Xiaomi’s MIUI-enabled mobile devices and the new HyperOS offer users a wide range of multitasking capabilities, which is especially true in today’s pace of life. One of the most popular features is the ability to use floating windows that allow you to run the messenger on top of other applications. This eliminates the need to constantly switch between tabs to respond to a message while playing or watching a video.
The pop-up chat on Xiaomi’s smartphone can be enabled in several ways, depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific interface modification. Users often have difficulty finding the right switches, as developers periodically change the location of settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all current methods of activating floating windows and answer the question of how to turn on a pop-up chat on the shaomi as efficiently as possible.
It is worth noting that the functionality of floating windows is not limited to messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp. The system allows you to display as a separate layer of almost any installed application, turning your smartphone into a powerful tool for simultaneous execution of several tasks.
Customization through the control center and menu of recent applications
The fastest and most intuitive way to activate a floating window is to use the menu of running apps. This method works on most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models running current versions of MIUI. To begin, open the application you want to put into floating window mode, such as your favorite messenger.
Then swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger to open the menu of recent apps. In the upper right corner of the running app card, you'll see a special icon that resembles a two-strip square or just a window symbol. Pressing on this element will instantly roll the application into floating mode.
If the standard icon is missing, try to execute a long tap (press and hold) on the application card in the menu of recent tasks. In the context menu that opens, you should select the option Floating window or Float window. This action will force the selected software to run in a separate layer on top of the desktop.
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For more convenient floating window management, enable the Advanced Floating Window option in your settings if your MIUI version supports this option.
It is important to understand that not all applications can work properly in floating mode. Some heavy games or specialized programs may require full-screen display for stable operation, so the system can block their translation into chat format.
Using the sidebar for quick access
The Sidebar is one of the most convenient tools in the MIUI shell arsenal, allowing instant applications to run as floating windows without leaving the current task, and to take advantage of this method, you must first activate the panel itself in the system settings of the device.
Take the Settings → Special Options → Sidebar. In the menu that opens, activate the Sidebar switch. Then you'll see a translucent bar on the screen that you can move around. When you click on it, you'll see a list of frequently used apps.
- 📱 Click on the app icon in the sidebar to open it in the floating window.
- 📂 Add the right messengers to the list of “Favorites” for quick access.
- 🔄 Drag apps from the panel directly to the screen for instant launch.
The sidebar functionality allows not only to run apps, but also to quickly switch between display modes.Tap the app icon in a floating window to see additional options such as securing the window, resizing or going full screen.
Using the sidebar is especially effective when you need to quickly respond to a message without interrupting the main process, whether it is watching a movie or typing in a document. This saves time and eliminates the unnecessary load on RAM, since the application does not close completely, but only folds into the background.
The split screen function and its relationship to chats
Split Screen is a precursor and alternative to floating windows that still remains popular with Xiaomi users. Unlike floating chat, which hangs over other windows, a split screen divides the display into two equal or proportional parts.
To activate this mode, open the menu of recent apps, find the desired application, and click on the split screen icon (usually two vertical or horizontal bars). After selecting the first application, the system will prompt you to select the second one that will occupy the rest of the screen.
In some versions of MIUI, you can transform a split screen into a floating window, and you can click on the central dividing bar and select the appropriate window icon, which allows you to combine the advantages of both modes.
| Parameter | Floating window | Split screen | Full screen mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area occupied | Part of the screen (adjustable) | 50% of the screen (usually) | 100% screen |
| Number of windows | Many (up to 5-7) | Two (maximum) | One. |
| Convenience for chats | High (does not cover content) | Medium (requires space) | Low (blocks the rest) |
| Impact on the battery | Average. | High (two active processes) | Low. |
Split screening may be more useful if you need to see correspondence and work with another application, such as copying data or links, but for short-term answers, a floating window is better.
☑️ Checking multitasking settings
Floating window management and scaling
Once you've managed to turn on a pop-up chat in shaomi, it's important to learn how to manage it properly. The floating window has its own navigation system, which is different from the standard interface. At the top of the window there's a thin bar that you can drag the chat to anywhere on the screen.
Clicking on this bar calls the control menu where the following actions are available:
- 🔍 Size change: Pull around the corners of the window to make the chat bigger or smaller.
- 📌 Fixing: Lock the window so it doesn’t interfere with casual touch.
- ❌ Closing: Close the app completely or roll it up to the bottom of the screen.
One of the useful features is that you can fold a floating window into a little icon at the bottom of the screen, so you can temporarily hide the chat without closing it, and quickly return it back with a touch, which is indispensable when you watch videos or read articles.
⚠️ Attention: With multiple floating windows running simultaneously, the system may begin to force background processes to release RAM. 3-4 heavy-duty.
Also worth mentioning is the “Smooth Edges” feature, which makes the boundaries of a floating window less noticeable and more aesthetic, and you can turn it on in additional special features settings if your smartphone model supports this visualization option.
Secrets of Gesture Management
Solution: chat won’t open or disappears
Users may experience a situation where the floating window function is not working properly, often due to energy saving settings or limitations imposed by the system on background processes. If the chat spontaneously closes, check the battery settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the right messenger and select Energy Saving. Set No Limits. This will prevent the system from closing the application, even if it is running in the background or as a floating window.
Another common reason is a lack of free RAM: Before running a floating chat, it is recommended to close unused heavy applications, and also make sure that the device has the latest version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell installed.
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The absence of power saving restrictions for a particular application is a key factor in the stable operation of floating windows on Xiaomi.
In some cases, the problem may be a conflict of versions of the app itself: Make sure your WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram are updated to the latest version through the Google Play store or GetApps. Older versions may not work properly with the new multitasking APIs.
Features of the game mode (Game Turbo)
For gamers, Xiaomi has a special Game Turbo mode that also supports pop-ups, which allows you to respond to messages without leaving the game, but activation of the chat here is a little different, so as not to interfere with the gameplay.
When playing, swipe from the corner of the screen (usually the top left or top right, depending on the settings) to call the game bar. In it, you will find a list of messengers that can be run in floating mode directly on top of the game.
⚠️ Warning: Running floating windows while playing can lead to a decrease in frames per second (FPS) Use this feature carefully in competitive projects.
In Game Turbo settings, you can choose which apps will be available for a quick call. Add only the most necessary chats to avoid cluttering the game panel with unnecessary elements.