Modern smartphones, especially powerful Xiaomi devices, often have large screens that allow you to effectively use the display space to perform several tasks at once. Split Screen mode, or Split Screen, turns your gadget into a full-fledged working tool, allowing you to text in the messenger and watch videos, or compare products in an online store and take notes. Owners of devices based on the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS can activate this feature in several ways, but standard methods are not always obvious to beginners.
Activating multitasking requires understanding the interface structure, as settings can vary depending on the firmware version and regional build. In some cases, the feature is enabled by default but hidden in deep menus, and in others it requires activation through special gestures or navigation buttons. On devices with a HyperOS shell, the activation path is often hidden in the Recent Apps menu and is called by a long tap on the icon. Understanding these nuances will save you time and nerves when trying to customize the work environment for yourself.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available split-screen activation methods, look at possible application compatibility issues, and suggest alternative solutions for models where standard functionality is not working properly. You will learn how to manage windows, change their size and fix the right programs for instant access. Let's move from theory to practice and customize your smartphone for maximum productivity.
Standard activation method through the menu of recent applications
The most common and intuitive way to run two apps simultaneously on Xiaomi smartphones is to use the task menu, which works on most devices, whether you use classic navigation buttons or full-screen gesture control. First, you need to open the first app you plan to use, such as a browser or YouTube, and turn it down by going to the desktop.
Next, call the recent app menu. If you have buttons on, press the corresponding key at the bottom of the screen. If you use gesture control, swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger in the center of the screen for a split second. In the list that opens, find the card of the first application that you launched. Here lies the key point: on many versions of MIUI, you need to press and hold your finger on the application preview or on its name at the top of the card.
After a long press, a pop-up context menu with several options will appear, among them you will find an icon resembling two rectangles located above each other, or an item called "Shared Screen." By clicking on it, you will see how the selected application has compressed and moved to the upper (or left in horizontal orientation) part of the display. Now the system will prompt you to choose the second application from the list of recently used or find it in the general list.
☑️ Pre-launch checks
Note that not all apps support this mode. Android system restrictions can block splitting screens for some games or specific utilities. If one of them curls or an error message appears after selecting the second application, then the developer has banned Split Screen mode.
Use of special gestures and navigation buttons
For users who value speed and prefer to minimize unnecessary motion on the screen, Xiaomi offers alternative methods of activating multitasking. These may not be obvious, as they are often hidden in additional interface settings. One such way involves using the Menu button in classic three-button navigation. In some design themes and firmware versions, a short press on this button when open can immediately activate the split mode if this feature has been pre-configured.
A more advanced method is available for those who are willing to dig deeper into the system settings. In the Settings menu → Additional settings → Special features → Sidebar (the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI) you can find tools for quick access. While the sidebar is more often associated with launching applications, in some configurations it allows you to drag and drop icons directly to the screen, initiating a split mode.
⚠️ Attention: Activating gestures may conflict with the settings of specific games or reading apps. If you notice swipes stopped working correctly after new features were enabled, check the sensitivity settings or temporarily turn off special features.
There's also a method that involves turning the device. On Xiaomi Pad tablets and large-screen smartphones in landscape mode, sometimes it's enough to just launch the second app and the system will suggest placing them next to you. It's part of the FreeForm function, or window mode, which is tightly integrated with split screen. Try running the app and then swiping from the corner of the screen (if the appropriate option is enabled in Settings → Special Options) to trigger a floating window, which you can then deploy to half the screen.
It's important to understand the difference between standard split screens and floating windows. In the first case, two apps divide the screen equally (or in a given proportion) and occupy the entire display area. In the second case, one application runs on top of another, which is convenient for a calculator or notes, but less effective for full work with content. The choice of method depends on your current tasks and habits of using the gadget.
Configure additional functions and hot keys
To make split-screen work even more comfortable, MIUI and HyperOS provide a number of additional tools. Once Split Screen mode is activated, you'll see a dividing line between the two windows. Drag and drop that line, you can change the proportions of the display to give priority to one of the applications. For example, you can make the video window minimal, leaving most of the screen for the browser.
At the top or bottom of each window (depending on orientation) is a small control panel, and there are important buttons: "Menu" (three dots or stripes), "Close" (cross), and the "Unfold" button. Pressing the menu button often opens up additional options, such as "Switch" (changes the top and bottom applications) or "Close", the deployment button allows you to quickly open the application to the full screen, deactivating the split mode for the second program.
Particularly noteworthy is the "App Lock" or "second window lock" feature. In some firmware versions, when you try to close one of the applications in split mode, the system may suggest closing both at once. To avoid this, you can use the lock feature in the menu of recent applications (usually this is the lock icon), although in Split Screen mode the behavior of the system can vary. It is also useful to know that turning the device to a horizontal position automatically rearranges the windows side by side, which is convenient for viewing documents or tables.
| Control element | Action. | Location. |
|---|---|---|
| Dividing line | Change the size of windows | Between applications |
| Three dots (Menu) | Additional settings, application replacement | Separator centre |
| Cross | Closing a particular window | Window corner |
| Square (Unfold) | Full screen mode | Separator centre |
Keep in mind that the two active apps simultaneously put a strain on RAM and CPU. On devices with 4GB or less of memory, this can lead to more frequent background uploads or a slight slowdown in the interface. If you notice that your smartphone is starting to run slower, close unnecessary tabs in your browser or heavy games before starting split-screen mode.
Compatibility issues and working with unsupported applications
Despite the versatility of Android, not all app developers optimize their products for split-screen operation. Often, when you try to run Split Screen, one of the applications either fails to open, or forcibly closes, or unfolds to the full screen, displacing a partner, especially for video players, high-security banking applications and some games.
There are several reasons for this.Behavior: First, the developer may have explicitly prohibited changing the window size in the application manifest; second, the application may require a specific orientation of the screen (only portrait or only landscape), which conflicts with the logic of separation; and third, some services (for example, Netflix or bank customers) block this mode for security or copyright protection (DRM).
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to bypass split-screen locking in banking apps using third-party mods can result in the bank's security service blocking your account.
What if the app you want doesn't want to work in Split Screen? There's a hidden feature in the Developer Menu that allows you to force the resize for any application. To get into this menu, you have to click on the build number in the About Phone section several times. Then, in the developer menu, look for Force activities to be resizable. Enabling this option can cause the system to display the app in the window, but the interface may look incorrect (brokerboard, clipped buttons).
Alternatively, use the FreeForm feature if it is supported by your version of MIUI. Launch the app, call the recent task menu, click on the app name and select Window.This will run the program in floating mode, which has fewer restrictions than the classic Split Screen, and allows you to move the window freely around the screen.
Alternative solutions: side panel and floating windows
If the classic splitting of the screen into two equal parts doesn’t suit you, Xiaomi offers a more flexible tool, the Sidebar, which allows you to run apps as floating windows on top of the main content, which is the perfect solution for those who want to, for example, keep a calculator, translator or messenger open while you are working in another application or watching videos.
To activate the sidebar, go to Settings → Special Features → Sidebar (or “Floating Windows”). Here you can add the desired apps to your favorites. Once you turn on the feature on the edge of the screen (left or right, depending on the settings), a thin bar will appear.