Modern smartphones have long since passed the era of physical buttons, and Xiaomi devices are no exception, with users increasingly abandoning the classic three-button navigation bar at the bottom of the screen in favor of a more ergonomic method of interaction, the gesture system. It's not just an aesthetic change, but a way to improve the efficiency of one finger, especially on large displays.
Turning this on changes the logic of managing the device, making it intuitive after a short period of getting used to it. You get more useful screen space, because the bottom part is no longer occupied by static interface elements. However, gesture control on MIUI or HyperOS has its own features that are not always obvious when you first get acquainted.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate this mode, what hidden opportunities it opens up and how to adjust the sensitivity of swipes for yourself. Understanding these nuances will allow you to manage Redmi or Poco at the level of an advanced user, speeding up the execution of everyday tasks at times.
Advantages and differences from button navigation
The switch to gesture control brings a tangible ergonomics benefit, primarily by freeing up the bottom of the display, which is especially important on 20:9 models. Application content, videos and games are now displayed to full area without darkened areas.
In addition, gesture navigation reduces the risk of accidental tapping: physical or on-screen buttons are often activated when carrying a smartphone into a pocket or bag, while swipes require conscious finger movement from the edge of the screen, which minimizes false positives.
And the speed is also worth noting: it takes a fraction of a second to move your finger diagonally or from the bottom up to return to your desktop, faster than aiming at a little home button.
- 📱 Maximum screen space without visual interference.
- ⚡ Accelerated access to the multitasking menu and switch between applications.
- 🛡️ Reduced chance of accidentally pressing in your pocket or carrying.
It's important to understand that MIUI is adapted to both methods, but gestures require more precise coordination of movements. If you're used to buttons, the early days may be difficult, but they will quickly disappear.
How to enable gesture control in settings
It takes a few seconds to activate the new navigation system, and you don't need superuser rights or third-party software, and all the tools are built into your Xiaomi Settings.
To start, open the main settings menu and find the section that deals with the appearance and behavior of the system. Depending on the version of the HyperOS shell or MIUI, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
Go to the Settings menu → Screen. → Navigation on the screen. This is where the switch between the classic buttons and gestures is located. By default, the system may suggest using buttons, but you can easily change that.
☑️ Algorithm for enabling navigation
Once you select Full-screen or gesture navigation, the three buttons will disappear, and instead, a thin bar will appear at the bottom, which serves as a guide for swiping.
⚠️ Note: After you activate the gestures, the Menu button may become unavailable in some older applications. In such cases, use the top of the screen or side swipes to call the context menu.
Basic gestures and their functions in MIUI and HyperOS
Mastering basic movements is key to a comfortable smartphone experience, and Xiaomi’s gesture system is based on three basic actions that replace the Home, Back and Task Menu buttons.
A swipe from the bottom up in the center of the screen replaces the Home button and returns you to the desktop from any application.A short tap and fingerhold at the bottom of the screen will call up a voice assistant or search, depending on the settings.
To swipe back, you swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to the center, which is a duplicate of the "back" button, and it's important that the activation zone is right at the very edge of the display, about the bottom quarter.
To open the list of running applications (multitasking menu), swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger at the top for a fraction of a second, which opens the cards of all running programs.
- 🔼 Swipe from bottom up (center) - access to the desktop.
- ⬅️ Swipe from edge to center - button "Back".
- 🔽 Swipe from the bottom up and pause - menu of running applications.
Some users confuse these activities, especially with fast typing: Muscle memory training takes about 15-20 minutes of active use.
Hidden gestures at the launcher
Sensitivity setting and hiding navigation bars
Many users are annoyed by the black bar at the bottom of the screen, which occupies precious pixels, and fortunately Xiaomi has the ability to hide it while still maintaining gesture functionality.
To make navigation fully full-screen, go back to Settings → Screen → Navigation on the screen. Find the Hide gesture (or Hide the indicator) switch.
Once this option is activated, the strip will disappear, and now you need to navigate the imaginary line at the bottom of the screen to make a swipe, which looks more aesthetic, but it takes a little bit of habituation.
Also available in this section is a customization of the sensitivity of the edges of the screen. If your smartphone often does not respond to back swipes or, conversely, reacts too often, try to change this setting.
| Parameter | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Hide the clue | Remove the black strip from the bottom | Included (for aesthetics) |
| Sensitivity of edges | Width of swipe activation zone | Medium or High. |
| Speed of animation | Interface response speed | 0.5x (for smoothness) |
| Vibration in navigation | Tactile response to gestures | To the user's taste. |
⚠️ Note: When you hide the navigation bar in some games or applications with virtual joysticks at the bottom of the screen, control conflicts may occur. If you notice problems in games, temporarily turn on the display of the indicator.
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Tip: If you have hidden the navigation bar and forgotten how to swipe, just tap the bottom of the screen twice – in some versions of MIUI, this temporarily highlights the navigation area.
Solving problems with gesture responsiveness
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where gestures on Xiaomi stop working correctly.Swipes can be ignored, executed with a delay or cause the wrong actions that are expected.
A common cause is a poor quality security glass or a film that is not properly installed. If the edges of the screen are covered with a thick layer of glass or there are air bubbles around the perimeter, the sensor may not read the touch in the gesture activation zone.
Problems can also arise after a system update, which can cause the processes involved in system navigation to freeze in the background, in which case a simple reboot of the device or cleaning the cache of the SystemUI system application helps.
Check if the Hands mode is on or the screen sensitivity is increased if you are using the safety glass, which is located in the Settings → Screen section and can affect the response of the touch screen.
- 🧹 Clean the edges of the screen of fat and dirt that interfere with slipping.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to reset system navigation processes.
- 🛡️ Check the quality of the protective glass installation on the edges of the display.
If the problem persists, try resetting your navigation settings to factory values or temporarily switching to buttons and then back to gestures. This often shakes up the software module.
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The main cause of gesture failures is physical obstacles at the edges of the screen (glass, dirt) or a software failure of the system interface, solved by a reboot.
Additional features and hidden settings
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer enhanced customization capabilities, and in addition to basic swipes, there are combinations that speed up work.
For example, a swipe with three fingers down takes a screenshot. This action can be configured in the section Additional settings → Keyboard combinations. There is also a One-Hand mode, which is activated by swiping the home button (if it is on) or by a special gesture.
In the developer section (Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version), you can find the animation speed settings. Reducing the scale of the window animation and transitions makes switching between applications visually faster, which is important for gesture navigation.
Remember that in some third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair) standard gestures of the system may conflict with the gestures of the launcher, in which case the priority is usually given to the system settings of Xiaomi.
⚠️ Warning: Turning on developer mode and changing animation settings can make the interface less smooth on weak devices. Change these values carefully, testing each step.
Using all the controls, you can turn your smartphone into a powerful tool, controlled by a single finger movement. Experiment with settings to find the perfect balance between speed and convenience.