How to enable screen splitting on Xiaomi in settings

Multitasking is becoming an integral part of using a modern smartphone, allowing you to chat in the messenger and watch videos or compare products in the online store without switching between tabs. Devices from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often look for a way to activate this feature, as standard window management significantly improves productivity. However, the path to inclusion may differ depending on the version of the installed shell MIUI or the new HyperOS.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for activating split-screen mode, from classic system settings to hidden sidebar capabilities. You will learn how to properly scale windows, which applications support this feature and what to do if standard methods do not work. Once you master these skills, you will turn your gadget into a powerful tool for work and entertainment.

It's worth noting that the menu interface may vary slightly across different device models, but the logic of the action remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the Chinese manufacturer. We'll look at the nuances for old and new versions of firmware, so that the instruction is relevant for the maximum number of users. Get ready to optimize your workspace on the display.

Basic activation via the menu of recent apps

The most common and quick way to run two apps at once is to use the standard running task menu, which doesn't require a deep dive into complex system settings and is available out of the box on most devices. To start, open a few of any programs to appear on the recent action list.

Then swipe gesture from the bottom up (or press the appropriate navigation button) to call the running process control screen. In the upper right corner of the application card you want to pin at the top of the screen, a special icon will appear. On different versions of the shells, it can look like two horizontal bars or a Split screen symbol.

Once you click on this icon, the current window will collapse and occupy the top half of the display, and at the bottom, the system will suggest selecting a second application from a list of recently used ones. If the desired program is not in the proposed list, you can open a full list of all installed applications and find the required ones there. This is the basic mechanism that should work on any version of Android running MIUI.

It is important to understand that not all applications are optimized for window mode. Some games or specific utilities may be forced to unfold to the full screen or not run at all in conjunction with other software, in which case the system usually gives a notification that it is impossible to separate.

Setting up the sidebar for quick access

For those who are used to using multiwindow mode all the time, the most convenient solution is to activate the sidebar of the tools, which allows you to pull out a list of applications at any time and drag it to the screen, creating a separation with a single movement of a finger, and this feature is located in the deep settings of the system.

To activate the panel, go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and find Floating Windows or Sidebar. In some firmware versions, this path may look like Special Features → Sidebar. After switching on the toggle, you need to configure which applications will be available for this feature.

You can choose specific categories of programs, such as social networks and messengers only, or leave them available for all installed applications. Once you set up, when you launch any application, a semitransparent marker will appear on the side of the screen (left or right, depending on the settings), and a swipe from this marker will open a list of fixed programs.

⚠️ Attention: Active sidebar may consume additional battery power, as it constantly monitors running processes. If you notice an accelerated discharge, try disabling the feature for unused applications.

Using a sidebar gives you flexibility: you can drag and drop apps not only to split the screen in half, but also run them as a floating window over the main content, which is especially handy when watching YouTube videos or navigating maps while chatting.

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Include in the sidebar only those applications that you use for multitasking most often, so as not to clutter the list with unnecessary icons.

Use of gestures to control windows

Modern versions of the HyperOS shell and recent MIUI updates offer advanced gesture control that speeds up windows. Instead of scrambling every time you go through the menu, users can swipe to split instantly, a technique that requires some practice but saves time.

The main gesture is to swipe from the bottom up with a little delay. When you're in the app, swipe from the bottom edge of the screen up and hold your finger in the center for a split second. The screen should "squeeze" to show a preview of the other windows. When you let your finger go, you'll see the active app move to the top, making room for the second.

There's also a method of dragging and drop from the recent apps menu, opening a task list, holding your finger on the app card, and pulling it to the top or bottom of the screen, and automatically locking a window in the selected area, which is intuitive and is like working with windows on a desktop computer.

• 📱 Swipe from the bottom with a delay activates the editing mode windows.
• 💻 Drag and drop the card in the task menu fixes the application from above or below.
• 🔄 The swipe on the dividing line changes the active window or closes it.
• 🔍 Double pressing on the dividing line changes the proportions of windows 50/50.

The dividing line between windows is also controlled by gestures: a short swipe up or down can turn one of the windows to the full screen. Long tapping on the line often causes a menu of additional actions, such as copying text from one window to another (if supported by the system).

Compatibility table for different versions of MIUI

The split-screen functionality depends on the version of the operating system installed. Xiaomi regularly updates its firmware, changing the menu layout and available features. Below is a table that helps to navigate the differences between popular shell versions.

As you can see from the table, with each new version, the interface becomes more friendly and the number of controls increases. If you use the older version of MIUI, updating to the latest version available for your model can add missing multitasking features.

Owners of devices with custom firmware or global versions should be careful: sometimes functions can be called differently depending on the region of release of the smartphone. For example, in the Chinese version of firmware, the menu can be more congested than in the global version.

Screen split solution

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may encounter situations where split screens are not turned on or are not working properly, most often the problem lies in the limitations of the applications themselves or the lack of RAM of the device. Let's look at the main reasons and ways to address them.

If the split button is inactive (gray) or missing, the specific application does not support this mode. Many banking applications, dating apps and some games block the ability to work in the background or in the window for security reasons and to prevent cheating, in which case you can not get around the restriction of regular funds.

⚠️ Warning: Attempts to force an incompatible application to run in split mode through an engineering menu can lead to unstable system operation or application crashes.

Another common reason is a lack of free RAM (RAM). If you have a lot of heavy applications running, the system can block the creation of new window processes to keep the smartphone from freezing, close unnecessary tabs in the browser and background games before trying to split the screen.

• 🚫 The app does not support the mode (frequent reason for bank customers).
• 📉 Lack of free RAM of the device.
• 🐛 Error in the current version of the firmware MIUI.
• 🔒 Parental Controls or Do Not Disturb».

It's also worth checking if the Power Saving mode is on, which restricts background activity and can prevent multiple applications from running simultaneously to save battery power. Turn off the economy mode and try again.

Setting the proportions and scaling of windows

One of the key features of modern Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to flexible control the size of windows. Standard separation of 50 by 50 percent is not suitable for everyone, especially on screens with a large number of pixels.

To resize windows, use a dividing line (the strip) that sits between two running applications. Touch that line and drag it up or down, setting the desired aspect ratio, you can make one window preview size and the other the main workspace.

In some versions of the shell, preference saving is available, so if you use a particular configuration frequently, the system can remember the last position of the separator the next time you run the same pair of applications, which increases usability and reduces the amount of action required.

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Flexible change in the size of windows allows you to adapt the interface to the content: video is more convenient to watch in a large window, and text chat can occupy a minimum area.

In addition, in split-screen mode, the “Copy from...” feature is often available. When you click on text in one window, it can automatically be copied to the clipboard to be inserted into the input field of another application, which speeds up the work with data, passwords and addresses.

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