How to open 2 apps on Xiaomi smartphone: all ways

Running two apps simultaneously on Xiaomi is a useful feature that saves time and makes multitasking easier. For example, you can browse YouTube and chat to Telegram at the same time, or copy data from Google Tables directly to the messenger. However, not everyone knows that MIUI supports several options for this mode, from a standard split screen to hidden features for advanced users.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including official and alternative methods. Please note that the availability of some features depends on the version of MIUI (especially relevant for MIUI 14/15) and the model of the smartphone. For example, on the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ algorithm may slightly differ from the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. If your device does not support multi-window out of the box, do not worry - at the end of the article there are workarounds.

1. Standard split screen mode (Multitasking)

The easiest and most versatile way is to use the built-in split-screen feature that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, a method that does not require superuser rights (root) and is suitable even for budget models like the Redmi 10A or POCO M5.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open the first app (e.g. Chrome).
• 👆 Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen and hold it – the menu of the latest apps will open.
• 🔄 Click on the app icon (not the preview!) and select Split Screen (or Split Screen in English firmware).
• 📲 Select the second app from the list or go back to the home screen and run it manually.

Now both apps will work simultaneously. To change the proportions of windows, pull the dividing line in the center of the screen. Some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T Pro) even have a floating window — to do this, hold the app icon in the multitasking menu and select Free Window.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) the path to the function may be different. If the app menu does not have a split screen, try to keep the application preview itself multitasking — sometimes the context menu appears only this way.

2.Gesturals for quick multi-window launch

MIUI 13/14 has a hidden gesture that speeds up split-screen transitions, which is especially useful if you're a multitasking user, and here's how to activate it:

First, turn on the function in the settings:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Gestures.
2. Find the option Split Screen Gesture and activate it.
3. Select a gesture: This is usually a swipe up from the lower corner of the screen with a delay.

Now to open two applications:

• 🖐️ Launch the first application.
• 👉 Swipe your finger from the lower left or right corner up and hold for 1 second.
• 📱 The screen will split and you can choose the second app.

This method works faster than the standard one, but requires some skill. On the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2/3 and other foldable devices, the gesture can conflict with system functions - in this case, turn it off or reassign it in the settings.

3. Floating Window for Mini-Apps

If you don’t need a full-screen split, but you just need to hold one app on top of another (like a calculator while chatting), use the floating window mode. It’s not available for all applications, but it’s supported by most system utilities and popular instant messengers.

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Floating window.
2. Activate the switch and select the apps that you can open in the mini window (e.g. Notes, Calculator, Google Translate).
3. Now, when you open a supported application from the multitasking menu, the option Floating window will appear.

You can change the size of the window by pulling corners. On the Xiaomi Pad 6 and other tablets, this mode works especially conveniently - windows can be freely dragged around the screen, like on a PC. Note: some applications (for example, Instagram or TikTok) can block work in a floating window due to developer restrictions.

4. Picture in Picture Mode (PiP) for Video

If you need to watch videos and work with another app at the same time, use Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. It is automatically activated in most video players, including YouTube Premium, VLC and MX Player.

How it works:

• 🎬 Run the video in the supported application.
• 🔄 Click the Home button or switch to another app – the video will shrink into a small window.
• 🖱️ Move the PiP window to any corner of the screen, change its size, or roll into the notification bar.

On MIUI, the PiP mode works stably, but there are nuances:

If the PiP doesn’t start automatically, check the app’s settings or enable the feature manually in Settings → Apps → Special Access → Picture-in-Picture.

5. Alternative methods for advanced users

If standard methods don't work (e.g. older versions of MIUI or custom firmware), you can use workarounds, which require additional actions, but expand the possibilities of multitasking.

Method 1: Using ADB to force multi-windows

If your MIUI version has split-screen functionality disabled, you can activate it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global force_split_screen true
3. Reset the device.

This method works even on devices where the feature is not officially supported (e.g., on some versions of Redmi 9A), but can cause interface instability.

Method 2: Third-party launchers with multi-window support

Launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher offer advanced multitasking settings, such as Nova Launcher, which allows you to:

• 🔧 Set up gestures to quickly open the split screen.
• 📱 Create shortcuts to run pairs of applications in a multi-window.
• 🎨 Change the transparency and size of floating windows.

Note that third-party launchers may conflict with proprietary MIUI features such as Super Wallpapers or Always-on Display.

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If, after use, ADB-Multi-window commands are not working correctly, reset settings via adb shell settings put global force_split_screen False and reboot the device.

6. Features on different Xiaomi models

Multi-window functionality may vary depending on the series of devices, and here are the key differences:

On foldable devices (Xiaomi Mix Fold 3), the multi-window works differently: when deploying the screen, applications automatically adapt to the new size, and in the rolled-up state, you can use a standard split screen.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For the global market (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Global), some multi-window features may be reduced compared to Chinese firmware versions. MIUI China or using Xiaomi.eu.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if you do it right, you can have difficulties, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🚫 The function does not appear in the Solution menu: Check if it is disabled in Settings → Additionally. → Function Lab. Some devices need to turn on Developer Mode first.
• 🔄 Applications spontaneously close in multi-window Solution: Clear the application cache in Settings → Annexes → Manage applications or disable battery optimization for them.
• 📱 The screen is not divided into two parts Solution: Try another gesture (for example, swipe from a latency corner) or restart the device. POCO Sometimes it helps to reset the gesture settings.
• 🔒 Some applications do not support the Solution mode: Use ADB-command to force enabled or run an application in the browser (for example, the web version of Instagram).

If the problem persists, check if the feature is blocked by installed power saving software (such as the Security App or Battery Saver). In extreme cases, reset to factory settings, but remember to back up the data!

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On devices with MIUI 15 and later, the multi-window is more stable, but may conflict with the HyperOS function (if activated).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions