How to open an app in a small window on a vivo phone (Smart sidebar)

In short

Turn on Smart sidebar in Settings, Shortcuts & accessibility, Smart sidebar. Then swipe inward from the thin bar on the right edge and tap an app such as Calculator: it opens as a floating small window over the screen. Drag a lower corner to resize it, or tap the minimise button to turn it into a bubble.

7 of 7 steps show a real screenshot from our V70 Lite 5G. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.

Steps

1. 1

   Open Smart sidebar settings

   Open Settings, Shortcuts & accessibility. Under Multitasking you see Split-screen, Small window and Smart sidebar. Tap Smart sidebar.

   Done
   
2. 2

   Turn on Smart sidebar

   The switch was on on ours. The page explains: swipe inward from the indicator bar on the screen to bring up the smart sidebar. Idle opacity of indicator bar (40 % on ours) makes the bar easier or harder to see.

   Done
   
3. 3

   Swipe in from the indicator bar

   On the right edge of the screen there is a thin bar. Swipe from it towards the middle. The first time, a tip explains this; tap Got it.

   Done
   
4. 4

   Tap an app in the sidebar

   The sidebar lists apps that support small windows. Ours had Screen translation, YouTube, Notes, Calculator, Gmail and Messages. Tap Calculator.

   Done
   
5. 5

   Use the app in its small window

   The app opens as a floating window over the home screen or the app behind it, with its own buttons at the top. We worked out 8 × 9 = 72 without leaving the screen behind.

   Done
   
6. 6

   Resize the window

   Drag the lower left or right corner to make the window bigger or smaller. The phone shows this tip the first time.

   Done
   
7. 7

   Minimise it to a bubble

   Tap the minimise button at the top left of the window. The app shrinks to a round bubble at the edge of the screen; tap the bubble to open the window again.

   Done
   

If you do not see this option

• App not in the sidebar? Only apps that support small windows can open this way. vivo also lets you drag an app from the app drawer to the small-window area at the top of the screen. Source: How to enable the small window mode?
• No indicator bar on the edge? Check that Smart sidebar is on (step 2) and turn up Idle opacity of indicator bar so it is easier to see.
• Want two apps side by side instead? That is Split-screen: in apps that support it, swipe up with three fingers. The switch is in Shortcuts & accessibility, Split-screen. Source: Shortcuts & Accessibility FAQs

  

If this does not work

• The window closes when you swipe it? Small window, Small-window close gesture says Drag to the Delete button area. Drag it there only when you want to close it.
• Notifications open in full screen? The Small window page says you can pull down a floating notification that supports small window mode to open a small window.
• Sidebar opens by accident? Lower Idle opacity of indicator bar or turn Smart sidebar off when you do not use it.

Good to know

The small window stays on top while you use the app behind it. It is handy for a calculator, notes or a chat while you shop or read.

The Smart sidebar page also has Show recent apps (off on ours), which shows two recent small-window apps at the top of the sidebar, and Scene-adaptive (On).

Super Dragging, in the same Shortcuts & accessibility list, lets you tap and hold text or images in a small window or split screen and drag them into another app. It was on on ours for supported apps such as Chrome and Gmail.

About this guide

Device

Android

Shown on

vivo V70 Lite 5G (V2529, EEA), OriginOS 6, Android 16 (build PD2512SF_EX_A_16.1.19.5)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Shortcuts & accessibility

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Sources

• vivo Support (Malaysia): How to enable the small window mode?
• vivo Support: Shortcuts & Accessibility FAQs

Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.

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