Dividing the screen on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: how to turn on and use the multi-window

Multitasking on smartphones is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity today. Xiaomi Redmi 9A owners often face the question: how to split the screen to work with two apps at the same time? For example, texting in a messenger and watching videos, or copying text from the browser to a document. Unfortunately, the standard MIUI firmware for this model does not always offer an obvious way to activate the function. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods, from official settings to workarounds for different versions of the shell.

Many users mistakenly believe that Redmi 9A does not support splitting because of budget stuffing. In fact, the multi-window feature is available, but its implementation depends on the version of MIUI and regional firmware. We tested all methods on devices with MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13 to provide relevant information. If you did not find the right item on the menu, do not be upset: below you will find alternative solutions, including gestures and third-party utilities.

Before you start, make sure your Redmi 9A is updated to the latest firmware version. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. Also check if developer features are disabled — sometimes they block multi-windows. If you have previously changed system settings through ADB or root access, some options may have been deactivated.

Official method: enable via MIUI settings

The most reliable method is to use built-in tools. MIUI. Depending on the firmware version, the path to settings may vary, but the overall algorithm is maintained. MIUI 12.5 and newer:

1. Open the phone settings (the gear icon on the home screen).

2. Go to Special Features (sometimes called Additional Features).

3. Find the option Screen split or Multi-window and activate the slider.

If this is not the case, try an alternative route:

1. Open Settings → System and device → More
2. Select button functions or gestures.
3. Scroll down to the Multitasking section.

Important: Some of the firmware for Redmi 9A has a feature called "Floating Window" which is a simplified version of split-screen, where the second app opens in a small window over the main one, and to activate it, hold your finger on the app icon in the recent task menu and select Open on the float.

Activate through the menu of recent apps

A quick way to start splitting the screen is to use the multitasking menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi 9A, but requires a certain skill:

1. Open the first application you want to use in the multi-window (e.g. YouTube).

2. Press the square button (or swipe up and hold your finger to call the recent task menu).

3. Find the app icon at the top of the screen and hold it with your finger for 1-2 seconds.

4. In the menu that appears, select Divide screen or Open top/bottom.

If the icon doesn’t appear, try another gesture:

• 📱 Double pressing the square button (for hardware button devices).
• 👆 Swipe up with app icons in recent task menu.
• 🔄 Drag the second app to the top or bottom of the screen from the multitasking menu.

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If the feature is not activated, try opening both apps first in the recent task menu, and then holding the icon of one of them to call the context menu.

Some firmwares will have a dividing line with a dot in the middle, and if you drag it up or down, you can change the proportions of the windows (e.g., make one window bigger than another), to close the multi-window, pull the dividing line to the edge of the screen, or click on the cross in the center.

Screen split gestures: hidden possibilities

MIUI offers a few hidden gestures that make multi-window work easier, and these combinations are especially useful if you have hardware buttons disabled or are using full-screen mode:

1. Three-finger swipe down: quickly roll both windows in the multi-window.

2 Double touch of the dividing line: will change the windows in places (the top will become the bottom and vice versa).

3. Holding the dividing line + swipe left/right: will close one of the windows.

To enable these gestures:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select Screen Split Gestures.
3. Activate the sliders for the desired combinations.

On Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5.2 and later, the three-finger swipe up gesture is disabled by default. To activate it, you need to manually enable the option in Settings → System and Device → Gestures → Additional gestures.

Third-party split-screen applications

If the built-in features don’t work or you’re not happy with them, you can use third-party utilities that offer advanced multi-window capabilities, including randomly resizing windows and supporting more than two apps at a time.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Redmi 9A:

• 🔹 Split Screen Launcher – creates shortcuts for fast launch of application pairs in the multi-window.
• 🔹 Floating Apps – allows you to open applications in floating windows (analogue of the float mode).
• 🔹 Multi Window – supports up to 4 windows at a time (requires root access).

Warning: Check the permissions before installing third-party apps. Some utilities request access to Special Features, which may affect security. We recommend only using Google Play programs with a rating above 4.5 and downloads above 1 million.

Check reviews and rankings on Google Play

Make sure there is no malware (use VirusTotal)

Create a MIUI restore point (in case of failure)

Disable battery optimization for the application-->

Example of Split Screen Launcher:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide the necessary permissions.
3. Choose a couple of applications you want to run in a multi-window.
4. Click Create a shortcut – an icon will appear on the home screen for a quick launch.

Problems and Solutions: Why Screen Sharing Doesn't Work

Even after you set it up properly, the function may not start, and let's look at common errors and how to fix them:

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A 2 GB of RAM simultaneously running two “heavy” applications (e.g. Chrome) + PubG Mobile can cause one of the windows to freeze or close automatically, in which case we recommend using lighter versions of applications (for example, Facebook Lite instead of the main client).

If none of the methods worked, check if the developer functions are disabled:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the option to Disable MIUI restrictions or Allow multi-window and activate it.

Optimization of multi-window work on Redmi 9A

To ensure that the split screen works consistently, follow these tips:

• 🔋 Close background applications before activating the multi-window (use Memory Cleanup in the notification curtain).
• 📶 Turn off automatic application updates in the background.
• 🎯 Use the “light” versions of apps (e.g. Messenger Lite, Twitter Lite).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone once in a while. 2-3 daylight.

For convenience, you can create a shortcut for a quick start of a multi-window:

1. Hold your finger in the free seat of the main screen.
2. Select Widgets → Tools.
3. Find the Screen Split widget and drag it to the screen.

⚠️ Note: When using multi-window on Redmi 9A high-resolution video (1080p And above that, it can slow down. To avoid lag, lower the quality of playback to 720p in the application settings (for example, on YouTube or VLC).

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On Redmi 9A, multi-windows work best with applications optimized for the small screen (messengers, notes, calculator).

Alternatives to split screen: float and pip mode

If classic split screen isn’t suitable, consider alternative modes:

• 🖼️ Floating Window: One application opens in a small window on top of another, activated by holding an icon in the menu of recent tasks.
• 📺 PiP (Picture-in-Picture) mode: The video continues to play in the mini window while you are working with another app. Supported in YouTube Premium, Google Maps and YouTube VLC.

To enable PiP mode for YouTube (without Premium):

1. Open the video in the YouTube app.
2. Click the Home button (or swipe up to return to the home screen).
3. The video will be rolled up into a small window that can be moved around the screen.

Limitation: On Redmi 9A, PiP mode doesn’t work with all apps, such as Netflix and Twitch blocking this feature on devices without official support.

FAQ: Frequent questions about splitting the screen on Redmi 9A