Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users many ways to interact with the interface, but standard navigation can seem inconvenient for those who are accustomed to a certain arrangement of controls. Often users face the need to change the order of the buttons, completely disable them or switch to gesture control to save space on the screen. Owners of devices that have moved from other brands often look for a way to return the usual layout, which is different from the standard for MIUI or HyperOS.
Changing the configuration of the bottom navigation bar is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the ergonomics of using a gadget with one hand. Properly configured controls allow you to quickly switch between applications and return to the desktop without making unnecessary finger movements. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of setting, including hidden functions that are not obvious when you first encounter the shell.
It’s worth noting that customization options can vary depending on the version of the operating system installed and regional firmware. Global versions often differ from Chinese counterparts, but the basic principles remain the same across the ecosystem. We’ll look at both the standard system tools and more advanced methods for power users who want to gain full control of their device.
Standard ways to configure navigation in MIUI
MIUI
HyperOS
Settings
Additionally.
Full screen mode
This is where the switch is, which allows you to choose between the classic buttons and gesture controls. When you choose the button mode, the system offers two options for their location, which is the answer to the question of many users about how to change the buttons on the android of Xiaomi. You can choose the scheme where the back button is on the left, or the mirror version, which is familiar to users of iOS or some other shells.
It's important to understand that the choice of navigation type directly affects the availability of other features, such as hidden floating window or application folding speed. Full-screen gestures free up the lower part of the screen, which is especially true for devices with a diagonal of less than 6 inches, where every millimeter of usable area counts. However, for those who value tactile returns and visual certainty, the classic version remains the no alternative in terms of convenience.
⚠️ Attention: Switching to gestures may require short training, during which the system will show hints about swipes.
If standard settings do not meet your requirements, for example, you want to change the transparency of the buttons or their size, you can not do this with regular means, in this case, you need to refer to deeper system settings or use specialized utilities, which will be discussed below, but in the meantime, you should make sure that the basic parameters are set correctly for your use case.
How to change buttons on android shaomi: change of location
Many users are wondering how to change the bottom buttons to the Android xiaomi redmi, meaning that they are rearranged in places. Unlike pure Android, where this option is often hidden in the menu for developers, in MIUI this process is as simple as possible and displayed in a prominent place. Once you enter the menu of choosing the navigation type, you will be offered two interface previews.
The first option is that the return button is on the left and the menu (or fold) button is on the right. This is a classic Android schema. The second option is for me, return on the right, menu on the left. The choice depends solely on your muscle memory and your habit of holding the phone in a particular hand. Left-handed people often find it more convenient when the back button is closer to the right thumb if the phone is held with the left.
The change happens instantly, without having to restart the device. Just click on the preview option and the system will immediately apply the changes. This allows you to quickly test both options in real use and leave the one that seems more convenient. Adapting to the new location usually takes from a few hours to a couple of days of active use of the smartphone.
- 🔄 Open the settings and go to the additional settings section.
- 📱 Select the item responsible for system navigation.
- 👆 Click on the preview with the desired button location.
- ✅ Confirm your choice if the system requests confirmation of action.
It’s worth noting that on some older Redmi models with Android versions below 9.0, the settings interface may look different, in which case the option may be simply called “Navigation” or located in the “Screen” section. If you can’t find the switch, try searching by settings by typing “navigation” or “buttons.”
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
Hidden opportunities through the engineering menu
For advanced users who don't have enough standard options, you can access hidden system settings through special codes. By typing the phone code ##6484## in the phone app, you'll be taken to the hardware engineering menu, but to change the interface, we'll need a different approach, which involves debugging over USB and ADB, or using hidden activities.
One of the most powerful customization tools is Activity Launcher, which allows you to run hidden system activities, and it can find old navigation settings menus that were hidden in newer versions of MIUI. For example, com.android.settings.Settings$ButtonSettingsActivity can open an extended button menu if it has not been completely removed from the firmware.
Using these methods requires caution. Incorrectly changing system parameters can lead to unstable interface operation or even cyclic restart (bootloop). Backing up important data before experimenting with system settings is a mandatory rule, ignoring which can cost you loss of information.
⚠️ Note: Making changes through hidden activities or ADB-The only way to do this is if you know what you're doing and you're willing to get it back.
It is also worth mentioning the possibility of changing the behavior of buttons through ADB-By connecting the phone to a computer and running the console, you can try commands to change the density of buttons or hide them, although this works worse in modern versions of Android than in older ones. policy_control immersive.full=* It once allowed you to hide the navigation bar, but now it is often ignored by security systems.
Installation of third-party applications for customization
If Xiaomi's built-in tools seem too limited, Google Play Store apps come to the rescue. There are many programs that allow you to completely change the appearance of the bottom panel, add new buttons or change their transparency and size. One of the most popular solutions is the Navigation Bar app or Simple Control.
These applications work on top of the navigation system, layering the standard buttons with their own layer, allowing you to use any image for the buttons, change their location arbitrarily, and even add macros, for example, you can create a button to quickly start the camera or turn on the flashlight, which is impossible to do with standard tools without setting up scripts.
However, this method has its drawbacks: Third-party navigators consume additional battery power, as they constantly hang in RAM and track touches, and they can conflict with full-screen games or other applications that use the whole screen. Compatibility is not guaranteed 100%, especially on devices with screen cutouts or dynamic islets.
| Annex | Functional | Impact on the battery | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation Bar | Change of style, transparency | Average. | Low. |
| Simple Control | Joystick, macros | High. | Medium |
| Fluid Navigation | Gestures, animations. | Average. | Tall. |
| Key Mapper | Reassignment of action | Low. | Tall. |
When you install these programs, the system can issue security alerts, and you'll need to give the application special permissions, like "Above Other Applications," and access to special features, without these permissions, the program won't be able to intercept clicks and display its controls over the MIUI interface.
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Use Do Not Disturb mode in games so that the third-party navigation bar does not block the playing field and does not cause accidental clicks.
Button problems and their solution
Redmi and Poco users sometimes experience the bottom buttons that stop responding to presses, stick or disappear, which can be caused by both a software failure and a temporary system overload. The first thing to do is to try a banal device reboot that clears RAM and restarts the SystemUI system process.
If the reboot didn't help, check if the "Gloves" mode or other special features that can change the sensitivity of the screen are turned on. It's also worth paying attention to the protective glass: if it is glued curved or has damage in the bottom, it can block the touch layer in the navigation area. Calibration of the screen through the engineering menu can help correct response problems.
If the buttons are working but are acting strangely (for example, double-clicking does not turn the application), try clearing the Settings and System Interface app cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the desired processes and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All Data, otherwise the system settings will reset.
⚠️ Note: If the buttons stopped working after the firmware update, the problem may be in the new version bug, in which case you should wait for the patch or roll back to the previous version via Recovery.
Sometimes the problem is with a particular application that is intercepting control, and if the buttons don't work in just one program, check the settings or try to reinstall it, and if the problem is global and not solved by software, you may need to reset to factory settings or go to a service center.
What if the buttons disappeared after the update?
Gesture Management: An Alternative to Buttons
The current trend in the mobile industry is to completely abandon screen buttons in favor of gesture control. Xiaomi is actively implementing this technology, and it is worth admitting that it is really convenient. Swipe returns to the desktop from the bottom up, swipe with a delay opens the multitasking menu, and swipe from the side edges replaces the back button.
The main advantage of gestures is that they increase the usable screen area: On 20:9-part ratio devices, the lower button bar eats up a lot of space that can be used for content, and gestures allow you to switch between apps more quickly in one smooth motion, without having to aim at small buttons.
But gestures have opponents, too. People with thumbs or using smartphones in high-sided cases may have difficulty swiping from the edge of the screen. In these cases, the system suggests adjusting the sensitivity of the edges or adding a small indentation area to avoid random clicks. Adapting to gestures takes time, but most users who have tried them don't go back to the buttons anymore.
- 🖐 Swipe from bottom up in the center - access to the desktop.
- ⏸ Swipe from the bottom up with a pause - the menu of open applications.
- ↩️ Swipe from left or right edge – button “Back".
- 🏠 Swipe from bottom to top with a delay in the center – Google Assistant (optional).
To enable gestures, select the appropriate item in the navigation menu, and the system will offer a short training course to help you remember the basic movements, and if you realize in a couple of days that this is not yours, you can always go back to the buttons in the same settings menu.
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Gestures free up to 15% of the screen area and speed up navigation, but require getting used to new motor skills.