How to disable the floating window in Chrome, Microsoft and Xiaomi

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If you're fed up with pop-up windows everywhere and you're wondering how disable the floating window On your mobile device or in your browser, you're not alone. Among pop-up blockers in Chrome, heavy notifications And with the famous floating windows of Xiaomi, MIUI, HyperOS and company, it's normal to end up a little desperate trying to find the right setting in the menus.

In this guide you will see, in great detail, how these work pop-up and floating windows In different contexts (Chrome browser, Windows/Microsoft, and Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO mobiles), we'll cover what you can do to block or control them and what limitations each system imposes. We'll also review some extra tips to reduce battery drain, when to contact technical support, and what alternatives you have if you like windowed multitasking but can't stand your manufacturer's implementation.

Block annoying pop-ups and notifications in Google Chrome

In computers, one of the most typical areas are... browser pop-upsChrome comes with a built-in pop-up blocker to prevent websites from opening tabs or windows without your permission, but it's useful to know how to adjust it in case something slips through or, conversely, if it blocks legitimate content.

When Chrome detects and blocks a pop-up window, it displays a small blocked pop-up icon in the address bar. From there you can temporarily allow that window or change the options for that site. If you still see pop-ups, strange ads, or aggressive redirects, it's time to thoroughly review the settings.

To change the General pop-up window settings and redirects On Chrome desktop, the steps are simple:

• Open Chrome on your computer and go to the "More" menu (the three dots in the upper right corner) to access Configuration.
• Inside the side panel, enter Privacy & Security and then in "Site settings".
• Locate the section Pop-ups and redirects.
• Choose whether you want to block them by default (recommended) or allow them for all websites, which only makes sense in very specific environments.

You can also manage behavior by specific siteNot all pop-ups are spam: some banks, payment platforms, storage services, and corporate websites use pop-ups to display forms, documents, or authentication windows. If Chrome is being too strict, you can make an exception:

• Open Chrome and go to the page where the window is blocking you.
• When you see the blocked pop-up window icon in the address bar, click on it.
• Select the link or action you want to allow, and if you want to prevent that website from having problems again, check the box. "Always allow pop-ups and redirects" and click on "Done".

If you notice that you continue to receive annoyances from the same site even though you have blocked pop-ups, it may not be pop-ups as such, but rather browser notificationsMany websites ask for your permission to send you notifications even when you're not visiting them, and if you agreed to it at the time, they will continue to appear.

To disable the notifications from a specific site In Chrome on desktop you can do it like this:

• Open Chrome and go to the website from which you receive the annoying notifications.
• Click on the padlock icon or "View site information" next to the URL.
• In the "Notifications" section, choose the option Block from the drop down menu.

Chrome also includes a smart system that automatically revokes notification permissions from sites you haven't visited for a while. When this happens, your browser may show you a warning indicating that it has withdrawn permissions from a certain number of websites so that you no longer receive unnecessary notifications.

If at any point you want to check which sites have lost that permission and reactivate it in some casesYou can do it from the settings:

• Open Chrome and go to the "More" menu > ConfigurationSometimes you'll see a direct notification like "Permissions removed for unused sites" with a shortcut.
• In the side menu go to Privacy & Security and then to "Security Verification".
• Press on Go to security check And, in the recommendations section, locate the block that states that "Site permissions were removed."
• From there you can check which websites have lost their permission and restore it manually if you are interested.

If you use a managed chrome device Your company or educational institution may not allow you to change these options; in those cases, the network administrator controls the pop-up blocker and you will have to talk to them if you need an exception.

Disable floating information boxes in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Search

Another environment in which they sometimes appear floating windows or pop-up boxes The Microsoft suite is annoying, especially in Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and in the Microsoft Search function (shortcut Alt+Q), where on-screen suggestions and help are displayed that can be distracting.

If you don't want to see more On-screen information (tooltips, contextual suggestions) By hovering your mouse over the ribbon buttons, you can change them from the program's options. The process is similar in most modern Office applications:

• Sign in File > Options > General within Word, Excel, or another Office app.
• Look for the section "User Interface Options".
• In the "Screen Information Style" drop-down list, select the option "Do not display information on screen" to disable those explanatory windows.

Microsoft offers specific support articles to explain how show or hide information on screenAnd on its official forums, you'll find threads where other users ask how to disable the "More information" pop-up window from Microsoft Search (Alt+Q). The solution usually involves checking the interface options or, in enterprise environments, policies applied by the administrator.

If the problem persists or you see strange floating messages, you can always consult the Microsoft communitywhere company technicians and advanced users share specific steps adapted to each version of Office or Windows, which is very useful when the interface changes from one edition to another.

Floating windows on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO: what they are and how they work

Where the real headaches begin for many users is with the Xiaomi floating windows on their Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO phones. With the arrival of MIUI 12, this feature became one of the stars of the brand's multitasking capabilities, and in MIUI 13 and HyperOS it has been further refined… although not everyone is happy about it.

The calls floating windows They're basically mini app windows that overlay your main open application. The idea is that you can, for example, have WhatsApp floating while using Chrome, open the calculator on top of a document, or reply to an email without leaving the game you're currently playing.

These windows can be launched from the Notification bar or from the recent apps menu. When activated, the app takes up part of the screen, can be moved by dragging the top bar, minimized to a corner, similar to chat bubblesand maximize again when you need it. It's a kind of "picture-in-picture" mode, but applied to almost any compatible app.

MIUI 12 placed a strong emphasis on this form of multitasking, and it was considered one of the most striking new features. With MIUI 13 and, later, with HyperOS, Xiaomi has maintained and expanded the presence of floating windows, even taking them to the control center and contextual sidebars, so that in some models they feel omnipresent.

However, not all devices from the brand can enjoy this feature: mobiles with MIUI versions prior to 11 They do not have floating windows by default, unless you use custom ROMs or external applications that simulate this behavior, something that is usually reserved for advanced users.

How to open and manage floating windows depending on the MIUI and HyperOS version

The specific way to launch and control these floating windows It varies slightly depending on the version of Xiaomi's interface (MIUI 12, MIUI 13, or HyperOS), although the basic concept remains the same. It's important to understand this to then know what can and cannot be disabled.

Floating windows in MIUI 12 and upcoming versions

In MIUI 12 there are two main paths to open an app in a floating window without overthinking it. Both are designed so that the user uses the function often, almost without realizing it.

On the one hand, you have the multitasking menu (Recent apps). When you open it, you see all the apps as cards. If you press and hold the card of the app you're interested in, additional options appear, including the option to turn it into a floating window. If the floating window icon is grayed out or disabled, it means that the app isn't compatible with this mode and can't overlay the system.

On the other hand, it is also possible to open a floating window since the notificationIf you receive a message, email, or any alert, pressing and holding the notification or swiping it down slightly will display options to open that app in a floating window. This is very useful for respond quickly to a WhatsApp message or check an email while continuing to play your game or watch a video without leaving the main app.

Once you have the floating window on the screen, control is based on simple gestures: you can drag the top bar to move it around the desktop, drag it to a corner to minimize it like a bubble, or use the bottom bar (when it appears) to perform actions such as closing or maximizing it.

Xiaomi's older phones, with MIUI prior to these versionsThey don't include this native floating multitasking system, so you'd only get something similar if you install third-party apps that create overlays on top of other apps, or if you flash a modified ROM, which carries more risks and isn't intended for the average user.

Floating windows and improved multitasking in MIUI 13

With MIUI 13, Xiaomi decided to refine this idea, and although the first leaks spoke mainly of floating windows for gamesEventually, it expanded to many more applications. One of the main improvements is that you can now have up to two active floating windows at the same time.

This allows, for example, opening WhatsApp and the gallery in floating windows You can run multiple apps simultaneously while another main app is open in the background. You can adjust the size of each window, move them around the screen as you like, and combine them however you want, which gives you plenty of freedom if you enjoy multitasking.

To activate floating windows in MIUI 13, you basically have two shortcuts:

• In the recent apps menu, you have a dedicated button, usually in the top left corner, called "floating windows"You tap it, choose the application from the list that you want to switch to that mode, and it opens floating above the interface.
• The new sidebar MIUI 13 allows you to pin a shortcut to one of the screen edges. From there, you can add quick access to your favorite apps; tapping on one of them will automatically open it in a floating window, without needing to go through the recent apps view.

This side bar is especially convenient for those who use the floating windows with specific appssuch as messaging, quick notes, calculator or navigation, since a simple gesture is all it takes to unfold it and launch the floating app instantly.

Floating windows in HyperOS and their integration into the control center

With the arrival of HyperOS, Xiaomi has not abandoned this system at all; on the contrary, it integrates it even more deeply into the interface. Floating windows are still present And, in addition to the traditional routes, they can be managed from the control center or quick settings panel.

On some models with HyperOS you'll see a specific button in the control center for activate or manage floating windowsThis makes access much easier, but it also gives the impression that the function is everywhere, something that doesn't appeal to those who just want a "quiet" mobile phone.

Another new feature is the way to reduce the size of floating windows: if drag the window to the top right Pressing and holding it shrinks it even further, making it behave almost like a miniature floating icon. You can then enlarge it again with a tap. Additionally, if you tap the top bar of the window once it's open, you'll see more options for maximizing, closing, or adjusting the behavior of that floating app.

This flexibility makes HyperOS quite convenient for those who enjoy multitasking; but for those who can't stand having layers on top of your games or appsThe experience can become frustrating if they don't know how to limit all of this.

Remove floating windows from the screen and MIUI/HyperOS system boundaries

Unlike some browsers, Xiaomi phones don't have a big magic button that says "disable all floating windows" and turns everything off. What you can do is learn how to close them quickly when they appear and understand what configuration range the system offers.

To remove a specific floating window from the screen, Xiaomi offers a very straightforward gesture. In many floating apps, you'll see a [icon/button] at the bottom. action bar or gray lineIf you tap and drag it to the top right, a trash can icon will appear; releasing it will close the application completely.

If instead of taking it to the top drag to the bottom By moving the app from the screen, you'll stop it from floating and start displaying it full screen, occupying the entire panel like any normal app. This is useful when you want to keep something you've opened in a window, but prefer to use it in full-screen mode.

The more “official” part of the configuration is within the menu Special functions In your phone's settings, you'll find the section dedicated to floating panels or windows. Inside, you'll see a list of available gestures and actions, such as opening, moving, closing, viewing in full screen, or minimizing windows, along with a short animated tutorial.

The problem is that, within this menu, There is no switch to disable floating windows In general terms, you can learn how they work, review the gestures, and see what possibilities the system offers, but you won't find the typical "disable MIUI/HyperOS floating windows" option that many people are looking for.

This decision is neither a mistake nor an oversight: it's part of the layer's design. For Xiaomi, these windows are a core feature of the MIUI and HyperOS experience, hence their integration with the... launcher, multitasking, and notifications in such a profound way that they don't give you that single switch to turn them off completely.

Why you can't completely disable floating windows on Xiaomi

The main reason why there isn't a simple button for completely disable floating windows In MIUI and HyperOS, it's all about the philosophy of the interface. Xiaomi is heavily invested in advanced multitasking and sees floating windows as one of its defining features, along with navigation gestures and the redesigned control center.

In fact, MIUI 12 received quite a bit of criticism for performance issues and various errorsHowever, the inability to dismiss floating windows instantly wasn't considered a bug, but rather a deliberate design choice. That said, Xiaomi has received numerous complaints from users who find them annoying or confusing.

Although the company has apologized on several occasions for the lack of optimization in some versions of MIUI And while it promises improvements in later releases (there was a lot of talk about MIUI 13.5, for example), the truth is that, as of today, there is no general switch to turn off this feature on current phones with MIUI 13 or HyperOS.

Therefore, if you want to get rid of these windows, you have to pull on indirect solutions and fine-tuning: change the way notifications are displayed, adjust permissions for specific apps, modify the launcher, or, for more advanced users, disable MIUI optimization from the developer options.

It's a less convenient approach than simply selecting "don't use floating windows," but it's the only way to have more control over them without changing your phone or ROM. Later, we'll look at these strategies one by one so you know how to eliminate them from your life as much as possible.

Typical case: the notification that automatically turns into a floating window

A very common complaint among Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO users is that, when sliding even slightly... notification down To read a little more text, the app suddenly opens in a floating window mode without you requesting it. This has been seen, for example, on phones like the POCO X4 Pro 5G with MIUI 13 and also on newer models with HyperOS.

The reason is that the gesture of dragging the notification is associated by default with floating notification modeThe system interprets that you want to use that app over what you're doing, and there's no visible setting within the floating windows menu that changes that behavior.

The special features section barely offers a tutorial, so you can't disable the gesture directlyIn practice, you either change how you interact with notifications (by tapping directly to open the app in full screen, without dragging too much) or you have to take the leap to more serious solutions like changing your launcher.

This conflict becomes especially annoying when floating mode causes problems with certain applications, such as some games that don't handle overlaps well or tools that manage saved files and do not work correctly within a floating window.

If a game or app's technical support has confirmed that the floating window causes errors, you will need to prevent it from opening in that format by all means, combining notification settings, overlay permissions and launcher changes until you get it to always start in full screen.

How to completely disable floating windows on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO

Even without a global switch, there are several strategies for severely limit the use of floating windows in MIUI and HyperOS. Neither is perfect on its own, but together they make the function practically disappear from your daily life.

1. Remove floating notifications and overlay permissions

The first step is to attack the root cause by which many apps make the jump to floating mode: the notifications and permissions to display over other applicationsDepending on your version of MIUI/HyperOS, the menu names vary slightly, but the concept is the same.

Sign in Settings> Notifications And check your key applications (browser, messaging apps, email clients, etc.). If your interface offers it, disable any options like "floating notifications," "floating panel," or similar, so that alerts are limited to the status bar, notification center, or icons, but don't become panels on the screen.

Then go to Settings > Applications > Manage applications and goes into the apps that cause the most problems, one by one. Within each entry, there are usually sections for permissions or "Other authorizations," where you can find the option to "Show over other apps" or "floating screen". If you want to prevent that app from ever opening in floating mode again, revoke that permission.

This approach is somewhat entertaining because it involves reviewing several applications, but it helps you keep a very good handle on which apps can generate floating windows on their ownThis avoids surprises when actions are performed from a notification or shortcut.

2. Change the launcher to a third-party one

The integration of floating windows with Xiaomi's system is very deep, and a significant part of it is linked to official launcher of MIUI/HyperOSIf you change launchers, many of these features lose effectiveness or become unavailable altogether.

Install a third party launcher Launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher are among the most effective solutions when you truly want to move beyond the typical MIUI experience. These launchers don't replicate Xiaomi's floating window system and behave in a more neutral way, similar to stock Android.

By making the new launcher the default, many actions that previously triggered a floating window (such as navigating certain multitasking areas or using side shortcuts) now open the application in full screen, without overlap. This drastically reduces the presence of unexpected floating panels.

If the reason you want to disable the floating window is that it interferes with a critical game or app (for example, a browser you use to transfer saved games that crashes when opened floating), changing the launcher is usually a lifesaver to force that browser to work only in normal mode.

3. Disable MIUI/HyperOS optimization in Developer options

In some cases, even with an alternative launcher, you notice that certain features specific to MIUI/HyperOS They continue to weigh down the system and allow floating windows to appear. This is due to the "MIUI/HyperOS optimization" option that remains active in the system.

To adjust this setting, you first need to Enable Developer OptionsThis is usually done from Settings > About phone, by tapping several times in succession on the "MIUI version" or "HyperOS version" section until a message appears indicating that you are now a developer.

Then, enter Additional settings > Developer options and look for the entry called "MIUI Optimization" or similar text. By unchecking this box, the system stops applying some of the layer's special behaviors, including many related to aggressive permissions, notification management, and, in some cases, advanced features such as floating windows.

It's a slightly more advanced change and should be done carefully, as it can alter other aspects of the phone's operation, but combined with an external launcher it's usually the most effective way to "flatten" Xiaomi's layer and get rid of most of the side effects of its special functions.

Third-party alternatives if you like windowed multitasking, but not Xiaomi's.

Perhaps, more than hating floating windows, what you find unconvincing is the way in which MIUI and HyperOS implement themIf you want to maintain advanced multitasking in resizable windows, but without depending on Xiaomi's interface, you can use several third-party apps available on Google Play.

One of the best known is Floating Apps (Multitasking)This tool lets you open several floating mini-applications on your home screen: browser, notes, document viewer, calendar, calculator, contacts, file manager, and over 40 other utilities. It also works with third-party apps like Facebook or Instagram, provided you grant the necessary permissions.

With Floating Apps you can add shortcuts to the desktop To launch floating windows whenever you want, resize them as you like, and move them freely. It's a very complete option if you want serious multitasking without being tied to the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Another interesting option is OverlaysIt also aims to address the need to use multiple apps simultaneously without switching screens. After granting overlay and accessibility permissions, you can choose which apps you want to turn into overlays and launch them from their own internal launcher.

From the Overlays main screen, you select the apps and they appear in configurable floating window form as soon as you activate them. It's a fairly flexible proposal and, since it doesn't depend on the MIUI/HyperOS layer, it behaves more consistently even if you change phones or manufacturers.

If you're looking for an even more "desktop" approach, the app taskbar Transform your Android into something more like Windows or Linux, with a taskbar, start menu, and support for floating windows of full apps. It also allows connect keyboard and mouse to use your mobile phone almost like a mini-computer. The free version already offers quite a lot, and if you like it, you can consider the paid version for more options.

The impact of floating windows on battery life and performance, and how to mitigate it

Although MIUI and HyperOS are reasonably efficient, each active floating window This involves an extra process that the system has to maintain by constantly drawing on the screen, with updates at 60, 90, or 120 Hz depending on your panel's refresh rate. This is especially noticeable during intense multitasking sessions.

On days when you use this function a lot, it's common to lose between a 5 and an additional 8% battery Compared to similar use without floating windows, it's not a disaster, but if you're running low on battery, it can make the difference between making it to the end of the day with some breathing room or having to reach for the charger early.

There are several ways to reduce that impact without completely giving up floating multitasking. One of the simplest is reduce the screen refresh rate When you know you'll be using this system a lot, go to Settings, find the Display or Display & Brightness section, enter Refresh Rate, and select 60 Hz. With fewer frames per second, the GPU and CPU work less when redrawing layers.

It also helps to limit the background apps that you usually have open as floating apps. In the Battery or Battery & performance menu, choose apps like WhatsApp, Maps, or your favorite browser and apply a "Recommended battery saver" profile or a similar one. This way, they will continue to receive notifications, but resource-intensive tasks that consume resources without you noticing will be reduced.

Another useful measure is reduce or disable certain animations From Developer Options. In Additional Settings, enter that advanced menu and locate the animation scales (window, transition, animator). Lowering them to 0,5 or disabling them will make floating windows move and appear less noticeably, but the GPU and CPU will work less, saving some battery and potentially improving the overall smoothness.

By combining these adjustments, you can recover a significant percentage of daily autonomy even when you decide continue using floating windows from time to timewithout needing to turn them off completely or give up a modern multitasking experience.

What to do if you can't disable floating windows or something goes wrong

It may happen that, after tweaking notifications, permissions, launcher, and MIUI optimization, you feel that the Floating windows continue to behave strangely or that appear in situations where they shouldn't. At that point, we need to consider whether we're dealing with a one-off software error or something more fundamental.

The first thing is to make sure your mobile phone is updated to the latest version availableGo to Settings > About phone > System update (the path may vary slightly on HyperOS) and check for new firmware versions. Xiaomi often fixes notification and overlay issues in minor updates, although these aren't always detailed in the changelog.

If you're still having the same problem after updating, you can contact the official Xiaomi support or with the affected app or game. In the case of games that crash with floating windows, developers usually have already identified certain conflicting models or versions and can give you specific recommendations.

In a very small percentage of cases, what appears to be a floating window bug may actually be due to hardware failures, such as phantom touches on the screen, digitizer problems, or motherboard errors that cause the system to detect non-existent gestures and launch actions randomly.

If you've already tried restarting, restoring some settings, updating, and changing the launcher, and you're still seeing strange behavior, it might be time to go through a authorized technical serviceThere they can open the device if necessary, check that all the hardware is working properly and, if applicable, process a warranty repair as long as there is no damage from impacts or liquids.

Before taking that step, you can also rely on the user community and official forumsMany people share step-by-step solutions for specific models, which can save you time if your problem is common in your generation of MIUI or HyperOS. If you're still having the same issue after following those tips, then it makes sense to consider a physical repair.

Ultimately, dealing with pop-ups and floating windows comes down to understanding how each platform handles them: in Chrome you can fine-tune site permissions and notifications, in Microsoft you have options to turn off information boxes and contextual help, and in Xiaomi you have to play around with notifications, permissions, launcher, and advanced settings to maintain your floating windowsWith all this in mind, it becomes much easier to regain control of the screen and use only the windows that really interest you.