Modern smartphone users are often faced with the need to use several applications simultaneously. Imagine the situation: you are conducting business correspondence in instant messenger or reading an article in the browser, but at the same time you need to follow the route to the meeting. Minimizing navigation application and constantly returning to it is inconvenient and distracts from current tasks. Fortunately, the operating system Android provides powerful multitasking tools that let you display maps on top of other windows.
The implementation of this feature depends on the version of the operating system, your device model, and the specific application you are using. The most popular services, such as Yandex.Maps, Google Maps and 2GIS, have built-in mechanisms for working in the background. However, to enable them correctly, you need to understand the difference between picture-in-picture and split-screen mode. In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods and settings.
Before you start setting up, it is important to check whether your device supports the function Picture-in-Picture (PiP). This technology allows you to turn the active application window into a small floating widget that can be moved around the screen. If your smartphone is running Android 8.0 or newer, this feature is most likely already available to you out of the box, but requires proper activation in the system settings.
Using the Picture in Picture mode
The most convenient way to leave the navigator in sight is to use the mode Picture-in-Picture. When this mode is activated, the application is minimized into a small window that “floats” on top of all other apps. You can continue to use your phone, text or watch videos while the current route and voice prompts are displayed in the corner of the screen.
In most cases, complex manipulations are not required to start this mode. Simply minimize the navigation application while you are actively planning a route. The system will automatically recognize that the navigation process is in progress and offer to minimize the window to a mini-player. If this does not happen, the corresponding option may be disabled in the application or system settings.
Please note that the behavior of windows may differ depending on the brand of smartphone. Manufacturers often add their own shells, such as MIUI ot Xiaomi or One UI ot Samsung, which may have their own features for managing floating windows. In some cases, you may need to manually allow a specific application to run in PiP mode through the system settings.
If the navigator is minimized completely instead of creating a floating window, check to see if you have Game Mode or Power Saver enabled, as these often block cards from running in the background to save battery.
To ensure a stable floating window, make sure the application has all necessary permissions. In particular, rights to display on top of other applications and access to geolocation in the background are important. Without these permissions, the system may forcefully close the navigator when switching to another task.
Split Screen for simultaneous work
If the floating window seems too small and inconvenient for you to perceive map details, an excellent solution would be the function Split Screen or split screen. This mode divides your smartphone's display into two equal or proportional parts, each running a different app. This is an ideal option for tablets and smartphones with large diagonals.
Activation of split screen is usually carried out through the recent applications menu. You need to open the list of running apps, click on the navigator application icon and select “Split screen”. After this, the system will prompt you to select a second application, which will occupy the rest of the display. You will be able to see the map and, for example, read the news or work with documents at the same time.
It is important to understand that in split-screen mode, both applications run in an active state, which can consume more processor resources and RAM. On older or budget device models, this may lead to some slowdown in the interface. However, for modern gadgets this is the standard mode of operation, optimized by developers.
Some users prefer to use this method, as it allows you to see more information from the card than the miniature PiP window. You can adjust the size of windows by dragging the dividing bar to give more space to the navigator or a second application depending on the current need.
Setting permissions to display on top of other applications
The key to organizing the navigator to work on top of other windows is to provide special system permissions. Without the Draw over other apps permission, no app will be able to create a floating widget or run a visual interface in the background. This is a security requirement Androidthat prevents malware from unauthorizedly overlaying windows.
To grant this permission, you must go to the settings of your smartphone. The path may differ slightly, but the logic is the same for all versions of the system. You need to find the section responsible for managing applications and manually turn on the toggle switch for your navigator. This action gives the app the right to draw its interface on top of any other active windows.
⚠️ Attention: Give permission to display on top of other windows only to trusted applications, such as official map clients. Attackers can use this function to create phishing windows that imitate the interface of the system or banking applications.
Consider the standard algorithm of actions for activating this right:
- 📱 Open
Settingsyour device and go to sectionApplicationsorManage applications. - 🔍 Find the installed navigator in the list (for example, Yandex.Maps or Google Maps) and click on it.
- ⚙️ Select the item
AdvancedorAdvanced settings, then find the optionDisplay on top of other applications. - ✅ Activate the switch
Allow display on top of other applications.
After completing these steps, the system will remove the block on creation floating windows for the selected app. Now, when you try to minimize the navigator during a route, it should correctly transform into a widget. If the problem persists, you should also check the battery settings so that the system does not “kill” the navigation process in the background.
Features of working in various navigation applications
Different developers implement the multitasking function in their own way. Understanding the nuances of a specific application will help you configure it to work as efficiently as possible. Below is a comparative table of popular navigation services and their capabilities for working in the background on the platform Android.
| Application | PiP support | Split Screen mode | Operating features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yandex.Maps | Yes (widget) | Yes | Automatic collapse when you press the "Home" button during navigation. |
| Google Maps | Yes (native) | Yes | Integration with the Android system, minimal resource consumption in the background. |
| 2GIS | Yes | Yes | Requires manual activation of the plugin or settings in the application menu for some versions. |
| Waze | Limited | Yes | Often requires leaving the application active on the second screen for stable operation. |
In the application Yandex.Maps, for example, the functionality is implemented very conveniently: as soon as you start moving along the route and minimize the application, a compact block appears in the corner with information about the next turn. In Google Maps he behavior is similar, but the settings may be hidden deeper in the navigation options menu. Users 2GIS sometimes have to additionally enable the "Floating window" option in the application settings.
Why may the navigator not work in the background?
Often the reason lies in aggressive battery optimization. The system considers that an application that is not visible on the screen is not needed by the user and ends its process. The solution is to add the navigator to the list of power saving exceptions.
It is also worth noting that some specialized offline navigators may not support PiP mode at all, relying solely on voice prompts. In such cases, using the split-screen mode becomes the only visual solution for monitoring the route in parallel with other tasks.
Solving problems with automatic closing of the navigator
One of the most common problems that users encounter is the sudden closing of the navigator when switching to another application. You open the messenger, and a minute later you discover that the voice prompts have died down and the map has stopped updating. This occurs because the system Android tries to free up RAM by closing background processes.
To prevent this behavior, you need to pin the application in memory or disable battery optimization for it. Modern smartphone shells have very aggressive energy saving algorithms that can “kill” the navigator even if there is free space in RAM. Your task is to explicitly indicate to the system that this application should be running constantly.
⚠️ Attention: Energy saving settings interfaces are constantly updated by manufacturers. If you do not find the items described below exactly, look for similar sections with names like “Activity Control”, “Auto Start” or “Battery and Performance”.
For reliable operation, follow these steps:
- 🔋 Go to
Settings→Battery→Charge consumption by applications. - 📍 Find your navigator in the list and select operating mode
Without restrictionsorDo not optimize. - 🔒 In the recent applications menu, find the navigator window, hold it or pull it down (depending on the model) to see the lock icon, and lock the application.
Locking an application in the recent tasks menu (lock icon) is a very effective method. It gives the system a signal that the user deliberately wants to keep this app active, and it will not be closed when clearing the memory with the “Close All” button. This is especially true for devices with a small amount of RAM.
Using third-party utilities to create floating windows
If the built-in functions of your smartphone for some reason do not work or are limited by the manufacturer, third-party applications come to the rescue. In the store Google Play there are many utilities that forcefully launch any application in a floating window. This can be a useful solution for older versions Android or specific phone models.
apps such as Floating Apps or X-ApplicationBarcreate a virtual layer on top of the system in which you can run a second instance of a browser, calculator, or even a navigator. However, it is worth remembering that the use of such “crutches” increases the load on the processor and can lead to unstable operation of the device.
When installing such utilities, you will still need to give them permission to overlaying on top of other applications. The mechanism of operation remains the same: the shell app creates a window within which the interface of the application you select is rendered. This provides greater flexibility, allowing you to change the size and transparency of the window, but the price may be increased power consumption.
Using third-party apps to create floating windows is a last resort. Always first try to configure the native functions of your version of Android and a specific navigation application.
Before using such tools, it is recommended to check whether this does not violate the terms of use of a specific navigation service. Some applications may not display correctly in virtual windows, losing some functionality or touch sensitivity. However, for simple map viewing tasks, this method is quite viable.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the navigator minimize to a small window on my phone?
Most likely, your device has the Picture-in-Picture feature disabled in the system settings or settings the application itself. Also check if there is a restriction on background work in the “Battery” section. Make sure that you minimize the application while actively navigating, and not just open the map without a route.
Is it possible to move the floating map window to any part of the screen?
Yes, in Picture-in-Picture mode you can freely drag the window with your finger to any corner of the display. However, in Split Screen mode, the position of the window is fixed: it occupies either the upper or lower (left/right) half of the screen, depending on the orientation of the device.
Does running a navigator on top of other applications affect battery consumption?
Yes, running two active applications at the same time, especially using a GPS module and a bright screen, significantly increases energy consumption. Navigation is one of the most energy-consuming processes, so when multitasking, the device's charge will drain faster than usual.
Does the voice assistant work if the navigator is minimized to a floating window?
In the vast majority of cases, voice prompts continue to work correctly even when the window is minimized. The audio stream is not interrupted, since the application continues to work in active mode, its GUI is simply reduced. Just make sure that the sound of media or notifications is not muted in the system.