How to change buttons on Xiaomi Redmi: from the navigation bar to the side keys

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones offer flexible interface customization options, but not all users know how to adapt the control to their needs. Changing the functions of the buttons - from the classic navigation bar to the side on/volume keys - can significantly improve the ergonomics of the device. For example, left-handers are more convenient to reassign the back button to the right side of the screen, and gamers - to turn off random touch keys during play.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the buttons on Redmi (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others) running on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14.

• 🔄 Reassign program navigation buttons (including replacement with gestures).
• 📱 Change the functions of hardware keys (power, volume, side buttons).
• 🎮 Optimize management for games and specific tasks.
• 🛠️ Use hidden settings MIUI and third-party utilities.

Importantly, not all methods are compatible with all models – for example, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with physical navigation buttons, options will be limited, while on the Redmi 12 5G, advanced gestures are available.

1. Change the navigation buttons in MIUI

The standard navigation bar in MIUI includes three buttons: Back, Home, and Recent, which can be moved and replaced with gestures or a two-button scheme (like the one on the iPhone).

1. Open Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
2. Select the navigation type section.
3. Options available: 🔘 Navigation buttons – classic 3 buttons (you can change the order). 👆 Gestures MIUI — Swipes from the bottom edge (supported on all Redmis with the MIUI 10+). 🔄 Android gestures – swipes on the sides of the screen (requires Android 10)+).

To change the buttons in the "navigation button" mode:

1. Press More. → Order of buttons.
2. Choose one of the suggested templates or create your own (for example, “Home” in the middle, “Back” on the right).

Hidden Features: Some models (e.g. Redmi K50) have a triple-press power button to run an arbitrary application.

1. Activate Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers → Quick launch of the application.

3. Use of gestures to replace buttons

Gestures in MIUI allow you to completely abandon virtual buttons, freeing up space on the screen. Gesture settings are available in Settings → Display → Full-screen display → MIUI gestures. Let's consider the key options:

• 👆 Swipe up: Short - return to Home. Long - opening "Recent" apps.
• 👈 Edge swipe: Left is a backup return. Right is a Google Assistant call (configured separately).
• 🔄 Additional gestures (included in Settings) → Additionally. → Gestures): 📥 Swipe down the back panel - opening the notification panel. 🖥️ Double touch of the screen – wake up/lock.

Challenges and solutions:

• ⚠️ Back gestures can conflict with swipes in apps (like Instagram).Solution: Turn off swipe sensitivity in gesture settings.
• ⚠️ On Redmi with AMOLED-screens (for example, Note 12 Pro)+) The gestures work smoother than the IPS.

💡

If gestures are triggered by chance (e.g. in games), reduce the width of the swipe zone in Settings → Display → Full-screen display → Gesture settings → Swipe Zone.

4. Hidden button functions for gamers

For users who are actively playing Xiaomi Redmi, standard button settings can be uncomfortable. Fortunately, MIUI has hidden options for gamers:

1. Activate Game Turbo mode: Go to Settings → Special features → Game Turbo. Enable the option Block buttons – this will turn off touch-sensitive navigation keys and physical volume buttons while playing.

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Redmi K-series

• In Game Turbo → Settings → Additional buttons can be assigned to virtual keys on the screen (for example, for shooting in PUBG).

Alternative method for rooted devices: Button Mapper (requires root) allows you to reassign any hardware buttons to macros, for example, you can make it so that:

• 🎮 Loudness up + Volume down - activated the "Do Not Disturb" mode».
• 🔥 Triple tap on power - ran a discord with voice chat.

💡

Game Turbo mode automatically disables notifications and optimizes performance, but may conflict with some games (like Genshin Impact).

5. Third-party applications for advanced customization

If the built-in MIUI options aren't enough, you can use third-party utilities, and important: some require root access or ADB.

Instructions for Button Mapper (without root):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm grant com.flar2.homebutton flar2.homebutton.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE
3. In the app, select a button to reassign (such as “Loudness Down”) and assign an action (such as “Previous Track”).

Warning:

⚠️ Apps like Button Mapper can conflict with system gestures MIUI. Before using, create a restore point in Settings → System system → Backup.

6. Restore standard button settings

If after experimenting with the settings, the buttons began to work incorrectly (for example, a double tap on the power does not start the camera or gestures are triggered accidentally), you can return the standard parameters in several ways:

• 🔧 Through settings MIUI: Go to Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Reset button settings. Confirm the action, it will only reset the button settings without affecting the data.
• 📱 Through Safe Mode: Press the Power button, then hold the Power Disconnect button until you request to enter Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, reconfigure the buttons again - this will eliminate the influence of third-party applications.
• 🖥️ Through ADB (Connect your phone to your PC and do: adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "default"

If nothing helps:

⚠️ On some firmware (such as custom LineageOS), resetting the buttons may require complete flashing. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing buttons on Xiaomi Redmi