You've just purchased a new Xiaomi device — whether it's a smartphone, a TV or a smartwatch — and you can't find the menu button? This problem is familiar to many users, especially those who have moved from other brands. The fact is that MIUI interface and firmware for Xiaomi equipment have their own peculiarities, and physical buttons on modern models are often missing or hidden under touch gestures.
In this article, we will take a closer look at where the menu button is on all types of Xiaomi devices, from budget Redmis to flagship Mi 14s, as well as Mi TVs and wearables. You will learn not only standard locations, but also alternative ways to call the menu if the button does not work or is missing.
1. menu button on Xiaomi smartphones: from physical keys to gestures
On older Xiaomi models (until 2017), the menu button was physical and located below the screen to the left or right of the Home button. However, with the transition to frameless displays, the manufacturer abandoned hardware keys in favor of touch gestures and a virtual navigation bar.
- 📱 Versions MIUI (starting MIUI 9 The interface has changed a lot)
- 🔄 Type of navigation (classic three-button or gesture)
- 🛠️ User settings (you can manually return the old panel)
On most modern smartphones (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13 and later), the default menu button is not on the screen.
- 👆 Bottom-up gesture and hold (to call recent apps where menus are hidden)
- ⚙️ Long-term click on the application icon (calls the context menu)
- ⋮ Three dots in the upper right corner (in some applications, such as in the Gallery or Settings)
If you are uncomfortable with using gestures, you can return the classic navigation bar with the menu button:
- Go to Settings → Display → Navigation panel
- Choose the button instead of the gesture
- Click on More (three dots) → Add the menu button
2.Where is the menu button on Mi TV and Mi Box TVs
On Xiaomi Mi TVs and Mi Box consoles, the menu button can be in three places, depending on the remote model and the firmware version, and the main rule is that there is no separate button on the remote that says "Menu."
| The device | The button to call the menu | Alternative method |
|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4S/4A (2018–2020) | 📺 Home button (home) → swipe | Settings button (cogs) → section All settings |
| Mi TV Q1/Q2 (2021–2026) | 🔘 Button OK (hold off) | Open menu voice command (if XiaoAI is connected) |
| Mi Box S/4K | ⚙️ Settings button (cogs) | Home + Back (hold 3 seconds) |
On new models (Mi TV Q2 2026), the menu button can be hidden behind a context menu that opens with a long press on OK.
- 🔋 Remote charge (the indicator should be green when pressed)
- 📶 Connect the remote to the TV (reconnect via Settings) → remote)
- 🔄 Firmware version (update to Settings) → On TV. → Update)
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If the remote does not respond to presses, try to reset it by holding the Home and Back buttons for 10 seconds. After that, hold the remote to the TV at a distance of 5 cm and hold OK until mating.
3. menu button on smart watches and fitness bracelets Xiaomi
On Xiaomi wearables like the Mi Band 8, Watch 2 Pro or Smart Band 7 Pro, the menu button is implemented in different ways, the main difficulty is that the screen does not have the usual icons, and the control is carried out through swipes and clicks on physical buttons.
Let us consider the main models:
- 📱 Mi Band 7/8: The menu is swiped up from the main screen. Additional settings are swipe left. → More.
- ⌚ Xiaomi Watch S1/S2: The menu button is the physical button on the right (one click.
- 🏃 POCO Watch: menu hidden behind long-press screen (3 seconds).
If the menu button does not respond on your watch, reset the settings:
Settings → System → Reset to factory → ConfirmWhat to do if the menu on Xiaomi watches opens accidentally?
4. Hidden Menu Calling Ways: Engineering Menu and ADB
If standard methods don’t work, you can use Xiaomi’s hidden features, which are suitable for power users and require caution.
The engineering menu (for smartphones) allows you to access advanced settings, including button debugging, to open it:
- Open the phone application
- Enter the combination: ##4636##
- Select the section Testing equipment → Buttons
For Mi TVs, there is a service menu that opens through the remote:
Press sequentially: Menu → 1 → 3 → 2 → Menu
(On older models: Menu → 4 → 6 → 2 → Menu)⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu may cause the device to crash. Do not edit settings unless you are sure of their purpose.
Make a backup copy of the data|Charge the device to at least 50%|Examine the purpose of variable parameters|Have a handy discharge instruction-->
5.Why the menu button may not work and how to fix it
If the menu button doesn't respond to clicks, the reasons can be both software and hardware.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No push button. | Contact contamination (for physical buttons) | Clean the button with alcohol or compressed air |
| The menu opens with a delay | System overload (many background processes) | Clean the cache in Settings → Memory → Cleanup |
| The gesture is unrecognizable. | Sensor or firmware malfunction | Update MIUI or reset gesture settings |
On Mi TVs, a common problem is an unsynchronized remote control, to check whether it works:
- Point the remote to your smartphone camera and press any button. If the infrared signal is visible (flashing purple), the remote is functional.
- If there is no signal, replace the batteries or reconnect the remote via Settings → Remote → Add the remote.
⚠️ Warning: If the menu button stopped working after the TV firmware update, don't try to roll back to the old version via Recovery.This may block the bootloader:
Settings → Device → Reset and Reset → Reset settings6. Alternative ways to control without a menu button
If the menu button on your Xiaomi device is broken or missing, you can use alternative management methods.
- 🎤 Voice assistant: On smartphones: activate Google Assistant or XiaoAI with OK Google or Xiao Ai. On TVs, hold the Microphone button on the remote and say, Open the menu».
- 🖱️ Connecting a mouse or keyboard: For Mi TV: Connect the Bluetooth mouse through Settings → Devices → Bluetooth. For smartphones: use it. OTG-cable USB-Mouse (works in Safe Mode).
- 📱 Remote management applications: Mi Remote (for TVs and air conditioners) TeamViewer QuickSupport (for smartphones, if the screen is running)
For Xiaomi smartwatches, a companion app (Mi Fitness or Zepp) can be an alternative to the menu button.
- 🔧 Configure the displayed menu elements
- 🔄 Update the firmware without using buttons
- 📊 View advanced data (steps, pulse, etc.)
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If the physical menu button on Xiaomi’s watch breaks, don’t try to disassemble the device yourself, which will result in water resistance loss. Instead, contact a service center with a warranty card (if the expiration date has not expired).
7. Frequent errors of users when searching for the menu button
Many users make common mistakes when trying to find the menu button on Xiaomi devices, and here are the most common ones and how to avoid them:
- 🔍 Search for physical buttons on new smartphones: On models after 2019 (e.g. Redmi Note 11, Mi 12), there are no physical buttons.
- 📱 Confusion between the Back and Menu button: On older smartphones (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1) The "Menu" button was on the left and the "Back" button was on the right.
- 📺 Using an inappropriate remote for Mi TV: Remotes from Mi Box and Mi TV Make sure you use the original remote for your model.
- ⌚ Overpowered touchscreen: Mi Band and Xiaomi Watch are sensitive to long-term pressing. Easy touch for 1-2 seconds.
⚠️ Note: if you purchased a used Xiaomi device and the menu button behaves outside the box (for example, opens an ad), this may be a sign of a virus. → Security → Scan or reset the device to factory settings.