Modern smartphones have long ceased to be just devices for calls, becoming powerful working tools that can replace the netbook. Owners of Xiaomi devices often face the need to use several programs simultaneously, for example, to chat in the messenger while watching videos or copying text from the browser into notes. Standard mode with one active window in such situations becomes a narrow neck, significantly reducing productivity.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide a built-in split-screen feature known as Split Screen.This feature allows you to split the display into two independent areas, each running a different application. The implementation of this mode on Xiaomi phones is different from pure Android, so it is important for users to know the exact algorithm of actions to activate multitasking.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to run two applications at the same time, consider the nuances of working on different versions of firmware and pay attention to the hidden settings of the system. You will learn not only to activate the mode, but also to manage windows correctly to achieve maximum comfort when using the gadget in everyday tasks.
System preparation and compatibility check
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device technically supports split screen. Virtually all modern Xiaomi smartphones, from the budget models of the Redmi Note series to the flagships of Mi and Xiaomi, have sufficient performance to work in multi-window mode. However, software support may depend on the version of the installed shell MIUI or HyperOS.
It is important to understand that not all applications are optimized for split mode. Some programs, especially games or specific utilities, can be forced to unfold to the full screen or refuse to run at all in a smaller window. The system automatically determines compatibility, but the user can influence this process through an engineering menu or special settings.
💡
Before activating split screen mode, close the background applications to free up RAM – this will ensure smoother operation of both windows without braking.
To ensure stable operation of the function, it is also recommended to update the system to the latest available version. Developers regularly make improvements to the multitasking algorithms, fixing bugs with scaling the interface. You can check for updates in the About Phone settings section by clicking on the shell version.
The classic way through the menu of recent apps
The most common and convenient way to activate split-screen mode on Xiaomi is to use the running task menu, which works on most firmware versions without the need to include additional features in the developer menu. The algorithm is intuitive, but requires a certain sequence of clicks.
First, open the first app you plan to use, such as a browser or YouTube. Then fold it and launch a second app, such as the messenger Telegram or WhatsApp. After that, you need to go to the menu of recent apps by swiping from the bottom up and holding your finger (when navigating gestures) or pressing the appropriate touch button.
☑️ The activation algorithm for Split Screen
In the recent task menu, find the first application card. Many versions of MIUI require you to press and hold your finger on the application preview or on the name at the top of the card. In the context menu that appears, you should select the option “Share screen” (an icon with two rectangles), the screen will split in half, and at the bottom you will see a list of frequently used programs to select the second task.
If you don't see the app you want, use the search bar or scroll through the full list of installed programs, and when you select the second app, it will occupy the bottom of the display, and you can move the boundary between the windows by changing the proportions of the content that you want.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI To activate the mode, you need to double-click the app icon in the recent task menu, rather than hold it. If a long press does not call the menu, try double-tapping.
Alternative methods and gestures of management
In addition to the standard task menu, there are alternative ways to run split-screen mode that may be more convenient for certain use cases, such as allowing users to activate the toolbar if activated in system settings, which allows for quick switching between applications without interrupting the current process.
To use the sidebar, you need to activate it in the settings first. Go to Settings → Additional Features → Floating Windows (or Sidebar). Here you can select the applications that will be available for quick start. After activation when you swipe your finger from the edge of the screen, a menu will appear where you can select the second application and run it in split screen mode.
Secret gesture for advanced users
Another option is to use the Menu button in the interface of the applications themselves. At the top of the screen, in the status bar or in a special floating window, an icon can be displayed that allows you to fold the application into a floating window or split the screen.
Split screen windows are also controlled through special interface elements, where there is a dividing strip between the two active windows, and short pressing allows applications to be swapped, and long-term pressing allows you to close one or fold into a floating window, which gives you flexibility in managing your workspace.
Size setting of windows and floating mode
One of the key features of multitasking in Xiaomi is the flexibility to adjust the window size. Unlike some other manufacturers that rigidly divide the screen 50 by 50, MIUI allows you to change the proportions of the display, which is especially useful when one application requires more space for comfortable reading or viewing content.
To resize the windows, tap the dividing line between the two apps you're running, and you'll see a slider or a capture zone that you can move up or down, and you can adjust the area that you're going to use for each application, for example, you can leave a narrow bar for the messenger, leaving the main part of the screen for a video or document.
Special attention should be paid to floating Windows, which is often confused with split screen, but which represents a more advanced level of multitasking. In this mode, the application opens in a small window that can be moved around the screen on top of other programs, which allows you to work with three or more applications at the same time.
| Parameter | Split screen | Floating window | Full screen mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of windows | Two fixed | Multiple movables | One active |
| Location. | Up/down or left/law | Anywhere on the screen | The whole display. |
| Management | Drag for the headline | Standard. | |
| RAM load | Medium | Tall. | Low. |
Solving problems with incompatible applications
Often users are faced with a situation where the system says, “The application does not support split screen” – this restriction is imposed by the developer of the program, indicating in the application manifesto a ban on changing the size of the window. However, on Xiaomi smartphones with root rights or through debugging via USB, you can circumvent this restriction, forcing the system to ignore the ban.
To activate forced split screen, you need to turn on the developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI build number. After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu and find the “Additional” → “For developers”.
In the list of parameters for developers, you need to find a paragraph associated with forced resizing of activités. It can be called “Force activities to be resizable”, activating this switch will require a reboot of the device, after which most applications will be available for running in split-screen mode, even if they did not support it initially.
⚠️ Warning: Forced window resize may cause incorrect display of the application interface, crashes or data loss. Use this feature with caution and only for proven programs.
If standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party utilities from Google Play that create virtual space or use special launchers to emulate split-screen emulation. Apps like “Split Screen Shortcut” can add widgets to the desktop to quickly run specific pairs of programs in the desired mode.
Optimization of operation and impact on the battery
Using two active applications simultaneously inevitably increases the workload on the processor and RAM of the device, which leads to faster battery discharge and possible heating of the case. Understanding the power consumption mechanisms in multitasking mode will help you plan your work more efficiently and avoid unexpected shutdowns of the smartphone.
When two apps are running on the same screen, the system keeps updating content in both windows unless they are frozen by background processes. Video players, navigators and games consume significantly more resources than text editors or static pages. So the combination of "YouTube + Telegram" will drain the battery faster than "Notes + Calendar".
💡
For maximum autonomy in split-screen mode, turn off background synchronization and geolocation in applications that don’t require a permanent network connection right now.
To minimize the impact on performance, it is recommended to close unnecessary background processes before starting split screen mode.It is also worth considering that on devices with less than 4 GB of RAM, the system can automatically unload one of the applications if resources are not enough, which will lead to its restart when switching.
Newer versions of HyperOS have improved memory management algorithms that intelligently freeze an inactive window, keeping it state without consuming CPU time, allowing heavy applications to be kept open longer, but manual adjustments in the Battery and Performance section may be required to activate all power saving features.