Multitasking is a key requirement for modern smartphone users, especially when it comes to mid-range devices. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 owners often face the need to use multiple applications simultaneously, for example, to chat while watching videos or comparing products in an online store. The built-in Split Screen feature allows you to effectively divide the display into two independent areas, significantly improving productivity.
But the standard MIUI interface doesn't always intuitively tell you how to activate this mode, because it's hidden in the depths of system settings or requires specific gestures. Many users mistakenly believe that their device doesn't work in two windows, when in fact the problem lies in the lack of activation of the corresponding switch. Understanding the intricacies of the system setup will open up new possibilities for managing content on your gadget.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to activate split screen, from standard methods to hidden shell features, learn how to properly adjust window proportions, which applications work best in this mode, and how to avoid common errors that can lead to system freezes or incorrect display of the interface.
Activation of the function in system settings
The first and most reliable step to access split screen mode is to check system settings. By default, on many global versions of MIUI firmware, this option can be disabled to save resources or simplify the interface for beginners. You need to find a special switch that unlocks the ability to control multiple windows at once.
To start, open the settings menu of your smartphone and find the section for additional features. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system installed, but the logic remains the same. Go to Settings → Additional features where you need to find the "Share-Share" item. This is where the master switch that includes this technology hides.
⚠️ Note: Once this feature is enabled in the settings, the system may require the interface or device itself to restart to apply the changes.
Once the switch is activated, the system will remember your choice and the feature will be available for use through gestures or menus of recent applications. It is important to understand that enabling this option does not create new shortcuts on the desktop, but only adds the ability to run applications in a specific mode. If you did not find this item, perhaps your version of the shell already has it turned on by default or it is moved to the "Special features" section.
Launching through the menu of recent apps
The most common and convenient way to run Split Screen mode on Redmi Note 10 is to use the menu of running applications. This method does not require installing third-party software and works at the system level, ensuring stable operation even with high CPU load. However, many users simply flip the list of windows without noticing the hidden controls.
To activate the separation, open the menu of recent apps by swiping from the bottom up and holding your finger in the center of the screen (when you control gestures) or pressing the appropriate navigation button. Find the app you want to pin at the top of the screen and swipe it to preview. Unlike closing the application, swipe right or left (depending on the settings) or long tap will open an additional menu with action icons.
- 📱 Find an icon that resembles two rectangles located above each other – this is the button to start the split screen mode.
- 👆 Click on this icon and the selected application will occupy the top half of the display, and at the bottom there will be a list of other running programs.
- 🔄 Select the second app from the list so that it occupies the remaining free area of the screen, creating a full multitasking interface.
If you don’t see a split screen icon after swiping through the app window, it means either the feature is not activated in the settings as described in the previous section, or the particular application doesn’t support split mode. Some programs, especially games and video players DRM-protection, may block this ability to maintain performance or protect content.
☑️ Pre-launch checks
Using the sidebar for quick access
For those who appreciate speed and convenience, the MIUI shell offers the use of a sidebar (Sidebar), a floating menu that is always available on top of any application and allows you to instantly run minor programs in split-screen mode, which is ideal for a quick response to a message while playing or watching a video.
To use this method, you first need to configure the panel itself. Go to Settings → Additional Features → Sidebar and activate the Always Display switch. Here you can choose which apps will appear in the Quick Access List. Once you set up, when you are in any application, just swipe from the edge of the screen to call the panel.
In the sidebar list, click on the app icon, but not just click, but select Open in a floating window, or drag it to the split area if the system offers one. Often, just click on the icon and the app will open on top of the current content, after which it can be stretched half the screen, giving you the flexibility to manage the display space without having to go to the menu of recent tasks every time.
How do you remove the sidebar?
The sidebar is particularly effective on larger screens such as the Redmi Note 10, where the display area allows you to comfortably place two full windows. However, it is worth remembering that running heavy applications through the sidebar can take longer to load, as the system must reallocate CPU resources between two active tasks.
Controlling windows and changing proportions
Once you've successfully split the screen in two, you have the flexibility to manage the space, the boundary between the windows is not static, it can be moved by changing the proportions of the content, and this is critical when one application requires more attention, such as a keyboard when typing or a detail when reading a document.
At the boundary between the two windows, you'll see a special stripe separator, and by pressing and holding it, you can drag the boundary up or down, changing the size of the active area of each application. The system allows you to set almost any proportions, although for comfortable use it is recommended to leave each window at least 30-40% screen-space.
| Action. | The result | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Dragging the separator | Change the size of windows | You can make one window a minimum. |
| Pressing the divider (short) | Action menu with window | Close, deploy, swap places. |
| Swipe down the window | Closure of the annex | Makes room for the second window |
| Double tap on the divider | 50/50 alignment | Returns the standard proportions |
Also, in the action menu, which is called by clicking on a separator or swiping through a window, there is an application replacement feature, you can replace one of the open applications with another without leaving the split-screen mode, which allows you to quickly switch the context of work, saving, for example, the video player at the top and changing the messengers at the bottom.
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Use 70/30 mode when you need to focus on one application but keep the other one visible for notifications, which is the optimal balance for document management and correspondence.
Application compatibility and limitations
Not all applications in the Android ecosystem, and specifically in the MIUI shell, support split-screen operation. Software developers decide whether to adapt their interface to multi-window mode. Most often, restrictions apply to applications that require constant full-screen display or vertical orientation.
For example, many games, especially shooters and real-time strategy games, may not open in the second window or be forced to unfold full-screen, closing the first application, and restrictions are often found in banking applications for security reasons, as well as in some video services that protect content from copying.
- 🎮 Games often block split screen to prevent cheating and ensure stable playback. FPS.
- 🏦 Banking applications may be forced to close or not run in Split Screen due to security policy.
- 📺 Video services (Netflix, Disney)+) They can display black screen instead of split screen video because of protection. HDCP.
If you are faced with a situation where the application does not want to open in the second window, try to update it through the Google Play store or GetApps. In new versions, developers often add support for multitasking. In extreme cases, you can use third-party utilities that force the split-screen mode, but this can lead to unstable application operation.
⚠️ Warning: Forced split-screen mode for incompatible applications through an engineering menu or ADB-commands can lead to visual bugs, improper overlapping of interface layers, and even cyclical system reboots.
Solution and troubleshooting
Even on a reliable device like the Redmi Note 10, there may be situations when the split screen function is not working correctly, users may find that windows do not open, the interface floats or one of the applications freezes, most often the problem is overflowing memory or conflicting versions of applications.
First, if you have problems, try to clear RAM by closing all background applications. If that doesn't work, check for updates for the system and the applications themselves. Often Split Screen bugs are fixed in MIUI security patches. It's also worth checking if the "Energy Saving" mode is turned on, which can limit the background activity of the second window.
In some cases, resetting the settings of a particular application that is causing problems helps. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the problem software and select Clear Data. This will return the application to the “out of the box” state, which often eliminates software errors that interfere with multitasking.
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The stability of the split-screen mode depends on the amount of free RAM. Close heavy applications before starting Split Screen for maximum performance.