip will appear between the windows, which can be dragged up/down to change the proportions of the windows (for example, 70/30 or 50/50).

Both applications should be open in the background

Make sure that multi-window mode is enabled in the settings

Close unnecessary applications to release RAM

Turn off the energy saving mode (it can block background work)

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⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 when using gesture navigation, a swipe up latency may not work.In this case, try swiping up and holding the app icon in the recent panel.

Method 2: Activation through system settings

If splitting doesn't work through the recent panel, it's possible that the function is disabled in the settings.

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Find the Screen Split section (on some firmware it may be called Multi-window or Multi-tasking).
3. Activate the switch "Enable Screen Split".
4. Optionally: Turn on the Gesture to split (if available) – this will allow you to activate the swipe mode from the bottom edge of the screen.

On MIUI 13 and older, you can also configure:

• 🔄 Automatic rotation – allows you to unfold windows when you turn the device.
• 📱 Show the toolbar – adds buttons to quickly close or replace applications.
• 🔒 Blocking proportions – fixes the size of windows to avoid accidental change.

Method 3: Split screen through gestures (MIUI 14 only)

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has added gesture support for fast split-screen sharing, which doesn’t work on all models, but if your device supports it, follow the instructions:

1. Open the first appendix.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger in the center (as in calling the recent panel, but with a delay).
3. Without letting go of your finger, pull up until the dividing line appears.
4. Select the second app from the list.

If the gesture doesn’t work, check its settings in Settings → Special Features → Screen Split → Gestures. You can adjust sensitivity or disable conflicting gestures (e.g., Google Assistant).

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On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, the gesture separation works more stable if you turn off the option “Smooth transitions” in the animation settings (Settings → About Phone → Additional → Windows Animation).

Table: Application compatibility with multi-window on MIUI

Not all applications support split-screen work, and here is a table of compatibility of popular multi-window services on MIUI 14/13:

If the app doesn’t support split screen, try using the web version of the app via a browser (e.g. Chrome in For PC mode) and some apps (e.g. Instagram) can be “cheated” if you first open them in a multi-window and then deploy them to the full screen through the toolbar.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even if the split-screen function is activated, users often encounter errors.

1. Multi-window is not switched on

If nothing happens when you try to split the screen:

• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes resetting temporary files helps.
• 📱 Check if the Child Mode or Focus Mode is on (they block multi-windows).
• 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI.

2.Apps fly out or lay down

This is a typical problem for devices with 3-4 GB of RAM.

• 🧹 Close all background applications before activating the multi-window.
• ⚡ Enable Performance Mode in Settings → Battery.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.

3.There is no dividing strip between windows

If the windows are not changed and the windows are not changed:

• 🔍 Swipe your finger down the center of the screen from top to bottom – sometimes the stripe is hidden.
• 🔄 Restart the multi-window (close both apps and reopen).
• 📲 Check if the option to Show the separator in the multi-window settings is disabled.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12.0.1 and below, the dividing bar may not be displayed due to a firmware bug. MIUI 12.5+.

Additional multi-window features on Xiaomi

Besides basic screen splitting, MIUI offers a few hidden features that make multitasking easier:

• 🔄 Quick App Replacement: Slip the app icon in the multi-window bar to choose another from recent.
• 📱 Floating windows: Some applications (such as Calculator or Records) can be opened in a small window over the multi-window. To do this, hold the application icon in the recent panel and select Floating window.
• 🔊 Separate sound: On MIUI 14 you can configure the output of sound from different applications to different devices (for example, music to the speaker, and video to headphones).
• 🖥️ PC mode: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) You can connect the device to the monitor and use the multi-window in horizontal mode as on the desktop.

To activate the PC mode:

1. Connect your smartphone to the monitor via USB-C → HDMI adapter.
2. In the notification that appears, select Desktop Mode.
3. Now you can open applications in separate windows, as on a computer.

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On MIUI 14 in PC mode, up to 3 simultaneously open windows are supported (for models with 8+ GB of RAM).

FAQ: Frequent questions about splitting the screen on the Redmi Note