Overlaying on top of other windows on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a mysterious security message when installing new apps. The screen gets darkened, and a warning appears that the application needs permission to “Overlaid Other Windows.” Many users are scared, considering this a virus or a critical error, but in fact it is a standard mechanism for protecting MIUI and HyperOS. This feature prevents unauthorized access to the screen and data entry without the owner’s knowledge.

However, for messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp to work properly, and for using the Bubbles feature or displaying time during games, this permission must be activated. Without it, you won’t be able to press the Continue button in the installation window or run certain functions in games. In this article, we’ll detail where to find this switch, how to set it up correctly, and what to do if the system blocks actions.

It's worth noting that the settings interface can vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system. If you have global firmware or a Chinese version of MIUI 14, the location of the items can vary. The main thing is to understand the Android security mechanism that underlies the shell of Xiaomi. We will look at all the nuances so that you can quickly solve the problem.

Why do I need permission to install windows?

Overlay allows applications to display content on top of an active interface, which is necessary for creating floating windows, desktop widgets, pop-up notifications and chats. For example, when you get a message to Viber while you're playing, it comes from that resolution, and without it, the application simply won't be able to draw its interface over a running game or browser.

Android security is tightly controlled by attackers, who can use it to create fake password windows (phishing), which is why Xiaomi defaults to block this feature for new applications. The user must personally confirm that he trusts the program to access the screen. This is an important barrier, protecting your banking data and logins from theft.

Often users don't understand why a game or utility doesn't start, and the answer lies in this limitation: If an application requires display on top of other windows but doesn't have that right, it will either crash or not work properly. In some cases, like with Game Turbo, this resolution is critical to displaying performance or quickly accessing tools.

⚠️ Warning: Never turn on this permission for applications you are not sure of origin, if a simple flashlight or calculator requires access to window overlays, it is suspicious and may indicate malicious code.

It’s also worth mentioning that some system features, such as Sidebar or Floating Window, can’t physically work without this access right, so when setting up a new smartphone, it’s recommended to check key apps right away and give them the necessary permissions to avoid problems in the future.

Where to find overlay settings in MIUI and HyperOS

Finding the right menu can take time, as Xiaomi constantly changes the structure of the settings. In current versions of the shells, the path to resolution is standardized, but the names of items may differ depending on the language of the system.

To find the right switch, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the menu Settings of your smartphone.
• 🔍 Go to the Apps section (sometimes called "All Apps»).
• 🛡️ Find the Permits or Special Opportunities.
• 👁️ Select the option to Overlay over other windows (or “Display over other apps»).

In some versions of HyperOS, the path can be changed, and if you don't find the item on the above algorithm, search inside the settings. Type "Overlap" or "Overlap" into the search bar, and the system will redirect you to the desired section, which is the fastest way, especially if you don't remember the exact location of the menu.

When you go to the section, you'll see a list of all the apps installed, and next to each one there's a switch. The green position means that the resolution is active, the gray position means that the resolution is locked. The security system may mark some apps as "Unverified," but you can still activate access to them if you trust the source.

Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on the function

Let's take a specific example of the activation process: Suppose you installed a Telegram messenger, and it asks for permission to create floating windows or display the call time, and you need to manually confirm this action through the system security menu.

First, find the program you want in the app list. If the list is too long, search at the top of the screen or sort by name. Once you find Telegram (or any other app), click on the switch to the right of the name. The system may show another warning — that's OK, confirm the action.

Once activated, the switch should turn green or blue, and the application can display its interface on top of other running programs, and if the function doesn't work after that, try closing the application completely through the menu of running tasks and opening it again.

Sometimes required. For example, for Android 11+, Bubbles also need to check the app-specific notification settings. Make sure that the Notifications section allows floating display, without which even the overlay of windows on will not have the desired effect.

⚠️ Warning: If the switch doesn't press or returns to its original position immediately, it's possible that the smartphone has activated "Steal Protection" or guest profile restrictions».

Problems with access in banking applications

Banking applications like Sberbank, Tinkoff, or Alpha, which have high security requirements, can block their work if they detect that they are actively overlaying windows from other, even system-based applications, are a defense mechanism against keyloggers and screen hijackers.

If the bank says that the device is running dangerous applications or debugging enabled, check the permission list.

• 🌙 Blue Light Filters (Night Mode).
• 📝 Screenshots and programs for recording the screen.
• 🎮 Overlays of game launchers (Game Booster third-party developers).
• 🔋 Memory cleaners and accelerators.

You don't have to delete these programs to fix this problem, but you just have to temporarily disable the Overlay Over Other Windows permission before you log in to the banking application, and once you've completed your financial transactions, you can reset the settings back, and some banks allow you to add an exception, but this is rare.

It’s also worth checking if USB Debugging is included in the developer menu. Banking apps often see enabled debugging as a sign of a device hack. Turn it off in the Developer Menu if it’s active and the problem should go away.

Setup for games and Game Turbo

Gamers often use the Game Turbo feature built into the MIUI shell, which allows them to respond to messages, take screenshots and change performance settings without leaving the game.

In the Security menu -> Game Turbo -> Settings, make sure that the "Game Acceleration" and "Floating Windows" options are enabled. If the game crashes when you try to call the Game Turbo menu, check if the background activity restriction for the Security or Security app itself is worth it.

For streaming apps like Twitch or YouTube Gaming, overlay permission is critical, allowing you to display chat on top of a game or use an image in a picture. If you encounter a black screen instead of a video, try changing the hardware acceleration in the app's settings or updating drivers through Google Play.

Using such programs can result in the blocking of an account in online games.Be careful when giving overlay rights to unverified gaming utilities.

Table: Location of settings in different versions of MIUI

As the menu structure has changed over the years, users of different firmware versions may need different paths. Below is a summary table for quick navigation.

If you use custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), the path can be global or adapted to European standards. In case of difficulty, always use the search by settings, entering keywords in English or Russian.

💡

Use the Google Assistant or Xiao AI voice assistant. Just say “Open window overlay settings,” and the phone will go to the desired section bypassing manual menu searches.

Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them

Even after enabling permission, users may find that the function is not working, often because of an application cache or version conflict. Try clearing the cache of the problem program through the App menu -> Application Management -> Clear -> Cache.

Another common problem is the dead zones on the screen or touchscreen that overlap with overlay. If you can't press the OK button in the system window, try temporarily disabling all apps that use overlay, solve the problem, and then turn them back on, and rebooting your smartphone in safe mode to diagnose conflicts also helps.

In rare cases, resetting access settings helps. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Three dots in the corner -> App resets. This will return all permissions to factory values, and you will have to reconfigure the desired items, but this often solves software glitches.

⚠️ Note: Resetting your app settings will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will reset all permissions and notification settings issued. Be ready to reconfirm access for instant messengers.

If nothing helps, there may be a problem with the version of the app itself: Remove it and download it again from the official Google Play store or GetApps. Third-party stores may offer modified versions that do not work properly with Android access rights.

💡

Most overlay problems are solved by simply restarting the device or re-issuing permission after an app update.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions