Multitasking is what distinguishes modern smartphones from regular “calls.” Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to keep several programs open at once, for example, it is convenient to watch videos while chatting in the messenger or compare products in the online store without switching between browser tabs.
MIUI and the new HyperOS provide powerful tools for running in the background and splitting the screen. However, many users do not know how to activate these features or where to find hidden settings. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to use software on your gadget at the same time.
Modern processors and sufficient RAM allow you to easily run heavy games in parallel with the navigator or streaming service. The main thing is to properly configure the interface to control it was comfortable.
Use of split screen mode
The most popular way to run two apps at once is by splitting the screen, which divides the display into two equal or proportional parts, allowing you to interact with both programs at the same time, which is especially convenient on large-screen devices where there is enough space to fully display content.
To activate this mode, the most common way to use the recent app menu is to open the desired program, then swipe from the bottom up (or menu button) to the list of tasks that you have started. Find the app icon and click on it or pull down to see additional options.
- 📱 Click on the screen split icon in the task menu.
- 📐 Select the second application from the list or run it manually.
- ↔️ Drag the dividing line to change the size of the windows.
Not all programs support this format, and some developers block this feature because their interface is not adapted for vertical or horizontal separation, in which case the system will issue a notification that it cannot run.
⚠️ Attention: When using split screen, the consumption of RAM increases significantly. If a device runs many background processes, the system can force the closure of one of the windows to stabilize the operation.
Floating window settings (FreeForm)
An alternative to hard splitting is the floating window mode, often called FreeForm. In this mode, the second app opens as a small movable frame on top of the main interface. This is ideal for watching short videos, using a calculator or quickly responding to a message.
To activate a floating window, you need to go to the menu of recent apps, as in the case of split screen, but instead of choosing split mode, you should click on a special icon that resembles a square with two arrows or just hold your finger for the preview of the program. The exact method depends on the version MIUI or hyperos.
The floating window can be moved freely across the screen, resized, folded into a sidebar, or turned over the entire display, giving the user maximum flexibility in managing the workspace, and you can watch the broadcast while you browse through the social network tape or write a document.
☑️ Testing readiness for multitasking
It's important to understand the difference between a normal window and a floating window, because the normal one occupies a fixed part of the screen, and the floating one behaves like a separate interface layer, which allows you to run more than two applications if you combine modes, although this can be a lot of workload for the processor.
Application cloning function
Often, by “two apps,” users mean having to use two different accounts on the same program, such as one WhatsApp number for work and another for personal use, in which case splitting the screen won’t help, since it just duplicates the interface, but doesn’t allow you to log into different profiles at the same time.
To solve this problem, Xiaomi's shell has a Dual Apps feature that creates a complete copy of the chosen messenger or social network with independent authorization, you get two icons on the desktop, and both programs can work in parallel.
You can find this setting in the Settings menu → Apps → App cloning. The list will only show programs that support duplicate creation, usually popular instant messengers, banking applications and social networks.
| Function | Screen splitting | Cloning | Floating window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Two different programs next to each other. | Two accounts of the same program | Secondary task on top of the main task |
| Location. | 50% screen each | Individual icons | A small movable window |
| Activity | Both are active. | Both are active independently | One basic, one background |
Cloning does not require root rights and works consistently on all current models, but it is worth considering that a cloned application also consumes battery and memory resources, even when it is not actively used.
How to remove a clone of the application?
Sidebar and fast launch
To easily manage running windows, MIUI and HyperOS have a sidebar, a special widget that can be swiped from the edge of the screen in any application, and it stores shortcuts of frequently used programs that can be run in floating window mode with a single touch.
To set up the panel, go to Settings → Additional Features → Floating Windows. Here you can add the desired applications to your favorites. After that, from any game or browser, you can quickly open the calculator, translator or messenger without interrupting the current process.
The sidebar is particularly useful for gamers, and you can run a window with a game guide or an ally chat right on top of the gameplay, and it creates a multi-window effect on a mobile device, bringing the experience of using a smartphone closer to working on a computer.
- 🎮 Convenient for gamers: access to chat without leaving the game.
- 🧮 Quick access to tools: calculator, voice recorder, notes.
- 📹 Comfortable viewing: video on top of other apps.
Even powerful Snapdragon or Dimensity processors can start to slow down if you start heavy gaming, navigator and video streaming at the same time.
⚠️ Note: Some applications, especially banking, may block floating windows or make screenshots impossible in this mode for security reasons.
Programme constraints and compatibility
Despite the system's vast capabilities, there are technical limitations: Not all applications are optimized for split-screen or floating window mode; developers can force the screen to be positioned or prevent window size change.
Most often, problems arise with applications that require a constant vertical position, such as some versions of TikTok or Instagram, and when you try to run them in a horizontal split screen, the image may stretch or rotate incorrectly.
On older versions (Android 9 and below), multitasking features may be less stable or absent from the standard menu, requiring activation through hidden developer settings. On Android 12, 13 and 14, these features work natively and stably.
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If the app doesn’t want to open in split mode, try running it first in normal full screen mode, then activate split screen through the recent task menu by selecting the second app.
Solving multitasking problems
Users often face a situation where running apps spontaneously close when switching, which is due to Xiaomi’s aggressive energy-saving system, which aims to clear RAM to save battery life.
To prevent important programs from closing, you need to stick them in memory. Open the menu of recent applications, find the desired window and pull it down (or press the lock depending on the firmware version), next to the icon, a lock icon will appear, which prevents the system from closing this application when cleaning the memory.
Alternatively, you can prevent the system from restricting background activity. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired program, go to Battery and select No Limits mode. This ensures that the application will work in the background for as long as necessary.
If the problem persists, try restarting the device. Cache and system process errors can interfere with proper screen splitting. Regularly restarting once a week helps keep the system running at a high level.
⚠️ Note: Setting “No Limits” mode for a large number of applications can lead to a quick battery drain in standby mode. Use this setting only for those programs that need to work constantly (messengers, mail).
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Fixing apps in memory and removing battery limitations are key steps to keeping two programs running simultaneously on Xiaomi.