How to fix the application on the screen Xiaomi Redmi 9A: official and hidden methods

The app attachment feature on Xiaomi Redmi 9A allows you to pin an important app to the screen so that it doesn’t close when you accidentally tap or switch between tasks. This is especially useful for navigators, instant messengers during conversations or banking applications where privacy is important. However, in the standard MIUI firmware for Redmi 9A, this option is hidden deep in the settings – or not at all in some regional versions.

Many users mistakenly confuse fixation with “Film-in-Picture” (Picture-in-Picture mode), but these are different functions. The fixed application remains active in the background and does not fold when you click on the Home or Recent button. And also — it can not be accidentally closed by swipe up in the multitasking menu. Next, we will analyze all the working methods, including those that are not documented in the official Xiaomi help, but are tested in practice.

1.Official method: through the menu "Recent Appendices"

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI feature that is available on most of the firmware versions for Redmi 9A. However, its behavior may vary depending on the version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13 interface is different).

To secure the annex:

1. Open the desired application (for example, Google Maps or Telegram).
2. Click on the recent apps button (square in the bottom navigation bar or swipe up with a delay).
3. Find the app card in the list and swipe it down (on some versions – click on the app icon and select Secure).
4. There'll be a badge. 📌 — This means that the application is fixed.

Now, even if you click Home or open another app, the one that's attached will remain in your memory, so to unplug it, repeat the steps and swipe the card up or click the icon. 📌 again.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A firmware MIUI 12.0.8 and below, the fixing function can be disabled by default, in which case try to update the system or use alternative methods from the following sections.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Update the firmware to the latest stable version

Close all background applications before fixing

Make sure that the developer’s settings do not turn off multitasking mode-->

2. Alternative method: through the developer settings

If the standard method does not work, you can enable fixing through hidden MIUI settings. First you need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version until the notification appears You became a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section → For developers.

Now, find the option to fix background processes (or Limit background processes in English) and set the value to No Limits, which will prevent applications from being automatically closed by the system.

Next:

• 🔧 Enable the option Do not remove active applications (if any).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.
• 📱 Try to secure the app in the standard way (via the recent menu).

⚠️ Attention: Changing the developer settings may affect the performance of the phone. 9A Start to brake, return the settings to the original state.

3. Fixing through gestures and navigation buttons

On the Xiaomi Redmi 9A with gesture control (no hardware buttons), app attachment can be done via an optional menu, which works even on older versions of MIUI:

Instructions:

1. Open the application you want to secure.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger to open the Recent menu.
3. Click on the app icon at the top of the card and select Secure (or Pin in English).
4. Confirm the action if there is a request to unlock the screen.

If you have hardware buttons enabled (three dots at the bottom of the screen), the algorithm is slightly different:

• 🔘 Press the recent button (square).
• 📌 Hold your finger on the app card for 1-2 seconds until the menu appears.
• 🔒 Choose Secure and Confirm.

The attached appendix will be marked with a pin 📌 And it will stay in memory, even if you open another app or lock the screen. To unplug the lock, hold the card again and select Unplug.

Gestures (swipes)

Hardware buttons (three dots)

I don't know what I'm on.

Using a third-party launcher-->

4. Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, POCO)

If the built-in methods don’t work, you can install an alternative launcher that supports app anchoring, such as Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher (optimized for Xiaomi devices).

The following is a step-by-step instruction for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Make it a default launcher (the first time you start will be offered a sentence).
3. Open Nova Settings → Gestures and inputs → Additional gestures.
4. Find the option of attaching applications and turn it on.
5. Now in the menu Recent will be able to pin applications swipe down.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI, custom-made.
• ✅ Additional gesture and animation settings.
• ✅ Ability to hide unnecessary system applications.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Consumes a little more RAM.
• ❌ Some features (such as Picture-in-Picture) may conflict with embedded features.

💡

If the app icons are missing after installing Nova Launcher, restart your phone or reset the launcher cache to Settings → Apps → Nova Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache.

5. Affixation via ADB (for power users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but gives 100% result.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the Redmi 9A.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Enable debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
2. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell settings put global multi_window_mode_enabled true


adb shell settings put global force_resizeable_activities 1

These commands activate the advanced multitasking mode, and then the Recent menu will give you the ability to pin apps. To get it back, do:

adb shell settings put global multi_window_mode_enabled false

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change other parameters unless you are sure of their purpose.

💡

The ADB method is the only way to anchor applications to Redmi 9A with custom firmware or heavily stripped down versions of MIUI (for example, for the European market).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully securing the application, users of Xiaomi Redmi 9A face typical errors.

If none of the solutions worked, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI — Some assemblies (for example, for India or China) have a reduced functionality.
• 🔄 Multitasking settings - in Settings → Special facilities → System navigation must be enabled with 3-button navigation or gestures MIUI.
• 🛡️ Antivirus or SEOs – Software like Clean Master or Security can block background processes.

7.Security: Why Attachment Doesn't Work for Some Applications

MIUI blocks anchoring for applications that:

• 🔒 Use administrative rights (such as antiviruses or password managers).
• 📱 Work in super-secure space mode (like Mi Pay or Mi Home).
• 🚫 They have a flag. FLAG_SECURE in the manifesto (bank applications, some messengers).

These limitations can be circumvented:

1. For banking applications: use the built-in Private Mode mode in MIUI (Settings → Special Opportunities → Private Mode).
2. For antiviruses: temporarily turn off their protection in the background.
3. For system utilities: grant them rights through ADB: adb shell pm grant com.example.app android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW

If the application categorically refuses to be fixed, check its settings in Settings → Applications → [App Name] → Battery and set the No Limits mode.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions