How to permanently remove floating windows on Xiaomi smartphones: full instructions

Floating Windows (or "floating mode" in Xiaomi smartphones) is a MIUI feature that allows you to open applications in small windows on top of other programs. On the one hand, it is convenient for multitasking: you can write a message and watch a video at the same time. On the other hand, many users find that windows appear arbitrarily, interfere with work or even slow down the performance of the device on weak models (for example, Redmi 9A or Poco M3).

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can turn off your floating windows, from standard MIUI settings to hidden commands via ADB and third-party utilities. The instructions are relevant to all modern firmware versions (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS) and are suitable for most models: Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/11, Poco F5/X5 and others. If you’re tired of suddenly popping up YouTube, Telegram or Google Maps, read on.

1. Disable floating windows through standard MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in options. In MIUI, the floating window function is controlled via the Special Opportunities or Multitasking menu (depending on the firmware version).

  1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
  2. Scroll down and find the Floating Windows (or Application Windows) section.
  3. Turn off the slider Allow floating windows.
  4. Restart the device (recommended for application of changes).

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) the path may be different:

  • 🔹 Settings → Additionally. → Multitasking → Floating windows.
  • 🔹 Settings → Annexes → Rights of annexes → Other permits → Show over other windows (you can turn off permission for specific applications here).

Important: once this option is disabled, some features may work differently: for example, Google Maps will not be able to show navigation in a small window on top of other applications, and Telegram will stop opening chats in floating form when holding a notification.

📊 What version? MIUI you have installed?
MIUI 12
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
I don't know.

2. How to turn off floating windows for individual applications

If you need to remove floating windows for specific programs (like Instagram or VK), do the following:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select the appropriate app (e.g. YouTube).
  3. Press Permissions. → Other permits.
  4. Find the Show over other windows and turn it off.

This method is useful if:

  • 📱 You want to leave floating windows for instant messengers, but remove them for games.
  • 🎮 The app opens itself in floating mode (e.g., Xiaomi Community or Mi Video).
  • 🔄 After the firmware update, windows began to appear more often.

Are the floating windows open at the moment?|Is there a backup of important data?|Do you know the password from the Mi-account (you will need to use it) ADB)?|Developer rights are established?-->

Warning: Some system applications (such as Security or Mi Share) may automatically enable floating windows after updating, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure or use methods from the following sections.

3. Disconnection through developer rights (for power users)

If standard settings don't work, you can use developer mode, which is suitable for users who are willing to dig a little bit into system settings.

First, activate the developer rights:

  1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
  2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row (the notification “You became a developer” will appear).
  3. Return to the main Settings menu → Additionally. → For developers.

Now turn off the floating windows:

  • 🔧 Find the debugging option by USB and turn it on.
  • 🔧 Scroll down to the Drawing (or Drawing) section).
  • 🔧 Turn off the display over other windows (if any).
  • 🔧 In the Applications section, find Do Not Save Actions and add apps that you want to ban floating mode.

Note: changing the settings in the developer mode can lead to unstable system operation. For example, on the Poco F4 GT, after disabling the option to Show over other windows, some games with overlays (for example, Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) stopped working correctly.

What if there is no “Show over other windows” item in the developer settings?
Some firmware (e.g. HyperOS for Xiaomi 14) may not have this item, so try 1. Use ADB (described in the next section). 2. Install a third-party app like App Ops (requires root rights). 3. Reset to factory settings (last option).

4.Use ADB to completely shut off floating windows

If previous methods have failed, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a deep-tuning tool for Android, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer, but is guaranteed to turn off floating windows at the system level.

You'll need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
  • 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
  • 📥 Utility. ADB (download).

Instructions:

  1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (see previous section).
  2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
  3. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
  4. Enter the command: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 (It unlocks the hidden API).
  5. Next Post: Adb shell settings put global multi_window_mode_enabled 0 (switch off).
  6. Reset the device.

Note: After using ADB, some MIUI features may not work properly. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, split screen mode stops opening after this command (but floating windows are gone forever). To return everything back, run the same command with 1 instead of 0.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.floatingwindow

This will completely disable the system application responsible for floating windows (but can lead to errors in some scenarios).-->

5. Third-party applications for controlling floating windows

If you don’t want to mess with ADB or system settings, you can use third-party utilities, and here are the proven apps that help control floating windows:

AnnexFunctionsNeed a rut?Reference
App OpsBlock permissions for individual applications, including “showing over other windows”No (but ADB rights are needed)Google Play
IslandCreating an isolated environment for applications where floating windows are disabledNo.Google Play
Shizuku + ADBFull control over permissions without root rightsNo (but ADB is needed)Official website
TaskerAutomatic shutdown of floating windows under condition (for example, in games)No.Google Play

Example of setting up App Ops:

  1. Install the application and grant it permission through ADB: adb shell pm grant rikka.appops android.permission.GET_APP_OPS_STATS
  2. Open App Ops and find the app you want (like Chrome).
  3. Turn off the permission list. SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW.

Warning: Some apps (like Island) may conflict with Xiaomi’s MIUI Optimization system service. The Poco X3 Pro has stopped using navigation gestures after installing Island until the developer’s MIUI optimization mode is turned off.

6. Resetting to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these things work, it's a complete reset, a radical solution that will bring the smartphone back out of the box and remove all the floating windows along with all the other user data.

How to reset:

  1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
  2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
  3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
  4. After the reboot, set the device as new (do not restore settings from the backup, otherwise floating windows may return).

This method is guaranteed to remove all floating windows, but has drawbacks:

  • ⚠️ All installed applications and their data will be deleted.
  • ⚠️ Linked accounts (such as Mi Account or Google) will have to be reconfigured.
  • ⚠️ On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T) After reset, it may be necessary to re-activate the bootloader (bootloader).

💡

Resetting is the last chance to get rid of floating windows if all other methods have failed, but before doing so, make sure to check if they are connected to a particular app (such as Mi Video or Xiaomi Community) that can be simply removed.

7.Why do floating windows reappear after shutdown?

Many users complain that even after the shutdown, the floating windows return, for several reasons:

  • 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing the new firmware version, some settings are reset.
  • 📦 System applications: Security, Mi Share or Xiaomi Community can independently enable floating notification windows.
  • 🤖 Reset permissions: Some apps (like Facebook or TikTok) ask permission to show on top of other windows each time they update.
  • 🔧 Firmware errors: on some models (e.g. Redmi) 9C) There is a bug that causes floating windows to be switched on arbitrarily.

How to prevent the return of floating windows:

  • 📵 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
  • 🚫 Remove or freeze unnecessary system applications (e.g. Mi Video or Xiaomi Community).
  • 🔒 Use App Ops to block permissions on a permanent basis.
  • 📡 Before the update MIUI Make a backup of settings through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Why Floating Windows Only Appear in Some Apps?
This depends on how the app developers have implemented multi-window support, for example, YouTube and Google Maps actively use floating windows for user convenience, while WhatsApp or Viber do not support them. To remove windows for a particular application, turn off the permission to Show on top of other windows in the settings for it.
❓ Can I turn off the floating windows without a computer?
Yes, most of the ways in this article don't require a PC. You can: Use standard MIUI settings. Set App Ops and manage permissions wirelessly via ADB. Use Island to isolate applications. Only the ADB method requires a connection to a computer.
❓ Does switching off floating windows affect productivity?
On weak devices (e.g. Redmi 8A or Poco C3), floating windows can noticeably slow down the system, as they consume additional CPU and RAM resources. Once they are turned off, the device can work smoother, especially if you often use multitasking. However, on flagships (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), you will not notice any difference in performance.
❓ How to Get Back Floating Windows If I Change My Mind?
To turn on floating windows again: Return to Settings → Special facilities → Floating windows and turn on the slider if you used to. ADB, Adb shell settings put global settings multi_window_mode_enabled 1 For individual applications, again grant permission to Show over other windows.
❓ Why my Xiaomi doesn’t have a “floating window” option in the settings?
It could be related to: 📱 Firmware version: on HyperOS, the path to settings may differ (try Settings) → Annexes → Rights of annexes). 🌍 Regional Firmware: on Global Versions MIUI Some options are hidden (for example, on Xiaomi for Europe). 🔧 Modified firmware: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS), floating windows may be controlled differently. ADB or third-party applications.