Users who switch from classic Android smartphones or iOS often face confusion when they first pick up a device from Xiaomi. The question of “where are the gestures on the shaomi” becomes especially relevant if the usual navigation buttons suddenly disappeared or, conversely, appeared where they should not be. The interface MIUI and its new version of HyperOS offer a flexible control system, but finding switches is sometimes difficult because of the deep nesting of the menu.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the path to navigation settings, explain the difference between system gestures and buttons, and look at the hidden features available in advanced settings. Xiaomi smartphones allow you to completely redesign the interaction with the screen to suit yourself, turning control into a single touch, you will learn how to activate swipes, adjust sensitivity, and what to do if standard methods stop working after the update.
The Way to Navigation Settings in MIUI and HyperOS
To find gesture control, you need to follow a specific path in the system menu, which may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell. The standard algorithm of actions involves entering the main Settings menu, then select the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section, which hides key system parameters that are not brought to the forefront of the interface.
Inside this section, you’ll find Full-screen menus (sometimes called simply “Navigation”), where you’ll have to choose between two main modes: classic buttons and modern gesture control. System navigation by default hides the bottom bar, freeing up useful screen space for app content and video.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It's worth noting that on global firmware versions, the path can look like Settings → Desktop → Navigation on the screen. If you can't find the right item, use the built-in search for settings by typing in "gestures" or "navigation." This is the fastest way to get to the right menu without going through long searches.
⚠️ Warning: When switching modes, the system may require brief training. Don't ignore the pop-up prompts, as they demonstrate the basic swipes needed to return to menus or switch tasks.
Control modes: Buttons against Gestures
The difference between the two modes is not just the visual design of the bottom of the screen, but also the logic of interaction with the operating system. Three virtual buttons (Back, Home, Menu) are a relic of early versions of Android, but are still popular among users who value tactile clarity and familiar actions, which is less prone to random tapping and understandable to older people.
Unlike buttons, gesture control relies on swipes from the edges of the screen, a swipe from the bottom up returns to the desktop, a swipe from the bottom up with a delay opens the multitasking menu, and a swipe from the left or right edge performs a "back" action. This system allows you to use the entire screen of the smartphone, including the bottom area, which is especially important for devices with elongated proportions.
- 📱 Buttons: Take up space on the screen, but are always visible and intuitive.
- 🖐️ Gestures: Free up space, speed up work with one finger and look more modern.
- ⚙️ Adaptability: In gesture mode, the keyboard and other interface elements automatically rise higher without overlapping the system area.
Many users have noted that after getting used to gestures, returning to buttons seems uncomfortable and slow, however, if you often use your smartphone in horizontal mode (games, videos), buttons may be preferable, since swipes in this position are more difficult to perform.
Setting up sensitivity and additional functions
Once full-screen mode is activated, the system offers a fine-tuning of swipe behavior. The full-screen menu often features a Hide hint item that removes the thin bar at the bottom of the screen that reminds you of gestures, which makes the interface as clean as possible, but can disorient new users.
Special attention should be paid to adjusting the animation speed and sensitivity of the edges. Although there may not be an explicit sensitivity slider in the standard menu, there are hidden parameters available through the engineering menu or third-party launchers. However, standard MIUI tools can only adjust the visual effects of transitions.
Settings -> Additional -> Full-screen menu -> Hide the hintYou can also adjust the double tapping action (if supported by the model) or change the swipe behavior down the center of the screen for quick access to notifications, which greatly improves the comfort of the device in the long term.
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If the gesture bar interferes with games, turn on the “Hide the hint” option or activate the “Do Not Disturb” mode in Game Turbo to block random swipes.
Special gestures: three fingers and fast commands
In addition to basic navigation, Xiaomi has introduced a powerful set of special gestures that significantly speed up routine tasks, the most popular of which is a three-finger screenshot, which requires three fingers to swipe down the screen at any time you use your smartphone.
These commands are set up along the Settings → Additional → Special Features (or Quick Commands) path, where you can assign actions not only to swipe with three fingers, but also to press or tap with a knuckle for a long time (on supported models).
| Action. | Gesture. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot. | 3 fingers down | Screen image preservation |
| Screen splitting | 3 fingers from the bottom up | Starting a multitasking mode |
| Special Opportunity Menu | Two fingers (V-shape) | Opening a quick menu |
The split-screen feature is particularly useful on larger Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi/Mix smartphones, allowing both messenger and browser to be used simultaneously, which cannot be done in a single task, and gesture-activation saves time compared to manually opening the menu of running apps.
Secret gestures in apps
Problems with gestures after the update and their solution
A common problem for users is when gestures stop working correctly after a firmware update: swipes are not recognized, menus are not opened, or the phone reacts with a delay, often due to the cache of the System Launcher system launcher that manages the interface.
To troubleshoot, it is recommended to clear the launcher data. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All Applications, find the System Launcher (or Desktop) and select Clear → All Data. Important: this action will reset the location of the icons on desktops, but will not delete your personal files or applications.
⚠️ Warning: Before clearing the launcher data, make sure that important widgets or folders are not lost, as they will have to be re-posted.
If cleaning the cache didn’t help, the problem may lie in a conflict of third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair), in which case you need to temporarily return the standard Xiaomi launcher through the default menu of the Application and check the gestures. It is also worth checking whether the “Work with gloves” mode is included in the Advanced Settings section, which increases the sensitivity of the screen and can cause false positives.
Hidden opportunities and tips for advanced
For those who want to make the most of their device, there are additional settings available through the Developer Menu. By enabling this mode (tapping 7 times on the build number in About Phone), you can find the Minimum Width (DPI) setting, changing this value affects the scale of the interface and can make the swipe area more convenient.
Another useful feature is the Sidebar, which is called by a swipe from the edge of the screen (usually in apps) and contains shortcuts to frequently used programs, which can be configured in the section Additional → Floating Window (or Sidebar), which is an addition to the basic navigation, allowing you to quickly open a calculator, voice recorder or a second instance of the messenger.
- 🚀 Accelerate animation: in the developer menu, reduce the scale of animation windows and transitions to 0.5x feel more speed.
- 🔍 Search by Settings: Use the search bar at the top of the settings menu by entering “gesture”, “swipe” or “navigation” for instant access.
- 🔄 Resetting: If nothing helps, resetting all settings (not data!) will return the system to factory control settings.
Using all the navigation options, you can make your smartphone an extension of your hand. Experiment with combinations, adjust sensitivity, and don't be afraid to change your behavior to find the perfect balance between speed and convenience.
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Optimal navigation setting on Xiaomi is a combination of full-screen gestures for use and included special commands (3 fingers) for quick access to features.