Multitasking on smartphones has long ceased to be just a marketing term and has become a necessity for every user. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often do not realize that their gadgets have powerful tools for working with several programs at the same time. Instead of constantly switching between tabs, you can run the messenger on top of the video or the browser on top of the navigation map.
The implementation of this feature in the MIUI or HyperOS shell is high-level, but requires knowledge of certain gestures and settings. A floating window is not just a smaller copy of an application, but a full-fledged interactive element of the system that allows you to interact with content without interrupting the main process. This is especially true for devices with large screens, where the display area is used most efficiently.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can activate window mode, and we will cover both standard gesture management techniques and hidden features available through the special features menu, and understanding these mechanisms will allow you to turn your smartphone into a real working tool.
Activate through the menu of recent apps
The most common and intuitive way to run a program in floating mode is to use the menu of running applications. This method works consistently on all modern versions of firmware from a Chinese manufacturer. First, you need to open a list of recently used programs by swiping from the bottom up and holding your finger in the center of the screen (when navigating gestures) or pressing the “Menu” button (when using on-screen buttons).
In the list that opens, find the card of the application you want. Notice the program icon at the top of the card, and if you press it long or swipe right on the card itself (depending on the version of MIUI), an additional menu will appear. This is where the option is hidden. The system will offer you several display options, among which you need to choose the free window mode.
Once you select the appropriate item, the app will instantly fold into a floating rectangle that you can move around the screen, and the size of this window is adjustable, and the app itself continues to function in the background, playing audio or video, which is ideal for those who want to combine watching a movie and chatting in the messenger.
- 📱 Click and hold the app icon in the recent task menu.
- 🪟 Select “Floating window” or “Free form” in the menu that appears.
- 🖐 Move the window by capturing it over the top or bottom edge.
- ⚙️ Change the size of the window by pulling the corner markers.
⚠️ Note: Not all apps support floating mode. Some heavy games or video editing programs may force full-screen deployments or close when trying to change the display format.
Use of the sidebar of tools
To get to your favorite programs faster in window mode, developers have implemented a special sidebar, which allows you to run applications on top of any other active screen in just one click. To use this method, you first need to activate the panel itself in the system settings by finding the "Special features" section and selecting the "Toolbar".
Once activated, a barely noticeable bar will appear on the side faces of the screen (left or right, depending on the settings), and a swipe from it will open a list of attached applications inside the screen. You can add any programs you use most often. When you click on the icon in this menu, the application will open as a floating window on top of the current activity.
The convenience of the sidebar is that it's accessible from virtually anywhere on the system, including games and video players. You can quickly respond to a message, check the currency rate or open a calculator without folding the main application. This creates the effect of a real operating system on your mobile device.
☑️ Setting up the sidebar
Importantly, the sidebar functionality may vary depending on the regional version of the firmware. In global versions of HyperOS, this control is integrated more deeply and has advanced transparency and size settings. Users of Chinese versions of firmware often have additional widgets available that can also be placed in floating mode.
Screen splitting and window management
Split Screen is the precursor to floating windows, but it's also used in conjunction with them. A split screen divides the display into two equal or proportional parts, where the top and bottom apps work independently. However, unlike a free window, here you're limited to two programs at once.
To activate splitting, open the menu of recent apps, click on the program icon and select the appropriate item. After that, the system will ask you to select the second application. In some versions of the Xiaomi shell, you can run a third application in a floating window on top of the split screen, which allows you to work with three sources of information at once.
The split-screen windows are controlled through a special dividing line, and by dragging it, you can change the proportions of the space you occupy, and if you have to temporarily hide one of the applications, you can drag the line to the edge of the screen, folding the program into a minimized view.
| Type of regime | Number of applications | Size flexibility | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen splitting | 2 (main) | Only vertically. | Tall. |
| Floating window | A lot (in turn) | Total freedom | Medium |
| Full screen mode | 1 active | No. | 100% |
| Sidebar. | Depends on memory. | Fixed/Free | Depends on the software. |
It is worth considering that the simultaneous operation of several heavy applications in split-screen mode can lead to increased battery consumption and heating of the device. Xiaomi processor is forced to process two active data streams, which creates an additional load on RAM.
Secret code for developers
Special features settings and gestures
The MIUI shell offers deep customization of control through the Special Opportunities section, where you can configure not only the appearance of floating windows, but also how they interact, for example, you can assign certain triple tapping gestures on the screen or long swipes to call the window control menu.
The special feature, Accelerated Keys, allows you to set the floating window to a combination of volume buttons or a long pressing of the power button, which is especially convenient when the user's hands are busy and you need quick access to the navigator or voice recorder.
Newer versions of HyperOS have improved application folding animations, where when you fold a program into a floating window, it is visually compressed into an icon, which helps you navigate your desktop space better, and these visuals are not only beautiful, but also functional, showing you the way to a running process.
- 🔍 Go to "Settings» → «Advanced settings» → «Special facilities».
- 🖱️ Find the "Gestural Management" or "Accelerated Keys" section».
- 🎯 Set the “Open Floating Window” action for a convenient trigger.
- ✅ Save the changes and test the work in real time.
⚠️ Warning: Activating too many hotkeys can lead to control conflicts.Make sure the assigned gestures do not overlap with the navigation system commands.
Working with multiple windows at the same time
The power of modern Snapdragon and MediaTek processors installed in Xiaomi smartphones allows you to run many windows at once. In theory, you can open a map, browser, messenger and music player on one screen. However, the practical benefit of so many windows is questionable due to the small size of each element.
The system automatically distributes CPU resources between active windows. Applications that are folded (in the form of a small icon) go into suspend mode, consuming a minimum of resources. Only the window you are currently interacting with or the one that plays media content is considered active.
To manage many open windows, it’s convenient to use Grouping, so you can put multiple related applications (e.g., mail, calendar, and notes) into a group and open them as a set, saving time and allowing you to quickly switch between work contexts.
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Use the Notes widget in a floating window while watching video lessons or lectures, which will allow you to take notes without overlapping the main content and without losing the thread of the narrative.
If you notice that the smartphone began to slow down when the third or fourth window opened, it is recommended to close unused background processes. Cleaning RAM through the built-in optimizer will help restore smoothness of the interface.
Solutions and optimization of work
Despite the high optimization, users may encounter situations where the application does not open in the window or behaves incorrectly, most often the problem lies in the limitations of the application itself, social network developers or bank customers can block work in non-standard screen resolutions for security or preservation of the interface layout.
In such cases, you can try to change the screen resolution in the developer settings, but this is an extreme measure. The safer way is to update the application itself to the latest version through the Google Play store or GetApps. Often, support for multi-window is added in new versions of the software.
It’s also worth checking your energy saving settings. Aggressive battery optimization can kill background floating window processes as inactive, add important apps to the exclusion list, or select No Limits mode for energy consumption.
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The stability of floating windows depends on the amount of free RAM. For comfortable work with multiple windows, it is recommended to have at least 4-6 GB of free RAM.
If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try resetting special features. Sometimes software failures in this system module interfere with the correct rendering of windows. Rebooting the device also often helps to eliminate temporary GUI bugs.