Navigation buttons on Xiaomi: Hiding, Configuration and Control

The interface of modern Xiaomi smartphones undergoes significant changes with each update of the MIUI shell, and now HyperOS. One of the first things that a user encounters when buying a new device or after resetting the settings is the appearance of the lower part of the screen. This is where the controls are located that allow you to move between applications, return to the desktop or close programs. Understanding how the navigation buttons on Xiaomi work is the foundation for comfortable use of the gadget as a whole.

Unlike older versions of Android, where functionality was limited to three static keys, modern systems offer flexible interaction scenarios. You can use a classic three-button scheme, adapt their location to the left or right hand, or completely switch to gesture control, freeing up useful display space. The choice of a particular method affects not only aesthetics, but also the speed of multitasking.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the navigation options available, look at hidden features that are often overlooked by even experienced users, and explain how to quickly switch between modes, and address compatibility issues with different firmware versions, since the interface algorithms in MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS may have their own characteristics.

Main types of navigation in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s system engineers offer two fundamentally different approaches to interface management: One is the classic virtual button scheme that everyone has ever used an Android smartphone knows; the other is gesture control, which came from iOS and has become the de facto standard for frameless devices, and understanding the differences between them will help you choose the option that is most convenient for you.

The traditional method involves having three graphics elements at the bottom of the screen, usually a triangle (or arrow) to return, a circle to go to the main screen, and a square (or three bars) to open a list of running applications. Navigation buttons occupy a certain part of the display, which can be critical on 20:9 aspect ratio screens, where every millimeter of height is important for displaying content.

On the other hand, gesture control completely removes visual elements from the screen, replacing them with swipes. Return is done by swiping from the edge of the screen, accessing the desktop with a swipe from the bottom up the center, and switching tasks with a swipe up with a finger held. This method ensures maximum immersion in content, whether it is watching videos or reading books, since nothing overlaps the image.

• 📱 Classic Navigation: Three Fixed Buttons That Are Common to Most Android Users.
• 🖐 Gesture management: no visual elements, swipe control from the edges of the screen.
• ⚙️ Hybrid mode: the ability to hide buttons in full screen mode with automatic appearance if necessary.
• 🔄 Adaptability: Automatically changing button position in horizontal mode (landscape orientation).

⚠️ Attention: When you switch to gesture control, the button-pressing habit can be a cruel joke. For the first few days, you'll instinctively look for non-existent controls at the bottom of the screen with your eyes or finger.

The choice between these methods depends solely on your personal preferences and the anatomical features of the hands. For example, for users with large palms, gestures may be more convenient, since you do not need to reach the bottom of the screen if you use side swipes to return.

How to Enable or Hide Navigation Buttons

The process of activating or disabling the controls in the Xiaomi shell is standardized, but the path to settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. In most cases, you will need access to basic system parameters. If you want to change the current method, you need to find the section responsible for the appearance of the interface.

To do the settings, go to the Settings menu, then select Additional (some versions may call it Advanced Settings). Next, you are interested in Screen Navigation or Full Screen Mode. This is where the switch allows you to choose between buttons and gestures. In newer versions of HyperOS, this item is often entered in the Desktop subsection or is available through a search by settings.

If you want to temporarily remove buttons to take a screenshot without unnecessary elements or just evaluate what the interface looks like without them, you can use the hide function. In some versions of MIUI, when selecting the button mode, the checkbox "Hide in full-scale applications" appears. Activating this option allows the buttons to disappear in games and video players, but appear in the browser or messengers.

It's worth noting that the only way to completely hide the buttons in normal operation (not in games) is to switch to gestures, but there's a caveat: if you turn on Hide the hints mode in your gesture settings, the screen will look completely clean, like using the buttons, but without the buttons themselves, which creates the illusion of using button navigation, but with gesture functionality.

Setting the location and behavior of buttons

One of the most useful features for left-handed people (or just for those who like to hold their phones with their right hand) is the ability to change the order of the navigation buttons. The default in Xiaomi, as in pure Android, is the Back button on the left, but many users who have switched from Samsung or Huawei devices are used to seeing it on the right.

You can change the layout from the same Navigation menu, and it'll be "Button Order" or "Order of the buttons." Alternatively, you'll instantly swap the returns and task menus, a little thing that greatly enhances the ergonomics of using your smartphone with one hand, because your thumb is easier to reach the near edge of the screen.

In addition, you can find the option of vibration when pressed in behavior settings. The tactile response of navigation buttons helps you better feel the interaction with the interface. If your phone is equipped with a good vibrator, this feature adds a pleasant “click” sensation, making the use of virtual keys more tangible. In MIUI 14 and later, the intensity of vibration can be adjusted separately in the sound profile.

Also worth mentioning is the horizontal behavior of the buttons, which automatically rotates the navigation bar when you flip your smartphone to watch a video or play, but in some applications, this may not work correctly, in which cases it helps to force the screen to turn automatically or use the "Screen Lock" function, which blocks navigation buttons to avoid accidental taps.

⚠️ Warning: If you get confused after changing the button layout and can’t leave the settings menu, remember: the left-most button (or right, depending on the current setting) always performs the “Back” function.

Gesture management: hidden opportunities and settings

The switch to gestures opens up more advanced navigation features that are not available when using buttons. The main advantage is speed. A swipe from the edge of the screen to return is faster than searching and pressing a button, especially on larger screens like the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

In full screen settings, you can often find the "Return Area" option, which allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen or choose which side of the swipes are working from, especially for those who use the sidebar of the tools or often keep the phone in a case with high sides, which can interfere with the swipe.

Another important detail is animation, and when you use gestures, the transitions between apps become smoother and more natural, so you can grab an app and swipe it to the side to close it, or swipe up and hold your finger to get into the multitasking menu, and these actions create a sense of direct manipulation of objects on the screen.

For users who often work with text or tables, gestures may be less convenient due to random swipes from the edge. In such situations, the system offers a temporary switch. Double tapping on the screen or a special zone (depending on the version of MIUI) can temporarily activate buttons if you turn on the corresponding experimental function in the "Developers" menu.

Solving problems with navigation and sensor

Despite the stability of modern firmware, users may experience problems with navigation elements, buttons may disappear, stop responding to presses or, conversely, click on themselves (phantom presses), most often due to a software failure of the SystemUI process responsible for rendering the interface.

The first step in solving this problem is to reboot the device, which is a banal but effective method that restarts all system services. If that doesn't work, try clearing the Settings app cache or resetting the interface settings. In extreme cases, you can try to start the phone in safe mode to eliminate the influence of third-party launchers that can intercept navigation control.

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to update system processes.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the Settings and Security app".
• 🛡 Check your phone in safe mode for conflicts.
• 🔌 Make sure that the charger or cable does not interfere with the sensor.

If the problem is hardware-related (e.g., the sensor bar at the bottom of the screen), navigation buttons are no longer possible, and the only option is to switch to gesture control, as the back swipe area is above the problem area, and you can also connect an external mouse or keyboard via OTG for temporary control.

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If the navigation buttons are missing after the launcher is installed, go to the settings of this launcher and find "System Navigation" or "Use System Buttons." Often, third-party shells try to impose their controls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Getting your navigation right is a matter of habit: Give yourself 2-3 days to adjust to a new method before deciding if it is uncomfortable.