Have you ever encountered a situation where an app on Xiaomi refuses to show floating windows, notifications or overlays? For example, instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can not display pop-up messages, and games or streaming services block the overlay of chats. The reason lies in the limitations of MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which by default blocks the display of applications “above others” for security and resource savings.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to enable “Above Other Apps” on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including devices on MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 10–14. You’ll learn how to bypass system limitations, what settings are responsible for overlays, and what to do if the resolution suddenly resets after an update, and why some applications (such as banking) fundamentally do not support this mode.
Why does Xiaomi block display on top of other apps?
Android’s overlay feature is designed to be convenient: floating panels, chats, translators, or system notifications don’t interfere with the basic work, but Xiaomi imposes additional restrictions through MIUI for three key reasons:
- 🛡️ Security: Attackers can use overlays for phishing (for example, fake password windows on top of legitimate apps).
- 🔋 Saving resources: Constantly hanging over other windows, elements consume RAM and battery power.
- 🎯 Optimization MIUI: The shell aggressively controls background processes to extend the device’s operating time.
In addition, some applications (especially banking or payment) block overlays on their own via Android Manifest, which is designed to protect against data interception, such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff, which may display a warning: “Overlay detected – close it to continue.”
Method 1: Standard resolution via MIUI settings
The most obvious method is to include permission directly in the Special Rights menu, which is relevant for MIUI 12-14 and most models (Redmi Note 11, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.).
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Special Access (or Application Permissions in older versions).
- Go to the section "Above Other Applications" (sometimes called "Drawing Over Other Windows").
- Find the desired application (for example, VK or Discord) in the list and move the slider to the “On” position.
If the app is not listed, it has not requested permission. №3 (through) ADB).
Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)
Update the app to the latest version on Google Play
Close all background tasks (swipe up in the multitasking menu)
Reboot your smartphone before setting up-->
Method 2: Resolution through Auto Start and No Limitations
Sometimes permission on an overlay is not enough — MIUI can block an application through other mechanisms. To ensure that it works on top of other windows, follow these additional steps:
- Autostart: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Select the application] → Autostart and turn on the option.
- No restrictions: In the same app menu, find Battery → No restrictions (or Battery Optimization → No restrictions).
- Notifications: Make sure the app is allowed to show notifications (Settings → Notifications → [Appendix]).
These settings will prevent the application from being forced to shut down by the system, for example, without auto-run, Telegram may lose the right to overlays after a reboot.
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After the update MIUI resolution reset, try to disable the function «MIUI Optimization through ADB (Adb shell settings put global miui_optimization 0). This could bring back the old overlay settings.
Method 3: Enable via ADB (for power users)
If the app doesn't appear on the "Above Others" list or the resolution is reset, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help.This method requires a PC connection, but gives 100% result.
Step-by-step:
- Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
- Turn on the smartphone Developer Mode (7 taps by Build Number in Settings → About phone) and activate Debugging via USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line (from the folder with ADB):
adb devices
adb shell pm grant [packet applications] android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOWTo find out the application package, use the command:
adb shell pm list packages | grep -i [name annex]Example for WhatsApp:
adb shell pm grant com.whatsapp android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Google Pay or SberBank) may stop working after manual permissions are assigned through the Internet. ADB. This is due to the security policies of Google and banks.
Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (Root)
If you have root rights, you can use apps like App Ops or Shizuku to force overlays to be turned on, but this method is only suitable for advanced users:
- 🔧 App Ops: Allows you to manage all permissions, including hidden permissions. Requires root or Shizuku.
- 🛠️ Tasker: You can create a task that will automatically turn on an overlay when you start an application.
- 📱 MIUI Hidden Settings: Opens access to hidden settings MIUI (It doesn’t work on all versions).
Warning: Changing system permissions through root can cause the device to run unstable or lose warranty, and some banking applications refuse to work on rooted devices.
What if applications do not start after root?
Compatibility table for MIUI models and versions
Not all methods work the same on different devices, and here are the latest data on overlay support:
| Model/Series | MIUI 12 (Android 10) | MIUI 13 (Android 11–12) | MIUI 14 (Android 13–14) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | ✅ Standard settings | ✅ + ADB discharged | ⚠️ Requires optimisation disabling | Android 12+ can block banking applications |
| POCO F3/F4 | ✅ All methods. | ✅ No restrictions. | ✅ Better compatibility | Minimal problems with overlays |
| Xiaomi 12/13/14 | — | ✅ Only through ADB | ⚠️ Frequent resets after updates | Recommended to shut down miui_optimization |
| Redmi 9/9A | ✅ Standard settings | ❌ Problems with ADB | — | Android 10 is stable on the market |
If your model isn’t in the table, focus on the MIUI and Android version. For example, MIUI 14 with Android 13 is most often helped by a combination of ADB + optimisation disablement.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the overlays are turned on, users are confronted with bugs, and here are the most common situations and ways to fix them:
- 🔄 Resolution resets after reboot: Check autostart and turn off battery optimization for the app. If it doesn't work, use ADB.
- 🚫 The app doesn't appear on the "Above Others" list: So it doesn't ask for permission. Try reinstalling it or using it ADB.
- 🔒 Banking app blocks overlays: This is phishing protection.Close all floating windows (like chat rooms or translators) before entering.
- ⚡ Overlays lag or slow down: Limit the number of overlays working simultaneously. For example, do not use floating chat and screen recording at the same time.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global Stable for Redmi Note 8 Pro) after upgrading to Android 11 overlays stop working at all, in this case, only a rollback to the previous version or installing custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience) will help).
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If none of these methods worked, check if your device has a Chinese version of MIUI (without Google services), in which case overlays can be blocked at the firmware level.