Modern Xiaomi smartphones with the shell MIUI or the new HyperOS have become powerful multimedia centers that allow you to perform several tasks at once. One of the most popular features for users is the ability to watch videos on YouTube without leaving the main application or desktop. This is especially true for those who are used to texting in messengers, reading news or working with documents while playing a favorite video blog or music video.
Unlike some other manufacturers, Chinese versions of MIUI firmware often have limitations on the way backgrounds work for certain applications, especially YouTube. However, Xiaomi engineers have provided several workarounds and built-in tools, such as Floating Windows and Picture-in-Picture mode. Understanding how window management works in your version of the shell will be the key to successfully configuring multitasking. In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from standard system features to the use of specialized developer tools.
It’s worth noting that the effectiveness of the method can depend on whether you use the official YouTube app or its modified counterparts. The standard Android functionality introduced in Xiaomi shells is constantly being improved, but sometimes requires manual activation of hidden settings. We will consider each option Step-by-step so you can choose the most convenient for your use scenario.
Use of the built-in function "floating windows"
The most naive way to run YouTube in a separate window on Xiaomi is to use the system function “Floating Windows” (Floating Windows), which allows you to turn any running application into a mobile widget that can be moved around the screen and changed in size. To activate this mode, you do not need to install additional software, since it is part of the core of the shell MIUI and HyperOS. However, many users simply do not know about the existence of special gestures or menu buttons responsible for this process.
To activate a floating window, first run the YouTube app in full screen mode. Then swipe from the bottom left or right corner of the screen up and hold your finger for a couple of seconds. This action will call the window control menu where you want to select the option "Floating window." The alternative way is to go to the menu of running applications (square or swipe from the bottom with a delay), where above the preview of the YouTube application you need to click on a special icon resembling two rectangles or dashed frame. After selecting the appropriate mode, the video will continue to play in a small window.
It’s important to understand that some versions of firmware can call the feature differently, such as “Sidebar” or “Floating Window.” If the standard gesture doesn’t work, check the settings in Settings → Additional Features → Floating Windows. Here you can activate the sidebar display, which is always available on top of other apps. By adding YouTube to your list of favorite sidebar apps, you can run it floating in one click at any time.
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To make it easier to control the size of the window, grab it by the lower right corner and pull it, which will stretch the video halfway through the screen or compress it to the minimum size for the background.
Floating window mode is especially useful when you need to quickly respond to a message without interrupting browsing. YouTube window remains active on top of other applications, ensuring the continuity of content consumption. However, it is worth remembering that too many floating windows open simultaneously can lead to a decrease in device performance, especially on models with a small amount of RAM. The system can automatically unload background processes if RAM resources are exhausted.
The "Picture-in-Picture" mode
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) technology is the standard for Android operating system since version 8.0, and allows you to display video in a small floating block on top of the interface of other applications. On Xiaomi smartphones, the implementation of this feature has its own features, since by default it can be limited to certain applications or regions. Unlike floating windows MIUI, the PiP mode is more “lightweight” and is designed for video content, taking up less system resources.
To activate Picture-in-Picture mode in the YouTube app, it is usually enough to simply swipe the app while playing a video. You can swipe up (if you use gesture navigation) or click the Home button. If the function is activated correctly, the video will automatically shrink and anchor in the corner of the screen. In the settings of the YouTube app itself, in the General section, a tick should be placed opposite to Picture-in-Picture. Without this permission, the system will simply stop playback when it folds.
If standard folding doesn't work, it may be locked at the system level. Check the Settings path → Apps → All apps → YouTube → Additional. There should be a Picture-in-Picture switch. On some global versions of MIUI, this item may be missing or inactive for YouTube due to Google's licensing restrictions, in which case the system prioritizes its own floating windows instead of the native Android PiP.
- 🎥 PiP mode allows video to occupy a minimum screen area, leaving maximum space for other tasks.
- ⚙️ The feature may require separate activation in application privacy settings.
- 📱 On Xiaomi, the mode often works more stable through system floating windows than through native PiP.
- 🔋 Picture-in-Picture consumes less power as it does not render the full application interface.
Splitting the screen for comfortable viewing
Split Screen is a classic multitasking tool that divides a smartphone’s display into two equal or proportional parts. Unlike a floating window that hovers over the interface, a split screen locks two apps within its boundaries, ideal for those who want to watch YouTube and actively chat or browse the web without fear of one window overriding the other.
To launch YouTube in a split screen on Xiaomi, open the menu of recent apps. Find a YouTube preview and click on the app icon from the top of the preview (or preview down, depending on the version of MIUI). In the menu that appears, select the icon that indicates the split screen (usually two rectangles separated by a vertical line).
The split-screen proportions are controlled through a special dividing line in the middle of the display. Dragging it, you can give YouTube most of the space or, conversely, leave it a minimum strip for audio., Not all applications support split-screen operation, but YouTube and most popular messengers are fully compatible with this feature. When you turn the device into landscape mode, applications can be located side by side, which is convenient for tablets or smartphones with large screens.
☑️ Checking the readiness for splitting the screen
It's worth noting that when using split screen, sound can behave differently depending on the Android version. In newer versions, sound usually comes only from an active window, or mixes. If the sound is lost when splitting the screen, try to fold and deploy the YouTube app or switch the sound source in the multimedia settings. Also keep in mind that some games can't work in tandem with video, since it requires the capture of the resources of the graphics accelerator.
Setting up the sidebar and special features
Xiaomi’s Sidebar is a powerful tool that is often underrated. It allows you to call floating apps at any time without interrupting the current task. To set up YouTube through the sidebar, you need to go to Settings → Additional Features → Sidebar. Here you need to turn on the panel display and add YouTube to your favorite apps list. After that, when swiping from the edge of the screen, you will have quick access to the video.
Special attention should be paid to settings of special features that can affect the display of windows on top of other applications. In Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features, check the list of applications that have permission to display on top of others. If YouTube is not on the list or the resolution is disabled, the system will block the attempt to display video in floating mode. This is a common reason why users can not run video in a separate window after updating the system.
Newer versions of HyperOS have added a feature called “App Floating Windows,” which allows you to save the window state, which means that if you roll YouTube into floating mode, the next time you run it, it can open in the same format. It’s also useful to look at the Developer Menu to activate advanced multitasking features. Here you can find options like “Forced Activity in Multi-Window Mode” that forces the system to run apps on a shared screen, even if the developer didn’t intend to do so.
⚠️ Note: Enabling the option “Forced Multi-Window Activity” in the developer menu may cause some applications to display the interface incorrectly.
Setting up the sidebar also allows you to create groups of applications. You can group YouTube and, for example, Telegram, to run them in floating windows at the same time with one touch. This creates the effect of a full multitasking workspace on the smartphone screen. Remember that the number of simultaneously active floating windows is limited by the processor and the amount of free RAM. It is optimal to keep open no more than 2-3 floating windows for stable operation of the system.
Third-party solutions and modified clients
If Xiaomi and Google’s standard methods don’t meet your needs (e.g., premium-free background play or more flexible window management), third-party solutions come to the rescue. The official Google Play store offers a variety of Picture-in-Picture-enabled browser apps that can open the mobile version of YouTube in a floating window.
However, the most advanced users often pay attention to modified YouTube clients, such as YouTube ReVanced. These applications, although requiring more complex installation (often via patchers), provide functionality that is not available in the official version. In particular, they may ignore regional restrictions on background playback and PiP that Google imposes on certain countries. APK-files from verified sources, as they are not in the official store.
When using third-party software, it is important to be careful: download modified applications only from official repositories on GitHub or verified forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers). Using unknown builds can lead to leakage of Google account data or the introduction of malicious code. In addition, modified customers can stop working after another update to the YouTube server part, requiring constant updates.
| Method | Difficulty | Stability | Demands a Root. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI floating window | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Picture-in-Picture | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Screen splitting | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Third-party browsers | Medium | Medium | No. |
| Mods (ReVanced) | Tall. | Depends on the version. | No (usually) |
Security of Modified Applications
Typical Problems and Limitations
Despite the vast possibilities, users may face problems with displaying YouTube in a separate window, the most common being a black screen instead of a video in a floating window. DRM-If you see a black screen, try turning off hardware acceleration in your browser settings (if you watch through it) or restarting the YouTube app.
Another common problem is automatically closing the floating window when you run heavy apps like games. Xiaomi aggressively manages memory and closes background processes to ensure maximum performance in the game. To avoid this, you need to fix YouTube in memory. Open the menu of running apps, find YouTube and click on the lock icon. This will prevent the system from unloading the YouTube process from RAM.
There are also possible problems with sound: video plays, but no sound. Check whether the Do Not Disturb mode or silent mode is on. Sometimes the sound gets stuck in the speaker, even though Bluetooth headphones are connected. In this case, switching the audio output source through the Quick Access panel or reconnecting the headphones helps. If the problem persists, rebooting the smartphone is often the most effective solution for resetting the system's audio services.
⚠️ Warning: If the floating YouTube window is permanently disappearing or the system writes “Not enough memory”, try closing all other apps and clearing RAM before running the video.
In some cases, the problem lies in a specific version of the YouTube app. Google updates may temporarily break compatibility with multitasking features MIUI. If the feature stopped working after the app update, try rolling back the YouTube version to the previous one or waiting for the patch to come out. To roll back the version, remove the current update through the app menu in the system settings or install the old version. APK-file.
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Affixing the app to memory (lock icon) is a critical step for YouTube to work in the background on Xiaomi.