Xiaomi smartphone owners often wonder how to effectively use a large display device to perform several tasks at once. The ability to run two applications at once opens up new horizons in multitasking, allowing you to text in the messenger while you watch a video, or copy text from one source to another without unnecessary switching. Split screen is one of the most useful features that is built into the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS, but it is not always obvious to new users.
The Android system that underpins Xiaomi devices provides powerful tools for managing windows, but their activation may vary depending on the firmware version. In this article, we will detail all the available ways to activate the two-window mode, including standard methods and hidden settings for advanced users.
Before we get into the instructions, it’s worth noting that splitting screens isn’t supported by all apps. Some programs, especially games or specialized software, may block this feature for the sake of performance or because of interface features. However, most popular social networks, browsers and multimedia services work perfectly in multi-window mode on Xiaomi devices.
Standard activation method through the menu of recent applications
The easiest and most common way to run two apps simultaneously on Xiaomi is to use the task menu, which works on most versions of MIUI and doesn’t require additional features to be included in the developer menu.
Once the app is up, swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger to open the Recent Apps menu. In this list, you'll see cards of all the open programs. Find the card of the desired application and notice the additional icons that appear with a long press or just appear next to the name.
Click on an icon that looks like two rectangles or has the caption "Separate." The screen will automatically split in half: the top will remain the selected application, and the bottom will open a list of other programs to select the second window. If you do not see this button right away, try pressing and holding the application name at the top of the recent task card.
⚠️ Note: On some versions of the shell MIUI The split-screen button may be hidden. If you can't see the two-rectangle icon, try clicking on the three dots in the top right of the app card in the recent task menu -- the option may be there.
Once you select the second application, the system will ask you to adjust the separation proportions, so you can move the black dividing line up or down by changing the size of the active window, which is especially useful if you need more space to watch videos or type.
Using the sidebar for quick access
The second, equally convenient way to run two screens on Xiaomi’s Android is to use the Sidebar feature, which allows you to run applications as floating windows over the main interface, which is essentially a variation of the split screen, and you need to go to the device settings to activate this feature.
Open Settings and find the Additional Features section. In the option list, select Sidebar (or Floating Windows depending on the firmware version), where you need to activate the switch to make the feature work, and select the applications you want to see in quick access.
Once set up, the sidebar will appear as a small transparent bar on the side of the screen. When you're working in any application, just swipe from the edge of the screen to call the panel, and click on the program icon you want, and it will open in a floating window that you can move around the screen and resize it.
- 📱 Allows you to run up to 9 apps in floating window mode at the same time.
- 🎮 Perfect for gaming when you need to answer a message without leaving the game.
- ⚙️ Customizable transparency and floating window size for maximum comfort.
It's important to understand the difference between a split screen and a floating window. In the first case, the screen is divided in half (or in a predetermined proportion), and both applications are active. In the second case, one application is the main one, and the second one hovers above it, occupying less space, and the choice of method depends on your current tasks.
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Use a sidebar for calculator or notes – this will allow you to do calculations or write information without interrupting the work in the main application, for example, in Excel or browser.
Set up special features for advanced users
If standard methods don't work for you or don't work well, you can use feature settings, which in some cases is the only way to activate split screens on older versions of Android or in specific use cases, and this method requires careful attention because it affects system settings.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. In the list of available services, find the item related to window management or split screen. On Xiaomi devices, there may be a “Share Screen” switch that forcibly activates this feature for all compatible applications.
You can also configure one-handed control in this section, which sometimes conflicts with the two-window mode. If you have problems scaling or responding to the touchscreen when split is enabled, check if the extra scaling features are activated.
| Function | Location on the menu | What do you need? |
|---|---|---|
| Sidebar. | Additional functions | Launching floating windows |
| Screen splitting | Menu of recent challenges | Divide the screen in half. |
| Floating window | Clicking on the name in tasks | A window over other apps |
| Special opportunities | Advanced settings | Forced activation |
Using these settings gives you complete control over how apps are displayed on the display, but it’s worth remembering that having too many active windows can lead to increased battery consumption and device heat, especially on models from the past.
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Controlling and changing window sizes
Once you've managed to turn on two screens on Xiaomi's Android, it's important to learn how to manage them properly. MIUI provides flexible tools to customize the look and feel of each running application. The main control tool is the dividing line.
To resize windows, tap the black bar in the middle of the screen and drag it up or down. Some versions of the shell have a "fix" size feature where one app takes 2/3 of the screen and the other 1/3. This is useful if you're watching high-resolution video and responding to messages in parallel.
To close one of the windows, just drag the dividing line to the very edge of the screen, and you can roll the app into a floating window by pressing the corresponding button in the center of the dividing strip (usually three dots or a swerve icon), which allows you to temporarily remove the second app from your eyes without completely closing it.
- 🔄 Quick switching between applications is carried out by swipe on the dividing line.
- ❌ Closing both windows immediately occurs through the recent task menu with the “Clear All” button».
- 📐 Accurate adjustment of proportions is available only in the horizontal mode of the smartphone.
Remember that in horizontal mode (album orientation), the split screen is much wider, and many users don't know that when you rotate the device, the interface adapts, allowing you to work comfortably with two documents or tables side by side.
Solving Screen Split Problems
Despite the stability of MIUI, users may find themselves in a situation where the split screen function is not working or is not working properly, often because the particular application is not optimized for multi-window mode, in which case the system will simply prevent you from running the second window.
Another common reason is a lack of RAM: If you have a lot of heavy applications open in the background, the system can block the launch of new windows to prevent the device from freezing, in which case it is recommended to close unnecessary processes through the memory cleanup menu.
⚠️ Note: If the screen starts flashing or the app closes immediately after trying to split, try clearing that app's cache through Settings → Annexes → Application management: Accumulated errors can interfere with the correct operation of the function.
It’s also worth checking for system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix interface bugs. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version to check for new firmware. Updating to the current version often solves application compatibility issues.
☑️ Diagnostics of screen problems
Features of work in HyperOS mode
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on Xiaomi’s new smartphones, the algorithms for working with windows have been improved. Now the system better recognizes use cases and suggests running the application in a floating window or splitting the screen.
HyperOS has improved mode-to-mode transition animations and more intelligent CPU resource allocation. If you upgrade to a new shell, look for new gestures: for example, a swipe three fingers up can now activate a screenshot or split-screen start if it is configured in the appropriate menu.
And the new system also allows you to save usage scenarios, so you can set up a group of apps that always have to open together in a split screen, which is especially useful for work, when you need messenger, mail and browser all the time.
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HyperOS greatly improves multitasking by optimizing memory, so on new devices with this shell, screen splitting works smoother and with less power consumption.
To sum up, turning on two screens on Xiaomi’s Android is a simple process that greatly improves smartphone efficiency. Whether you’re using the classic MIUI or the new HyperOS, multitasking tools are always at hand.