Working with multiple apps simultaneously on a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone can significantly improve productivity. For example, you can watch YouTube videos and chat in the messenger at the same time, or compare prices in two stores without switching between tabs. The split screen feature (multiwindow) is available on most modern Xiaomi devices, but its setting and activation often raise questions among users.
In this article, we will discuss how to enable two-window mode on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11 and other models running MIUI 12/13/14. You will learn about all the ways to activate multi-windows through gestures, the “Recent” button and system settings. We will also look at common problems (for example, why the function does not work) and give recommendations for optimizing performance when using two applications simultaneously.
What is a multi-window mode and why is it needed?
Split screen (or multi-window) mode allows two applications to run in parallel in the same window, splitting the display into two parts, a feature that is particularly useful for:
- 📝 Multitasking: Copying text from one application to another (e.g., from the browser to notes).
- 🎥 Entertainment: watching a video or stream with simultaneous reading of a chat.
- 🛒 Product comparisons: opening two stores (e.g. AliExpress and Wildberries) to analyze prices.
- 📊 Work: Using a calculator or table next to a document.
On Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, multi-window is implemented through the proprietary MIUI shell, but its work depends on the firmware version and device model. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14, additional window size control options are available that are not available on older devices.
It is important to note that not all applications support split screen mode, for example, some games or banking applications may block this feature for security or optimization reasons.
Does all Xiaomi Redmi models support multi-window mode?
The split screen feature is available on most Xiaomi Redmi devices released after 2018, but there are nuances:
| Model of the device | Multi-window support | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12/11/10 | ✅ Yes. | Full support, including changing the size of the windows with gestures. |
| Redmi 9/10/11 | ✅ Yes. | It works, but there may be no smooth animation when splitting. |
| Redmi 8/8A | ⚠️ Partially. | Requires activation in the developer settings on MIUI 11 and below. |
| Redmi 7/7A | ❌ No. | The function is not available on stock firmware. |
If your model doesn’t support multi-window out of the box, you can try enabling it through the developer’s settings or using third-party applications (such as Split Screen Launcher), but these solutions can lead to slowing down the device or conflicts with system processes.
⚠️ Note: On devices with less than 3GB of RAM (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The simultaneous operation of two applications can cause slowdowns, in which case it is recommended to close the background processes before activating the multi-window.
Method 1: Activate multi-windows through the “Recent” button
This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi Redmi devices with MIUI 12 and later.
- Open the first application you want to use in the multi-window.
- Click on the “Recent” button (square in the bottom navigation bar).
- In the list of open applications, find the card of the desired application and press it for 1-2 seconds.
- In the menu that appears, select the option “Separate screen” (or the icon of two rectangles).
- Select the second app from the “Recent” list or from the home screen.
And then the screen splits into two, and you can resize the windows by pulling the dividing line in the center.
Close unnecessary background applications
Check the battery (the mode consumes more energy)
Make sure both apps support split screen
Disconnect the energy-saving mode-->
If the “Share the screen” item is not in the menu, it means:
- 🔄 Function disabled in system settings (see Method 2).
- 📱 Your device model does not support multi-window (see table above).
- 🔧 The application is blocked for split mode (for example, Netflix or SberBank Online).
Method 2: Enabling multi-window in system settings
If the split screen button doesn't appear in the recent menu, it may be disabled in the settings to activate it:
- Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
- Select Windows Management (or Multi-Window depending on the MIUI version).
- Activate the "Separate Screen" switch.
- If necessary, enable the split screen gesture option for quick access.
On some firmware, the path may be different, for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13, the setting is along the way:
Settings → Additional → Multitasking → Sharing the screenOnce activated, the feature will be available in the “Recent” menu. If the option is not available at all, try updating the firmware or resetting to factory settings (see the section on problems).
💡
On Xiaomi Redmi with gesture navigation (no buttons) to call the “Recent” menu, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold for 0.5 seconds.
Method 3: Using gestures for split screen
On devices with MIUI 14 and later (for example, Redmi Note 12 or Redmi K50), a convenient gesture is available for a quick transition to multi-window mode:
- Open the first appendix.
- Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen (as for calling “Recent”), but don’t let go of your finger.
- Drag the app card to the top or bottom of the screen.
- Release your finger – the screen will split and you can select the second app.
This method only works when the split screen gesture option is enabled in the settings (see Method 2).
- 🔄 Reset the device.
- 📱 Check if the gesture conflicts with other functions (e.g., Double-touch to wake up»).
- 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI.
On Redmi with hardware navigation buttons (e.g. Redmi 9C), the gesture method may not work – in this case, use Method 1.
Common Problems and Their Solutions
If the multi-window mode is not working or is not working correctly, check the following points:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| There is no “Separate Screen” item on the menu. | Function disabled in settings | Turn it on along the Settings path → Multitasking |
| The application does not open in a multi-window | The application blocks the mode | Try another app or update your current one. |
| The screen “twitches” when partitioning | Lack of RAM | Close background processes or restart the device |
| The dividing line is not moving. | Interface freeze | Restart the multi-window mode or restart the smartphone |
If after all the manipulations, the multi-window still does not work, try:
- Update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI.
- Reset your settings to factory (don’t forget to make a backup!).
- Install a third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) that supports split screen.
⚠️ Note: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi 8), the multi-window function may disappear after resetting.
How to force multi-window on unsupported models?
Optimizing performance in multi-window mode
Using two applications simultaneously increases the load on the processor and RAM, to avoid the brakes:
- 🔋 Turn off energy saving mode: it limits performance.
- 🧹 Close the background apps: Use the “Clear Everything” button in the “Recent” menu».
- 🔄 Update the firmware: in new versions MIUI optimized multitasking.
- 📉 Reduce screen resolution (if supported): this will reduce the load on the screen GPU.
On devices with 4GB of RAM or less (e.g. Redmi 9), it is recommended to avoid resource-intensive multi-window applications such as:
- 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact).
- 🎬 Video Editors (CapCut, KineMaster).
- 📊 Heavy browsers with many tabs (Chrome with 10)+ tab).
To check the current load on the system, use the built-in performance monitor:
Settings → About the phone → System status → Monitor💡
On Xiaomi Redmi with Snapdragon 6xx or Helio Gxx processor, multi-window mode is more stable than on budget chips (Snapdragon 4xx).