Floating Windows on Xiaomi: How to Enable the App in Picture-in-Picture (PIP) Mode

Floating windows (or Picture-in-Picture, abbreviated) PIP) On smartphones, Xiaomi allows you to use apps in a miniature window on top of other tasks. For example, you can watch YouTube videos or make a video call on WhatsApp while checking Telegram messages or working with documents. MIUI have difficulty enabling this mode - especially if the application does not support PIP default.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to activate floating windows on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO, This includes hidden system settings, circumventing constraints on incompatible applications, and solving typical problems. MIUI 12/13/14 HyperOS, where the logic of the work PIP differ.

If you tried to turn on a floating window but failed, don’t be quick to blame the firmware. Most often, the problem lies in the wrong settings of the application, the permissions turned off or the features of a particular version of MIUI. We have tested all methods on current devices (including Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6) and are ready to share working solutions.

What are floating windows (PIPs) and why do you need them?

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) is a multitasking feature that allows you to roll a video or call into a small window that continues to run on top of other applications.

• 🎥 Watch YouTube video while simultaneously rewriting in messengers.
• 📞 Make a video call to Zoom or WhatsApp while checking email.
• 🎮 Stream gameplay on Twitch without closing the streamer chat.

On Xiaomi smartphones PIP implemented at the system level (MIUI/HyperOS), But his work depends on two factors:

1. Application support: Not all programs can run in floating mode (for example, TikTok blocks PIP).
2. System settings: Even if the application supports PIP, it can be blocked by energy saving or background restrictions.

Important: On devices with MIUI 14 and later (including HyperOS), the logic of PIP has changed – some applications now require additional permission in the Special Access menu.

What Xiaomi apps support floating windows

By default, PIP mode works in the following application categories (the list is relevant for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS):

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Netflix or TikTok) are blocked PIP They will need to use workarounds (see section on the subject of the ADB).

If your app isn't listed, it doesn't mean that PIP won't work. Try enabling it manually through your MIUI settings (more on that).

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To check if the app supports PIP, open a video or call and press the home button. If the window folds up, support is available. If the app closes, you will need additional settings.

How to enable floating windows in MIUI settings

Before you go into deep settings, make sure that the PIP function is allowed at the system level.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Special Accesses → Picture-in-Picture.
2. Turn on the slider at the top of the screen (if it is turned off).
3. In the list below, select the applications you want to allow PIP for.

🔹 For MIUI 14 and HyperOS: The path may be different – try Settings → Screen. → Picture-in-Picture.

If the desired application is not on the list, it does not declare PIP support. In this case, one of the workaround methods will help (see the next section).

Make sure that PIP is enabled in MIUI| settings

Check permissions for the application (background activity, auto-run)|

Update the application to the latest version|

Reboot your smartphone (sometimes helps to reset the system cache)-->

Bypassing the restrictions: how to make PIP work in any application

If the app doesn’t support floating windows out of the box, there are three working ways to enable PIP forcefully:

1. via ADB (for power users)

This method requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and using ADB.

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

⚠️ Note: After this command, all applications will be able to use PIP, but some may work unstablely (e.g., close when clotting).

2. Through the developer settings

Alternative method without ADB:

1. Activate Developer Mode (as in Clause 1).
2. Go to Settings → Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find the option to Enable Free Form for PIP (or Force PIP) and activate it.

🔹 Note: Some firmware may not have this option or may be called otherwise (e.g. Allow resize). PIP).

3. Through third-party utilities

Apps like the PIP Tool or Floating Apps (available on Google Play) allow you to emulate floating windows for any program, and they can conflict with MIUI and require additional permissions.

Step-by-step: How to enable PIP for YouTube without Premium

YouTube blocks floating windows for users without a Premium subscription, but Xiaomi has a workaround through the browser:

1. Open YouTube in your browser (Chrome or Firefox).

🔹 Alternative: Use modified versions of YouTube (e.g. YouTube Vanced or ReVanced) where PIP It works without restrictions. Please note that these apps may violate Google's rules.

Critical detail: on MIUI 14 and HyperOS, this method may require you to disable battery optimization for the browser in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Battery and Performance.

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Bypassing YouTube restrictions through the browser is unstable - PIP videos can be closed when you lock the screen or switch to other tasks. Use modified clients for stable operation.

Problems: PIP is not working or the window closes immediately

If the floating window doesn’t appear or closes instantly, check the following points:

• 🔋 Energy saving: Make sure that the application has turned off battery optimization (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Battery and productivity → No restrictions).
• 🔒 Permissions: Check if the application has access to the display over other windows (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Overhead display).
• 📱 Version. MIUI: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12.5 for the Redmi Note 10) PIP It only works after resetting the application settings.
• 🛠 System errors: If PIP stopped working after the update, clear the system cache (Settings) → Memory. → Clear the cache).

⚠️ Note: On devices with less than 4GB of RAM (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) The system can force the floating windows to close when there is a lack of memory, in which case only a replacement device or manual background cleaning will help.

If the problem persists, try turning on PIP through gestures:

1. Open the video or the call.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger in the center of 1-2 seconds (a miniature window should appear).

Comparison of PIP on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

The functionality of floating windows varies depending on the firmware version, and the key differences are as follows:

🔹 Advice for HyperOS: If PIP It is unstable, try to disable the Smart Memory Allocation function in Settings → Productivity.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about floating windows on Xiaomi