If you own a Xiaomi smartphone (or branded device) Redmi/POCO) And you notice at the bottom of the screen three virtual buttons -- "Back," "Home," and "Recent," and you see the classic button. 3-This interface was standard for Android before the release of gesture controls, but Xiaomi still supports it in its firmware. MIUI For users who are used to traditional navigation.
In this article, we will explain in detail what is 3-button Xiaomi navigation bar, how to turn it on/off, reassign buttons, and reveal a few hidden features that not everyone knows about. 12 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro) and the nuances of the work in the latest versions MIUI 14/15. If you’ve just switched from iOS or another Android smartphone, this guide will help you adapt quickly!
What is it? 3-button navigation bar and why you need it
Three-button navigation is a classic way to control an Android device, where three virtual (or physical) buttons are used instead of gestures:
- 🔙 Back – Returns to the previous screen or closes the application.
- 🏠 Home - Returns to the main screen (launcher).
- 📄 Recent – opens a list of the latest running applications (multitasking).
Before Android 9 Pie (2018), this interface was the only one available. MIUI Even after the transition to gesture control:
- 👍 Support users accustomed to “button” management.
- 🛠️ Ensure compatibility with older apps that aren’t optimized for gestures.
- 🔧 Give choice to those who find gestures uncomfortable (for example, when using one hand).
In some models (for example, POCO F5 Xiaomi 12T) The navigation bar can be hidden by default, so it's easy to return through settings, as we'll talk about in the next section.
How to turn on or off 3-button navigation on Xiaomi
Switching between the gesture control and the classic panel takes less than a minute. MIUI 12–15 (including global and Chinese firmware versions):
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select Full-screen Display (or Navigation Style in newer versions).
- In the Navigation Type section, select: Buttons to enable the 3-button bar. Gestures to turn off the buttons and switch to swipes.
Confirm the changes and restart the device (if the panel does not appear immediately).
On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) The path may be slightly different:
Settings → Additional → Full-screen mode → Type of navigationIf the buttons do not appear after changing the navigation type, check:
- 🔄 Is Immersive Full Screen Mode Activated in the Application Settings (Hides the Panel in Games/Video).
- 🛠️ Is there a custom theme that can mask buttons (try resetting the theme to a standard one).
☑️ Check before setting up navigation
Reassign buttons: how to swap the places “Back” and “Recent”
By default, the buttons on Xiaomi are arranged in order: → Home. → However, many users (especially those who switched from Samsung or Google Pixel) are used to the reverse arrangement: → Home. → You can change the order without root rights:
- Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen display.
- Click on the Navigation button location (or the Order of buttons in older versions) MIUI).
- Select the desired option: Standard - Back → Home. → Recent. Reverse - Recent. → Home. → Back up.
On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO X5 Pro) The button reassignment option can be hidden in the developer menu. To unlock it, follow the:
Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times until the notification “You became a developer” appears)Then go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and find the item Allow change the order of the navigation buttons.
Why some Xiaomis don’t have the option of reassigning buttons?
Hidden 3-Knob Bar Features on Xiaomi
Many users are unaware that standard navigation buttons on Xiaomi can perform additional actions when held or double-pressed.
| Button | Action. | The result | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home (🏠) | Holding 1-2 seconds | Activation of Google Assistant (or Xiao) AI china-fixed) | All models with MIUI 10+ |
| Recent (📄) | Double-push | Quick switch between the last two applications | Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 12 and newer |
| Back up (🔙) | Retention + swipe | Switch between tabs in the Mi Browser browser | Only on global firmware |
| Home (🏠) | Double-push | Turning all applications (analogue swipe up in gesture mode) | POCO F4, Xiaomi 13 and newer |
On devices with MIUI 14+ Now you can assign custom actions to buttons through the developer menu, for example, you can configure them:
- 🔄 Holding Back to Open Google Pay.
- 📱 Double-clicking Home to launch the camera.
- 🔋 Retention of “Recent” to enable energy saving mode.
Attention! Not all combinations work on custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) and some models (like Redmi). A2) Functionality is limited due to hardware features.
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If you don’t have a Home button to call your voice assistant, check if Google Assistant is disabled in the Google app settings. → Settings for Google Assistant → Assistant.
Problems with the 3-button panel and their solutions
Sometimes users experience navigation buttons that are missing, unresponsive or malfunctioning, and consider common problems and ways to fix them:
⚠️ Attention, if after the update MIUI Navigation buttons have disappeared, and there is no option to turn them on in the settings, try resetting the screen settings to factory: → Screen. → Reset the screen settings. It won't delete your data, but it will return the standard display settings.
Problem 1: Buttons don’t show up, even though the settings are enabled.
- 🔍 Check if Immersive Full Screen mode is activated in the application settings (e.g., in games or video player).
- 📱 Restart the device – sometimes the panel disappears due to a temporary failure MIUI Launcher.
- 🛠️ Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI (Below 12) there were bugs with the panel display on some models.
Problem 2: The buttons are delayed.
- 🔧 Turn off window animations in the developer menu: Settings → For developers → The scale of window animation (select) 0.5x or turn it off).
- 🧹 Clear the cache. MIUI Launcher: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🔋 Check the download. CPU: If the device is slowing down due to background processes, the buttons may be delayed.
Problem 3: The back button doesn’t work in some apps.
This is a typical problem for custom navigation apps (like TikTok, Instagram, or games).
- 🔄 Enable the option to use system navigation in the application settings (if any).
- 📲 Use the swipe gesture from the edge of the screen – it emulates the back button even if it is not visible.
- 🔧 For root users: edit the file /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl, key-line 158 BACK (root).
3-button navigation vs gestures: what’s best for Xiaomi
The choice between a classic panel and gesture control depends on the user's habits and use cases.
| Criteria | 3-button navigation | Gesture management |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience with one hand | ❌ Pulling for buttons is uncomfortable on big screens (like Xiaomi 13 Ultra) | ✅ Swipes are executed closer to the edge of the screen. |
| Speed of operation | ✅ Instant response, no need to remember gestures | ⚠️ It requires addiction, there may be random swipes |
| Compatibility | ✅ It works in all applications, including the old ones. | ❌ There may be conflicts with custom interfaces (e.g. in games) |
| Screen space | ❌ Occupying. ~50 pixels at the bottom of the screen | ✅ Full screen mode without loss of area |
| Additional functions | ✅ Retention/double button pressing (see section above) | ✅ Gestures can be more flexible (e.g. diagonal swipes) |
Our surveys show that about 60% of Xiaomi users prefer gestures, but 3-button navigation remains popular among:
- 👵 Older users who find it difficult to remember swipe combinations.
- 🎮 Gamers, as the buttons do not interfere in landscape mode.
- 🔧 Those who frequently use ADB or debugging tools (buttons are easier to emulate).
Attention! On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mix Fold 3), gesture control may conflict with multi-window mode, in which case it is recommended to temporarily switch to buttons through the Quick Settings Panel.
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If you switch between gestures and buttons frequently, add a shortcut for quick switching: Settings → Control panel → Add tile → Type of navigation.
How to return 3-button navigation after the update MIUI
After major updates MIUI (For example, 13 to 14, some users complain that the navigation bar is reset to gestures and the return option disappears from the menu:
- Check if the option is hidden in Settings → Screen. → Additionally. → Full-screen display.
- If there is no item, try resetting the settings. MIUI Launcher: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data ⚠️ This will reset the location of the icons on the desktop!
- For advanced users: use them. ADB, To force the buttons to be turned on: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1 (Requires the activated debugging mode USB).
If nothing helps, your Xiaomi model may no longer support 3-button navigation in the new version. MIUI. In that case, it is possible:
- 🔄 Reverse to the previous firmware version (risky, can lead to device locking).
- 📱 Install an alternative launcher (such as Nova Launcher) that emulates buttons.
- 🛠️ Use apps like NavBar Apps or Fluid Navigation Gestures to customize your panel.