How to open the multitasking menu on Xiaomi phone: all ways for MIUI

Why users can’t find the multitasking menu on Xiaomi

The multitasking menu (or recent app bar) on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most sought-after elements of the MIUI interface. However, its layout and call mode change regularly with the release of new versions of the shell. If you recently updated your firmware or switched from another brand (such as Samsung or iPhone), standard gestures may not work.

Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi has been releasing devices under different sub-brands — Redmi, POCO, Black Shark — where gesture settings sometimes differ. In MIUI 12/13/14, developers have experimented with the layout of controls, for example, in some versions the panel of recent applications is hidden behind a long hold of the Home button, and in others behind a swipe up with pause.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways to open the Xiaomi multitasking menu, including:

• 📱 Standard gestures for MIUI 14 (2023–2026.)
• 🔄 Alternative methods for older versions (MIUI 11/12)
• ⚙️ Set up gestures in the system menu
• 🤖 Features for devices with a home button and without it

Method 1: Standard gesture for MIUI 14 (swipe up with pause)

In the latest versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12.5), the multitasking menu opens with a latency swipe upwards, a gesture that works on most modern models: Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 and others.

How to do this:

1. Start the swipe from the bottom edge of the screen upwards.
2. Hold your finger for 0.5-1 second in the middle of the screen.
3. Release – a panel of recent applications will open.

If the gesture doesn't work, check:

• 🔋 Is the battery not discharged (at the charge level) <5% system can block gestures).
• 📲 Is the One Hand Mode (Settings) enabled? → Special facilities).
• 🛠️ Are there any third-party launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher or Hyperion) installed).

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If the swipe works as a return to the main screen, try to start the gesture not from the bottom, but slightly higher (at 1-2 mm from the edge).

Method 2: Long press on the home button (for older models)

On devices with a physical Home button (e.g. Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2) or touch bar (Mi 8, Mi 9), the multitasking menu opens with a long press on this button.

Features of the method:

• ⏱️ Some firmware requires double pressing (quickly tap twice).
• 🔄 If the button does not respond, check its sensitivity in Settings. → System system → Gestures.
• 🚫 Does not work on Android One devices (e.g. Mi) A3) — It uses a standard Android gesture.

Method 3: Set up gestures in the system menu

If the standard gestures don't work, you might have an alternative control mode on the settings to check this out.

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Choose Full Screen Mode or Gestures (name depends on the version of MIUI).
3. Check the active mode: 🔄 Navigation buttons – three virtual buttons at the bottom of the screen. 👆 Gestures MIUI — swipes instead of buttons. 📱 Full-screen gestures – the most hidden interface.

For the multitasking menu, it is important:

• In the MIUI Gesture mode, swipe up with pause is used.
• In the navigation button mode – a long press on Home or swipe on the touch strip.
• In Full-screen gesture mode, a swipe from the edge of the screen may be required.

Method 4: Alternative methods (for non-standard situations)

If none of the above methods work, try these options:

In MIUI 14, on some devices (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the multitasking menu can be opened with a double tap on the back panel – if Double Tap is enabled in Settings → Special Features → Gestures.

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If your phone doesn’t respond to gestures, first check if the Child For Kids or Guest Mode is on, which blocks access to multitasking.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users have trouble opening the multitasking menu, and here are the most common mistakes:

⚠️ Attention: If you are using POCO Launcher, standard gestures MIUI In this case, the menu of recent apps opens with a swipe up without pause (as in pure Android).

Other typical problems:

• 🔄 Swipe too fast: System perceives it as a return to the home screen.The solution is to slow down.
• 📱 Screen not responding to touch: Do not disturb or save charge may be enabled.
• 🔋 Menu opens but apps don't close: Click on icon ✕ Or swipe sideways.

If after all the manipulations, the multitasking menu does not open, try:

1. Restart your phone in safe mode (hold power → Safe mode).
2. Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings → About the phone → System Update).
3. Reset the settings to factory (Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset).

Comparison of gestures on different versions of MIUI

The algorithm for opening the multitasking menu changed with the release of new versions of MIUI. Below is a comparison table for popular firmware:

If your model is released before 2018, chances are that it has an outdated version of MIUI installed. In this case, it is recommended to update the firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update or manually through the Mi Flash Tool.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions