Multitasking on modern smartphones has become a marketing slogan and a real tool for work and entertainment. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often underestimate the capabilities of their operating system, without even knowing that they can simultaneously watch videos and chat in the messenger. The split screen function, or Split Screen, allows you to effectively use the display space, turning the phone into a mini-tablet.
Activating this mode can dramatically change the way you use your gadget in your daily life, so you no longer have to constantly switch between tabs to copy text or check information, but not everyone knows exactly where this setting is hiding, because different versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells may have different paths to it, and in this article we will discuss all the ways of activation in detail.
It’s worth noting that the function depends not only on the firmware version, but also on the optimization of the applications themselves. Some programs can be forced to close or incorrectly scale when running in window mode. However, for most popular services, this mode works steadily and opens up new horizons for using the interface.
Preparation of the device for operation in separation mode
Before you start setting up the interface, you need to make sure that your device is technically ready for this load.Share mode requires enough RAM, so on very old models with 2 GB of RAM, the system can force applications to unload from memory.
It’s also important to check the operating system version. Split Screen is fully supported starting with Android 7.0 Nougat, but it works most consistently in MIUI 10 and later. If you have a very old version of the software installed, you may need to upgrade to the current build to properly display the controls.
Most applications in split mode require a horizontal position of the device for comfortable use, although vertical mode is also supported. On small screens (less than 5 inches), the interface may look compressed, so the optimal diagonal size for Split Screen is 6 inches or higher.
⚠️ Note: When activating split screen, battery consumption can increase significantly, as the processor processes two active applications simultaneously.
For a comfortable experience, make sure that the display does not include high brightness modes or special blue light filters that can distort the color reproduction in reduced windows. Customize the screen settings in Settings → The screen will help calibrate the image before starting work.
Activation of the function through system settings
The most reliable way to enable split screen is to activate the appropriate switch in the system settings. By default, on some global firmware versions, this option can be hidden or disabled. To access it, you need to go to the settings menu and find the section responsible for additional interface functions.
In modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the path could be: Settings → Additional Features → Screen Sharing. In older versions of the shell, the menu could be located at Settings → Advanced Settings → Screen Partition. Once you go to the desired partition, you will see a switch that you need to activate.
- 📱 Go to the main menu settings of your smartphone.
- 🔍 Find the "Additional Features" or "Advanced Settings" section».
- 🖥️ Select the "Screen Partition" option and activate the slider.
- ✅ Check the appearance of the appropriate icon in the menu of running applications.
Once this option is enabled, the system will allow applications to run in window mode. In some cases, it may be necessary to restart the device to make the changes effective. If the switch is missing, your regional firmware version may have limitations and alternative activation methods will be required.
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If you haven’t found a menu item, search by settings by typing “Separation” or “Split screen” in the search bar at the top of the settings screen.
It’s important to understand that activation in settings only gives the system permission to use the mode, but does not trigger it automatically. The next step is to explore ways to directly trigger the separation for specific applications through the multitasking menu or gestures.
Starting the separation through the multitasking menu
The most common and intuitive way to run Split Screen on Xiaomi devices is to use the menu of running apps, which works on almost all models, regardless of the Android version, provided that the function is allowed in the system settings. The algorithm is simple, but requires some skill when you first use it.
To start, open the first app you plan to use. Then fold it and open the second app. Then call the multitasking menu by swiping up and holding your finger (when you use gestures) or pressing the Menu button (when you use navigation buttons).
On the app card or next to its name, a special icon should appear that resembles two rectangles separated by a line. Clicking on this icon will fold the application and prompt you to choose a second application for splitting the screen. If there is no icon, try pressing and holding your finger on the application preview or on its name.
☑️ Checking the launch of Split Screen
Once you select the second app, the screen will split into two parts. You can move the boundary between the windows by changing the proportions of the display. The top or left window is usually the priority, and the bottom or right window can be closed at any time. Each window is controlled independently, allowing, for example, to watch video and type a message simultaneously.
Not all apps support this mode, but Android’s system limitations prevent some heavy games or specialized software from running in a split screen, in which case the system will notify you that the app does not support splitting, or simply run it on the full screen by closing the second window.
Using the sidebar for quick access
For users who often use split-screen mode, the Sidebar is a great solution, which allows you to run applications in a floating or split-window in just one click without closing the current task, which is especially convenient for messengers, calculators or notes.
To activate the sidebar, go to Settings → Additional Features → Sidebar. You need to turn on the panel display and select the applications that will be available for quick launch. After setting up, a semi-transparent bar will appear on the screen that calls up a list of selected programs.
The way it works is simple: you're in any application, you call the sidebar and you drag and drop the program on the screen. The system automatically offers you the placement options: on top of the current window or split the screen. The choice of split mode instantly creates a second active layer.
- 📂 Add frequently used apps to the sidebar list.
- 👆 Call the swipe panel from the edge of the screen.
- 🔄 Drag the app icon to the center of the screen to activate Split Screen.
- ⚙️ Customize the size and transparency of the panel for convenience.
The sidebar is particularly effective when working with documents or tables, when you need to quickly check data from another source, but it is worth remembering that the simultaneous operation of many applications through the panel can increase the load on the device’s RAM.
Sidebar secrets
Using this method requires getting used to gestures, but it speeds up the workflow significantly. You can keep your browser open with instructions and simultaneously chat to Telegram or WhatsApp without losing context in any of the applications.
Specifics of work on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shells are constantly updated, and with each release, the logic of the interface changes. MIUI 12 and MIUI 13 emphasized visual effects, and window management was less flexible. Users often encountered windows that did not stretch to the full screen or stuck when closed.
With MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the multitasking engine was heavily optimized, memory was improved, windows opened faster, and application compatibility expanded, and new versions offered the ability to fine-tune window size and position on the screen.
Below is a table showing the differences in support for functions across different versions of the software:
| Shell version | Split Screen Support | Sidebar. | Floating windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 | Basic | Absent. | Limited. |
| MIUI 12.5 | Stable. | Basic | Supported |
| MIUI 14 | Optimized | Expanded | Improved. |
| HyperOS | Complete. | Integrated | High productivity |
Owners of HyperOS devices have new gestures for controlling windows, such as swipes to close or resize, and improved work with external displays: when you connect a monitor, the split screen mode is transformed into a full desktop interface.
⚠️ Note: When updating the firmware, the sidebar settings and split-screen application lists may be reset. It is recommended to recheck the configuration after installing the updates.
If you notice that after updating the firmware function stopped working correctly, try clearing the cache of the system application "Security" or reset the launcher settings. This often solves problems with displaying interface elements.
Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
Despite the high stability of the system, users can face various problems when using split screen. One of the common problems is the inability to start a second application or spontaneously close one of the windows, which is often due to a lack of free RAM.
Another common situation is that the interface is not scalable correctly, and the application can be displayed in a narrow bandwidth or, conversely, go beyond the screen, in which case it helps to change the orientation of the device or force the windows to change the size through the system settings for developers.
If the function has ceased to respond, follow the following steps:
- 🔄 Reboot the device to reset temporary files.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the problem app.
- 📉 Close all background processes before starting Split Screen.
- 🛠️ Check for updates to the system and applications.
Also worth mentioning is third-party launcher conflicts: If you use a non-standard desktop shell, the split screen function may not work properly or at all, in which case it is recommended to temporarily return to the standard launcher POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher.
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Most split-screen issues are solved by restarting the device or updating apps to the latest version from the Play Market store.
In rare cases, installed themes are the cause of failures; third-party themes can change the system files that are responsible for animation and positioning of windows. If you encounter errors, try switching to a standard theme of design.