How to minimize an application to a window on Android: a complete guide

Modern smartphones have enough computing power to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, but many users still operate their gadgets in “one application at a time” mode. This is an inefficient use of resources Androidwhich was originally designed as a multitasking operating system. The ability to quickly switch between apps or launch them in a floating window can significantly improve your productivity.

There are several basic ways to organize your workspace on your screen. The simplest method is to use the Menu button or navigation gestures to switch between running processes. However, if your goal is to see content from two sources at the same time, for example, watching videos and chatting in the messenger, you will need more advanced functions such as split screen or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode. The availability of these options directly depends on the version of the operating system and the manufacturer's shell.

In this guide, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for minimizing applications. We will look at standard tools Android 10, Android 11 and more recent versions, and also touch on specific settings for devices Samsung, Xiaomi and Google Pixel. You will learn how to force multi-window mode for apps that do not officially support it, and how to fix situations where the window does not close or freezes.

Basic principles of multitasking in Android

The foundation for working with multiple windows is the memory and process management system built into the kernel Linuxon which based Android. When you minimize an app, it doesn't always close completely; often it goes into the background, continuing to consume a minimal amount of resources to maintain its state. Understanding this difference is critical to optimizing battery life.

Starting with version Android 7.0 Nougat, the split-screen feature has become a native part of the system, although phone manufacturers have introduced their own implementations before. In modern versions, such as Android 13 or Android 14, the interface has become more intuitive, but the logic remains the same: the system divides the available display space between two active Activity (activities).

It is worth noting that not all applications are adapted to work in reduced window. Developers can programmatically prevent their interface from resizing by fixing it to full screen. In such cases, the system may offer to run the application in standard mode, ignoring the user's attempt to create a multi-window configuration. This limitation is due to the interface layout features and requirements for text readability in small areas.

⚠️ Attention: Forcibly resizing non-adapted applications may lead to incorrect display of buttons or text fields, making the app unusable.

To check the multitasking support of a specific application, you can use the recent tasks menu. If you don't see icons for resizing or splitting the screen, most likely the developer has disabled this feature. However, there are workarounds, which we will talk about in the sections below, that allow you to bypass these limitations through engineering settings.

Picture-in-Picture mode

Mode Picture-in-Picture (PiP) is the most popular a way to minimize the application into a small floating window. Originally created for video players, it allows you to continue watching content while you work in other apps. Unlike split screen, the PiP window can sit on top of any other application and move across the entire display.

To activate this mode, you usually just need to minimize the application that supports this feature. For example, in YouTube Premium or Google Maps just press the “Home” button or swipe to return to the main screen, and the video or map will automatically shrink into a corner. For instant messengers, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, the function may be activated when minimized during a video call.

If automatic minimization does not occur, you need to check the system settings. The path to managing this function may differ depending on the shell, but the general algorithm is as follows:

• 📱 Go to Settings your smartphone and select the section Applications.
• 🔍 Find it in the list the desired app (for example, YouTube or Browser) and click on it.
• ⚙️ Select the item Additional or immediately find the option Picture in Picture.
• ✅ Make sure that the switch Allow Picture in Picture is active.

Some third-party video players, such like VLC or MX Player, have their own internal settings for enabling PiP. In such cases, the system permission must be supplemented with a checkmark inside the application itself. The window size in PiP mode is usually fixed or has a limited range of change, which is dictated by considerations of ergonomics and readability of subtitles.

Split screen function Screen)

Split screen is a more rigorous version of multitasking, where the display is divided into two equal or proportional parts. The top half is running one application, the bottom half is running another. This mode is ideal for situations when you need to copy data from one source to another or monitor two streams of information simultaneously.

Activation of Split Screen is most often done through the recent applications menu. On devices with classic navigation (three buttons at the bottom), you need to press the “Menu” key (square), and then tap on the application icon at the top of the card. In the menu that appears at the top, select Split screen. After this, the system will ask you to select a second application from the list or recent tasks menu.

On smartphones with gesture navigation, the process may be less obvious. Typically, you need to swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger in the center to open the recent tasks menu. Then the logic is similar: hold the application icon or swipe the card up until the section appears. On devices Samsung with a shell One UI there is an additional taskbar that simplifies this process to just one drag and drop.

The border between the two windows is adjustable. You can drag the divider bar up or down to change the proportions of the space it takes up. This is useful if one application needs more space to display details, such as a table in Excel or a map in the navigator. However, keep in mind that squeezing one of the windows too much may cause the application interface to no longer fit and collapse into an icon.

Specific interfaces of Samsung, Xiaomi and others manufacturers

Smartphone manufacturers often modify the standard one Androidby adding their own unique tools for working with windows. These functions can be much more convenient than stock solutions, but finding them in the settings sometimes causes difficulties for users accustomed to a clean interface. Owners of devices with a shell have access to the function. It allows you to run applications in a floating window of any size that you can move around the screen, just like windows on a computer. To activate, you need to open the recent taskbar, click on the application icon at the top and select “Open in pop-up window”. In addition, a gesture works on many Samsung models: swipe from the bottom corner of the screen to the center to minimize the current application into a floating window.

Device owners Samsung with shell One UI have access to the function Pop-up View. It allows you to run applications in a floating window of any size that you can move around the screen, just like windows on a computer. To activate, you need to open the recent taskbar, click on the application icon at the top and select “Open in pop-up window”. There's also a gesture that works on many Samsung models: swipe from the bottom corner of the screen to the center to minimize the current app into a floating window.

Users Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with shell MIUI or HyperOS also have advanced capabilities. You can pin frequently used apps to the sidebar (“App Sidebar”). Swiping from the edge of the screen will bring up this panel, from where the application can be dragged onto the screen as a floating window. It is important to note that in settings MIUI often you need to manually enable the “Floating windows” option in the “Advanced settings” section.

Brand / Shell	Function name	Activation method	Features
Samsung (One UI)	Pop-up View	Recent tasks menu / Corner gesture	You can open several floating windows at the same time
Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS)	Floating windows	Sidebar / Multitasking menu	Requires enabling in additional settings
Google Pixel (Stock)	Split Screen / PiP	Recent tasks menu	Strict separation, minimum visual effects
Huawei (EMUI)	Split screen	Two-finger up gesture / Navigation button	Easy splitter control

Differences in implementation can be confusing, so it's always worth referring to reference for a specific model. For example, on some older models Huawei to split the screen you need to swipe up with two fingers from the bottom edge of the screen, keeping them at a distance from each other. This gesture does not work on devices of other brands without installing special utilities.

⚠️ Attention: Shell interfaces are updated regularly. If you do not find the described functions, check for system updates or look for new item names in the settings (“Smart window”, “Multi-window”)

Forced resizing through developer settings

What to do if your favorite application does not support multi-window mode and the system does not allow it to be minimized? In Android there is a hidden section for developers, which allows you to ignore the restrictions imposed by the creators of the software. This feature is called Force resizing of actions (Force activities to be resizable).

First you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and find the item Build number. Quickly click on it 7 times in a row until the message “You have become a developer” appears. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu For developers.

Inside this section, scroll down the list to the “Applications” block or "Multitasking" Find the switch Forced resizing of actions and activate it. The system will warn you that this may lead to unstable operation of some apps. After enabling this option, restart your smartphone. Now even those applications that previously blocked split screen should allow themselves to be minimized.

adb shell settings put global force_resizable_activities 1

The same setting can be changed via the computer using debugging ADBif you do not have access to the settings menu (for example, on some custom firmware). Enter the command above in the terminal of the connected device. This will add the corresponding flag to the global settings database