Multitasking on smartphones has long ceased to be just a marketing term, becoming a necessity for modern users. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often wonder how to turn on floating windows to simultaneously chat in the messenger and watch videos or work with documents. Implementation of this feature in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS allows you to turn your smartphone into a powerful working tool that emulates the behavior of desktop operating systems.
MIUI offers multiple modes of application, and understanding the differences is critical to making a good use of the gadget. Full-screen running isn't always convenient, especially on large-screen models. That's why developers have implemented a flexible window system that can be scaled, moved and folded depending on the user's current tasks.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to activate floating mode, hidden settings and nuances of working with device memory. You will learn how to configure a split screen, use a sidebar and what are the limitations for different versions of Android.
Basic interface settings and system preparation
Before you start activating additional features, you need to make sure that the basic system settings allow you to use advanced multitasking capabilities. In some cases, the function can be disabled by default or limited to power saving modes. The first step is always to check the version of MIUI or HyperOS, as the menu layout may differ.
Find the Settings section for additional features in the Settings menu. Depending on your Redmi Note model or Xiaomi 14's flagship, the path can vary. It's usually in the Special Features section or directly in the main system settings.
Xiaomi automatically allocates CPU resources to active applications. If you have a hard power saving mode on, the system can force the background processes to close, which will make the floating windows unstable.
⚠️ Note: On older models with less than 4 GB of RAM, activating too many floating windows can lead to a noticeable decrease in system performance and heating of the case.
Access to advanced developer settings sometimes requires activating a hidden menu, which is done by repeatedly tapping the build number in the About section. However, for basic operation of floating windows, root rights or developer mode are not usually required, all functions are built into the standard shell interface.
Make sure your app is updated to the latest version via Google Play or GetApps. Some programs may not display properly in floating mode if their code is not optimized to modern Android standards.
Activation through the sidebar (Sidebar)
The most convenient and quick way to run applications in floating mode is to use the sidebar. This tool is a narrow stripe hidden on the side of the screen, which is always on top of other windows. To activate it, go to Settings → Additional Features → Floating Windows (or Sidebar).
When you turn on the Sidebar slider, you'll see a subtle indicator on the screen, and if you swipe from the edge of the screen to the center, you'll see a list of favorite apps, and that's where you're most comfortable running a calculator, notes, or messengers on top of other programs, and you can adjust the transparency and position of that panel.
☑️ Setting up the sidebar
In the sidebar control menu, you can choose which apps will be available for quick launch, which helps you avoid chaos and keep only the right software, such as Telegram or YouTube, on hand. Adding apps is done by simply dragging and dropping or through the list editing menu.
It is important to note that not all applications support floating mode equally well. Some games or heavy graphics editors may be forced to unfold to the full screen or, conversely, not run in the window due to resolution limitations.
The sidebar also allows you to quickly switch between running floating windows, so if you have multiple windows open, they will be displayed as thumbnails inside the panel, making it easier to navigate and manage without having to close the main application you're currently working on.
Use of split screen mode
Split Screen is a classic multitasking option that divides the display into two equal or proportional parts. To activate it, open the menu of recent apps (a swipe from the bottom up and hold or square button). Above the thumbnail of the application, click on an icon resembling two rectangles or three dots, and select "Share Screen".
Once you select the first application, the system will suggest you choose the second one, split horizontally or vertically depending on the orientation of the device, and in this mode you can fully interact with both windows, although one of them will take priority in the consumption of RAM resources.
| Parameter | Floating window | Split screen | Full screen mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area occupied | Part of the screen (adjustable) | 50% of the screen (approximately) | 100% screen |
| Number of windows | Up to 9. | Maximum 2 | 1 |
| Resource priority | Low/Mediocre | High (for both) | Maximum |
| Ease of input | Average. | High. | Maximum. |
In split-screen mode, you can drag and drop text and images between windows. You can copy the address from the browser at the top and paste it into the navigator or messenger at the bottom, which is especially useful for working with documents in Google Docs or WPS Office.
To exit split-screen mode, you just drag the central dividing line to the end up or down. You can also just run a third application in full-screen mode, which automatically closes the split mode. Some Xiaomi models allow you to save pairs of applications for quick launch in this mode.
Navigation of gestures and window management
Floating windows are controlled by a gesture system that may not be obvious to beginners. Each floating window has a header with control buttons: roll, unfold to the full screen and close. By pulling at the bottom corner of the window, you can resize it, adapting it to the contents.
If you use gesture navigation (swipes instead of buttons), swiping from the bottom up and holding your finger will open up the menu of recent apps, from there you can run the app in floating mode if this option is available in the context menu, and on devices with navigation buttons you need to press and hold the Menu button (square) after you start the application.
The way you move the windows is by squeezing the top (header) and dragging it to the right area of the screen, you can glue it to one edge, turn it into a sidebar, or let it go in the center, and the system will tell you what areas are available when you drag and drop.
Turning the floating window down turns it into a little icon getting stuck over the interface, allowing you to temporarily free up space without closing the app completely, and by tapping the icon, you instantly return the window to its previous state, which is convenient when you watch a video or wait for a message.
Special attention should be paid to gesture conflicts. Sometimes a swipe to control a window may overlap with a swipe to return or call a menu. In such cases, the prioritizes action associated with an active window. Practice and habit quickly eliminate any inconvenience in management.
Application-specific work and compatibility
Not all apps are equally good at floating windows. Video players like YouTube or VK Video are great at scaling and allowing you to continue browsing while you're chatting. Social media also supports this mode, allowing you to keep multiple conversations open at once.
However, there are limitations: Some banking and cheating apps can block a floating launch or take screenshots black for security reasons, a normal behavior driven by Android and the app developers’ security policies.
⚠️ Warning: When using navigation apps (maps) in floating mode, make sure the screen doesn't go out, otherwise navigation may interrupt.
For office tasks, Microsoft Word documents or Excel spreadsheets are ideal. You can open a document in a floating window and chat in the mail at the same time. Text copied in one window is easily inserted into another thanks to the system's clipboard.
If the app doesn't want to open in a window, try running it first in full screen mode, then activate the sidebar and drag the icon of the second app over the first.This "forced" split screen method works most of the time, even if there's no regular button.
Solving common problems and failures
Users may experience a situation where the floating window freezes, doesn't close, or overlaps important interface elements, and first try restarting the application through the application settings menu, often solving the problem of a hanging process.
If the problem is systemic, check for updates to the MIUI shell. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches to fix multitasking bugs. It’s also worth clearing the cache of the Security app, which manages permissions and background processes.
What to do if the window does not close?
Sometimes floating windows can disappear after locking the screen or rebooting, and this is due to aggressive battery optimization. To prevent this, find the desired application in the installed list, go to Battery and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from closing the application.
In rare cases, it may be necessary to reset special features settings. This will not delete your personal data, but will return the interface configuration to factory values. Path to reset: Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset → Resetting special features settings.
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Use Screen Lock if you are afraid to accidentally close an important floating window, which is the current interface before entering your password or pattern lock.
Optimizing Performance with Multitasking
Multiple applications work simultaneously, loading the processor and RAM. To prevent the smartphone from slowing down, close unused heavy applications. Background processes, such as downloading large files or updating games, it is better to pause.
In the Memory Extension settings (if available on your model), you can temporarily use some of your internal memory as RAM, which will help the smoother system handle many open windows, but it is worth remembering that the speed of such virtual memory is lower than that of the physical.
Visual effects also consume resources. If you notice lags when dragging windows, try reducing the screen refresh rate to 60Hz or turning off the animation of windows in the developer menu, which will make the interface more responsive.
⚠️ Warning: The long run of many floating windows, especially video players, can cause the device to heat up significantly.
Regularly cleaning the system cache and unnecessary files also helps keep things running. Xiaomi’s built-in Security app does a great job of doing this. Run optimization at least once every few days to keep things running smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I open more than two floating windows at the same time?
Why doesn’t the floating window button appear on the menu of recent apps?
Will the sound in the floating window remain if I roll it?
Does the use of floating windows affect battery consumption?
How to move a floating window to split screen mode?
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Floating windows on Xiaomi are a powerful productivity tool that turns a smartphone into a mini-computer, allowing you to efficiently manage multiple tasks simultaneously without losing data.