Why does the Arrange items in Recents option not show up in my settings?

If a third-party launcher is installed, it may hide or replace the native Home screen settings menu. Switch back to the default launcher first, then check Settings ➔ Home screen ➔ Arrange items in Recents again.

Can I set a different Recents layout for split-screen mode specifically?

No. The Arrange items in Recents setting applies globally to the multitasking view and does not offer a separate option for split-screen sessions.

Will an update reset my chosen Recents view back to vertical?

System updates can occasionally reset launcher preferences. If Recents switches back to Vertically after an update, reopen Settings ➔ Home screen ➔ Arrange items in Recents and select Horizontally again.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi: Switch Recent Apps Between Vertical and Horizontal View

On Xiaomi phones, Recents stacks open apps vertically below each other by default, which can feel cramped if you are used to the classic card layout. MIUI lets you switch to a horizontal row instead, so apps line up side by side like in older Android versions. This setting sits in the Home screen options, not inside the multitasking menu itself.

Updated: 04.08.20263 min4 steps

VersionAndroid 11 · MIUI

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Xiaomi

Switch Recent Apps View auf Xiaomi

MIUI on Xiaomi phones shows Recent apps as a vertical list by default. Each open app appears as a card stacked below the previous one, which works well on tall displays but differs from the horizontal card row many users know from other Android skins.

This layout is controlled through the Home screen settings, not through a toggle inside the multitasking view. Xiaomi ties it to the launcher configuration, so changing it affects how Recents looks system-wide, regardless of which app you switch from.

How to change it

Open Settings ➔ Home screen ➔ Arrange items in Recents. Choose Vertically for the stacked list or Horizontally for the classic side-by-side row.

The change applies immediately. Open the Recents view again to confirm the new layout without restarting the phone.

If Recents still looks unchanged, double check you edited the correct entry in Home screen settings, since some third-party launchers add a separate Recents option that overrides the system setting.

Frequently asked questions

No. Choosing between Vertically and Horizontally only changes how cards are arranged on screen. It has no effect on memory management or which apps stay active in the background.

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Android 11 · MIUI

Apps & Installation

Xiaomi: Switch Recent Apps Between Vertical and Horizontal View

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