You just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone or upgraded your MIUI firmware, and suddenly — the usual menu button disappeared? Don't worry: it's not a bug, it's a feature of the interface. Since 2019, the company has been gradually removing physical and virtual navigation buttons, replacing them with gestures. But the menu hasn't gone anywhere — just the way it's called has changed.
In this article, we’ll look at all the menu options available on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, from classic touch-button models to flagships with a clean MIUI 14 without the bottom panel, how to return old buttons when gestures are uncomfortable, and what to do if the menu doesn’t open at all, and a hidden way to call the engineering menu through USSD code that not everyone knows about.
1. Standard ways to open menus on Xiaomi
On most modern Xiaomi smartphones (released after 2020), the menu button is hidden behind gestures or integrated into the application interface.
- 📱 Swipe from bottom up (for MIUI 12-14): If you have navigation gestures enabled, swipe your finger from the bottom edge of the screen upwards and hold on to the 1 second – a list of the latest apps with the button “Menu” (three dots) in the upper right corner will open.
- ⚙️ Long click on the application icon: on the desktop, tap and hold the icon of any application (for example, “Settings”) – a context menu with options will appear.
- ⬅️ Back button: In some applications (e.g. Gallery), the menu button is hidden behind the return button. Press it once, if there is a menu, it will open on the right.
- 🔍 Search by system: Swipe down your desktop to open a search, and type “Settings” is a versatile way to get into the phone’s main menu.
On older models (before the Redmi Note 8 or Mi 9), there could be a physical sensor under the screen with three buttons: Back, Home and Last Apps, in which case the menu button would usually open with a long press on Latest Apps or appear in the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Where to look for menus in specific applications
Depending on the application, the menu button can be in different places.
| Annex | Where to find a menu | Example of models |
|---|---|---|
| Settings (Settings) | Three dots in the upper right corner or swipe from right to left | All models. |
| Gallery (Gallery) | The button "More" (⋮) or long-pressing | Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 |
| Camera (Camera) | Swipe from right to left or the fashion button | Mi 11 Ultra, Redmi K50 |
| Phone (Phone) | Three dots next to the keyboard | POCO F4, Mi 10T |
| Messages (Messages) | Long-term click on dialogue or icon "⋮" | Redmi 9A, Mi A3 |
If you don't see the menu button in the app, try rotating the phone horizontally — sometimes the interface changes and options become available. Also check if the interface elements are hidden in the special features settings (Settings → Special Options → Simplified Mode).
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Press and hold the empty area on your desktop, and you'll see a wallpaper and widget setting menu. This works on all versions of MIUI.
3. How to return classic navigation buttons
If you're uncomfortable with gestures, you can return the usual three buttons: "Back", "Home" and "Last Apps".
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Select Full Screen Mode (or Navigation buttons on older versions of MIUI).
- Switch to Button Mode instead of Gesture.
- Click More (three dots) → Additional → turn on the option to Show the menu button.
After that, three classic buttons will appear at the bottom of the screen, and the menu will open with a long press on the “Last Apps” (square icon). Note that on some models (for example, POCO F3 or Redmi K40), this mode may slightly crop the display of content due to the reservation of space under the panel.
Make sure your phone is over 20% charged |Close all apps in the background |Set back up settings (Settings → About Phone → Backup) |Check if your model supports classic buttons (on POCO X5 and later may not work)
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4. Hidden menu: engineering and service
Beyond the standard interface, Xiaomi smartphones have hidden menus for diagnosis and customization, and access to them opens up advanced features, but beware – wrong actions can disrupt the phone.
How to open the engineering menu:
- 📞 Code. USSD: Enter the combination ##4636### in the Phone app and a menu will open with information about the battery, network and usage statistics.
- 🔧 Through Settings: Go to Settings → About the phone and 5 times quickly click on the version MIUI — It will say, "You've become a developer." Then go back to the main settings menu and open it. → For developers.
- 🖥️ ADB-command (for advanced): connect the phone to the PC and execute in ADB Shell: am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu (e.g. Band Selection for the network) may cause communication loss or phone overheating.
What if the signal is lost after the changes in the engineering menu?
5.Menu button problems: why it doesn't work
If the menu button does not open in any way, the reasons may be as follows:
- 🔄 Firmware failure: after update MIUI Some interface elements may disappear. Try restarting your phone (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
- 🛠️ Sensor damage: If physical buttons don't respond, check the screen for cracks or moisture.On Redmi 9 and POCO M3 The sensor plume often fails.
- 📱 Simplified mode: in the settings of special features (Settings) → Special opportunities → Simplified mode) can be enabled mode with limited interface.
- 🦠 Virus or malware: some applications block system menus. check the phone with antivirus (e.g. Mi Security).
If the problem persists, try resetting the interface settings:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset App Settings.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12S Ultra and POCO F4 GT After resetting the application settings, the fingerprint binding may fly off. Check in advance if you remember the pattern lock or PIN-code!
6. Alternative ways to control without a menu button
If the menu button fails, here’s how to do without it:
- 🖱️ Voice Assistant: Say “OK Google” or activate Xiao AI (on Chinese firmware) and say the command: "Open settings" or "Show menus".
- 🕹️ External keyboard: connect Bluetooth keyboard – Menu button (or Alt)+M) will open the system menu.
- 🔗 Quick Ball: Turn on the floating panel in Settings → Special opportunities → Quick Ball: It gives you quick access to menus, returns and other features.
- 📲 Screen gestures: customize custom gestures in Settings → Additionally. → Gestures and movements, like swiping two fingers down can open a menu.
For POCO and Redmi owners with an unlocked bootloader, there is a radical way to install custom firmware (like the Pixel Experience), where the menu is implemented differently, but this requires technical skills and voids the warranty.
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On most Xiaomi models, the menu button is duplicated in the drop-down notification curtain – swipe down from the top edge of the screen and click on the “cog” icon" (⚙️) for quick access to settings.