How to Remove a Floating Window on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where intrusive interface elements suddenly appear on the screen. This can be advertising, pop-up notifications from apps or system widgets that interfere with the view. A floating window on Xiaomi can be both a useful feature of multitasking, and the result of erroneous settings or the work of advertising modules. Understanding the nature of these windows is the first step to comfortable use of the device.

In most cases, users want to get rid of visual noise to focus on content or play. MIUI and the new HyperOS offer flexible window management tools, but they are often hidden deep in the menu. You don't need to be an Android expert to clean up your mess. We'll take a look at all possible scenarios, from turning off system advertising to setting up the Floating Windows feature.

Sometimes the problem is not with the system, but with third-party apps that aggressively use permissions to display on top of other windows. It is critical to distinguish system notifications from malicious advertising, as the methods for eliminating them are radically different. Below are proven algorithms of actions that will help you clean the screen of excess debris.

Disabling MSA System Advertising

The most common cause of unwanted windows is MIUI System Ads (msa), a system component that is responsible for displaying advertising content in standard applications. Even if you haven't noticed explicit advertising, this process can create background windows or pop-up prompts, and disabling this service is a must-have for clean interfaces.

First, you need to go to authorization settings. Find passwords and security and select Data Access. In the list, find msa and turn off the switch. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then prompt you to confirm the action. If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure 2-3 times - Xiaomi servers sometimes refuse.

⚠️ Warning: After disabling msa, ads in system applications may not disappear immediately. Reboot the device and wait up to 24 hours for a full configuration update.

Also worth checking is personalization settings. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to data and disable MSA, MIUI Daemon and Mi Video. This will limit the collection of statistics and display of advertising windows. Some users note that after these actions, the interface becomes noticeably more responsive.

Configure the function "Floating windows"

Floating windows allows you to run applications in a small window on top of the main screen. This is convenient for instant messengers, but can be annoying if it is activated accidentally. To remove an already open floating window, tap it and drag it to the bottom of the screen where the closing zone appears, or swipe up.

If you want to completely prevent applications from opening in this mode, you need to change your multitasking settings. Go to Settings, select Additional, and find the Floating Windows section. Here you can control the behavior of the system when you switch between running programs. Disabling this feature will return the classic interface.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to Special Opportunities.
• 🔍 Find the Floating Windows or Side Panel.
• 🚫 Turn off the Tumbler Start in a floating window for unnecessary applications.
• ✅ Check the list of apps that have permission to display on top of other windows.

It's important to distinguish between floating windows and split screens. A split screen splits the display in half, and a floating window hovers on top. They're controlled in a similar way, but the settings are in different menu sections. If you accidentally activate split screen mode, swipe your finger from the bottom edge of the screen up and hold it to see the menu of running apps, and close the extra one.

Managing permissions “Mastering on top of other applications”

Many third-party applications, such as instant messengers, voice recorders, or launchers, request permission to display on top of other applications, which allows them to display their windows on top of any content, and if malicious or poorly optimized software has that permission, it leads to chaotic windows.

To check who has access to this tool, go to Settings, search for “over” or go to Applications → Application Management → Special Access → Display on top of other applications. You will see a list of all programs that can overlap the screen.

If you see an app on the list that you don't recognize, or a simple game that doesn't need to be overlaid, turn it off immediately. Often, these programs become the source of advertising. After changing the settings, it is recommended to restart the Xiaomi smartphone for application of changes.

Blocking pop-up windows in the browser

Often, floating windows are not part of the system, but the result of surfing the Internet. Chrome-based browsers or the built-in MI Browser can be overflowing with pop-up ads, which is solved by setting up built-in blockers.

In the standard MI Browser, go to settings (three bars in the corner), select Settings → Ad Block and activate the feature. It is also useful to enable Safe Browsing. This will reduce the number of trash windows when reading news or watching videos.

For Google Chrome users, the situation is similar: Open a three-dot menu, go to Settings → Site Settings → Pop-ups and redirects. Make sure the slider is in the “Blocked” position. This will prevent new tabs from opening without your consent.

Resetting notification settings and cleaning the cache

Sometimes the problem is cumulative, and a system service cache or a crowded notification database can cause windows to fail, in which case cleaning the security cache and system components helps.

Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find the Security app (green icon with shield). Click Clear → Clear cache. Don't worry, your personal files and photos won't be affected. Then follow the same procedure for Explorer and Downloads.

• 🧹 Open the Security app.
• 🗑️ Click on the broom icon for quick trash cleaning.
• ⚙️ Go to the antivirus settings and perform a deep scan.
• 🔄 Restart the device after all operations are completed.

If windows keep popping up, try resetting all apps. This will return permissions and program behaviors to factory values, but won't delete your data. Way: Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Resetting all settings (not to be confused with a full data reset!).

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Use Do Not Disturb mode when playing games or watching videos, and it automatically blocks pop-up notifications and windows, except for selected contacts.

Use of Do Not Disturb and Game Mode

To fully control the windows while actively using the smartphone, Xiaomi offers Game Turbo (Game mode). Even if you are not playing, adding a frequently used application (such as YouTube or a browser) will help block external intrusions.

Activate Game Turbo via the Security app. In the mode settings, select Accelerate Games and make sure notification lock is enabled. Now, when you run added apps, the system will block all incoming windows except for system critical errors.

⚠️ Warning: Calls may be disabled in game mode. Set up exceptions for important contacts so you don't miss an urgent call.

There's also a Do Not Disturb mode that activates through the control center (swipe down on the right), which hides all notifications and blocks the screen from random switching ons, which is a temporary but effective solution for concentration.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling MSA, checking permissions and clearing the cache is guaranteed to save your Xiaomi from intrusive windows.