Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face a situation where the usual split-screen function stops working or does not activate at all. Instead of two windows, the user sees either a system failure or a message that the application does not support this mode, which is puzzling, since everything works correctly on other Android devices.
The problem lies not only in the physical button or gesture, but also in the deep system limitations of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. Security and optimization systems often block multitasking for certain programs, believing them to be incompatible or dangerous for the stable operation of the processor.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the technical reasons for blocking, explain why some applications don’t see the separation mode, and provide working methods to circumvent restrictions, and learn how to activate hidden functions and make even programs that don’t officially support Split Screen work.
Technical limitations of the MIUI and HyperOS shells
The shells installed by Xiaomi have their own resource management logic, different from stock Android. MIUI aggressively manages background processes to save battery power. When you try to run two applications at once, the system assesses their "weight" and impact on the processor. If one of the applications is considered too heavy, HyperOS can simply prevent splitting the screen to avoid lags or overheating the device.
Another reason is that the interface is optimized for a specific screen resolution: firmware developers only test Split Screen on a limited set of popular applications; all other programs fall into a gray zone where the function is not guaranteed to work; the system can block launch if it detects format incompatibility or potential display conflicts of controls.
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Use Full Screen Apps mode in screen settings to force a game or program to run in a stretched format, which sometimes helps bypass separation locking.
On budget models with Helio chips or older Snapdragon series, the function can be software-disabled at the core level to prevent critical errors, in which case standard methods will not allow the separation to be activated without deep firmware modification.
⚠️ Warning: Forced split-screen activation for system applications can cause a cyclical device reboot or launcher interface to freeze.
Why Some Apps Don't Support Split Screen
The main reason for the feature's failure is because of the application's manifesto, and software developers explicitly indicate in the code whether their product supports multitasking. If the code says android:resizeableActivity=false, Xiaomi's system must comply and not share the screen, which is common in banking apps, video players and games.
The banking sector uses additional security protocols, applications like Sberbank Online and Tinkoff blocking screenshots and screen recording, as well as background or split window work, to protect user data from being intercepted by other running programs, not a MIUI bug, but a necessary measure to protect financial transactions.
Media content and streaming platforms also often block screen splitting due to DRM licensing restrictions.They require full control over image output to prevent content being copied.Attempting to run Netflix or Kinopoisk in a small window can result in a black screen or playback error.
The gaming industry is not approaching this issue: Games require maximum resources. GPU and CPU. Running a game in a window of 50% of the screen can disrupt the graphics engine, cause a drop in the game. FPS So HyperOS, by default, forbids splitting screens when heavy-duty launches. 3D-draft.
Hidden developer settings to activate the function
For users who are willing to risk stability for functionality, there is a way to get around standard constraints through the developer menu, where you can force window resizes for all applications, even if they don't support it, and it's a powerful tool that changes the behavior of the entire operating system.
To get to the desired menu, you need to activate the developer mode. Find the "About Phone" option in the settings and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI or HyperOS version. After the notification "You became a developer" go to the "Additional" → "For developers." Find the option "Force activities to be resizable" and activate it.
☑️ Activation of hidden functions
Once you turn on this option, you need to reboot your smartphone. Without a reboot, the changes will not fully take effect, and the old processes will remain in memory with the same limitations. Once you turn on, you will notice that even those applications that previously refused to share the screen now allow you to do so, albeit with possible visual distortions.
| Parameter in the Developer Menu | Description of action | Impact on Split Screen | Risk of failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force activities to be resizable | Ignoring the application manifesto | Allows division for all programs | High-pitched |
| Freeform window | Launch in floating windows | Alternative to Screen Splitting | Medium. |
| Smallest width (DPI) | Change in pixel density | Changes the scale of the interface | Medium. |
| Background process limit | Limitation of background processes | Could kill the second app. | Low. |
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the developer menu can cause the interface to be incorrectly displayed in regular applications, such as a keyboard or calculator.
Using ADB for Forced Separation
If standard settings don't work, the Android debugging bridge (ADB) is a tool for professionals to send commands to a system directly, bypassing the GUI, and can force any application to run in split mode, even if the system is strongly against it.
To do this, you'll need a computer and installed Xiaomi drivers. Connect your smartphone over USB, enable debugging over USB in the developer menu. Open the command line on your PC and type a command to run the desired application in split screen mode. Syntax requires knowing the exact name of the application package.
adb shell am start -D -W --activity-start-flags 0x200000 -n com.package.name/.ActivityNameA simpler method for HyperOS is to use the wm size command to emulate a tablet, but that's too radical. ADB-Scripts that change the Android:resizeableActivity flag on the fly for a particular running process, which allows the system to be fooled into thinking that the application supports multitasking.
Where can I find the name of the application package?
It's worth noting that once the phone is rebooted, the settings applied through the ADB without superuser rights (Root) can reset, but for one-off tasks, this is ideal. The method requires care: an incorrectly entered command can lead to the closure of the system process and reboot the interface.
Alternative solutions: floating windows and side panel
With the new MIUI and HyperOS, Xiaomi is not focusing on classic 50/50 split screens, but on floating windows, a more flexible tool that lets you run apps on top of others, and users often look for “split” when they are “floating windows.”
Use a sidebar to activate, and swipe it from the edge of the screen (usually left or right, depending on the settings), and you can attach frequently used apps to the panel, and drag and drop the icon from the sidebar to the open screen will trigger the app in a small floating window that you can move and zoom in.
- 📱 Sidebar: Allows you to quickly open messengers on top of the game or browser.
- 🖼️ Floating window: Supports video and navigation without covering the entire screen.
- 🔄 Swipe up: In floating window mode, swipe up turns it into a thumbnail and swipe down closes.
This method often works where classic Split Screen is locked, and the system considers the floating window to be a priority process over and above the current one, rather than a peer-to-peer partner, which bypasses many compatibility restrictions, and is especially convenient for watching YouTube videos or chatting on Telegram while playing.
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Floating windows in HyperOS are a modern and more stable alternative to classic split screens, consuming less system resources.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even with the right setup, users can run into errors. Often the problem is overflowing RAM. If you have a dozen apps open, MIUI can simply prevent another window from running, killing the process immediately after start, the solution is to clear the memory before starting multitasking mode.
Another common mistake is using third-party design themes: Themes can change the system files responsible for the launcher and window management. If the split screen stopped working after installing a new theme, return the standard Xiaomi design and check the feature again.
It's also worth checking for system updates. Older versions of MIUI may have bugs that are patched in security patches. However, sometimes the opposite happens: a new HyperOS update temporarily breaks the function, in which case cleaning the security app cache or resetting the launcher settings helps.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install dubious applications from unknown sources that promise to “boost the signal” or “accelerate the game” – they often conflict with system multitasking features.
The Impact of the Android Version on Functional Performance
The split-screen functionality is directly dependent on the version of the basic Android operating system. On older versions (Android 9 and below), multitasking support was implemented differently and often required manual activation. On modern Xiaomi with Android 12, 13 and 14, the algorithms have changed.
With the release of Android 14 and the HyperOS shell, priority has shifted to smooth animations. If the phone doesn’t have enough processing power, the system can programmatically disable heavy features like Split Screen at the kernel level, especially for devices with less than 4GB of RAM.
Users of older models should consider that new versions of applications may no longer support split mode on older versions of Android, in which case only updating the firmware to a newer version, if it is available for your model, or using alternative launchers will help.