How to change the position of the buttons on Xiaomi: full navigation setting

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, provide users with a wide range of tools to personalize the interface. One of the basic but critical elements of interaction with the device is the navigation bar located at the bottom of the screen. Many gadget owners face the need to move the back, home and menu buttons to adapt the control to the left or right hand, or completely abandon them in favor of gestures.

As standard, the system offers the classic layout most Android users are familiar with, but it is not always convenient. For example, when using one hand, the thumb may not reach the extreme controls. In addition, having a physical or software navigation bar reduces the usable display area, which is especially noticeable on models with extended screens. Changing the position of the buttons or switching to gesture control solves these problems, making smartphone operation more comfortable.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available for modifying navigation, how to mirror buttons, how to turn on a hidden bar that only appears via swipe, and what hidden features are hidden in the settings of the system navigator, and we will also discuss compatibility issues between different firmware versions and look at the nuances of landscape operation.

Standard methods of changing layout in MIUI and HyperOS

The main and most secure way to change the configuration of the buttons lies in the system settings of the shell. the menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and regional firmware (Global, China, EEA), but the logic of actions remains the same. First, you need to get to the section responsible for system navigation, where basic switches are available.

The setup process is intuitive and takes no more than a minute. You don't need third-party apps or superuser rights. You just need to follow the menu path that we'll describe below. Note that some devices with high refresh rate screens are subject to change instantly, without having to reboot the interface.

To find the desired parameters, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings app and swipe to “Advanced” or select Screen immediately».
• 📱 Find the "System Navigation" section (in older versions) MIUI It can be called simply “Navigation»).
• 📱 Select Button Mode if it is not already activated to see the available layout options.
• 📱 Click on the gear icon or the button settings option to open the configuration menu.

⚠️ Note: If you can’t find System Navigation in the specified location, search the top of the settings menu by typing in “navigation.” This is the fastest way to get to the desired section on any firmware version.

In the menu that opens, you will see a graphical representation of the bottom bar with three virtual keys. Usually, here you will find a choice between the standard (Back button on the right) and the mirror (Back button on the left). Mirror order is often chosen by users who are used to the iOS interface or simply prefer to control the smartphone with their left hand, since the left thumb naturally reaches the lower left corner of the screen for return.

Use of full-screen gesture control

An alternative to the classic buttons is modern gesture control, which is enabled by default on many new Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models. This method completely removes the navigation bar, freeing up space for content and creating an immersive effect. Interaction with the system occurs through swipes from the edges of the screen, which requires some addiction, but significantly speeds up the work after mastering.

To switch to gestures, select the appropriate item from the same System Navigation menu, and the system will immediately offer a short tutorial showing the main movements, for example, a swipe from the bottom up in the center returns to the desktop, and a swipe from the bottom up with a delay opens the menu of running applications. Swipes from the left or right edge of the screen perform the function of the back button.

One of the key features of gesture implementation in MIUI is the ability to fine-tune the sensitivity, you can adjust the area of the side swipes to avoid accidental returns in games or when reading, and there is also the option to hide the indicator-strip at the bottom of the screen, which makes the interface as clean as possible.

It is important to note that when full screen mode is enabled, some applications may not display correctly if they are not optimized for screens without physical bezels. In such cases, the system automatically adds a temporary navigation bar or suggests changing the display mode of a particular application in the compatibility settings.

Hidden navigation bar and additional functions

There is a third, less-known option, the hidden navigation bar, where, unlike full-screen, buttons don't disappear completely, but hide in a thin strip at the bottom of the screen and only appear when touched, a compromise for those who want to maintain the usual button control but want to maximize the useful area of the display.

To activate this mode, the navigation type selection menu often requires you to click on an additional icon or select Hide the indicator. However, on some global firmware, this feature may be hidden. In such cases, activation is possible through the engineering menu or using special ADB commands, although we recommend using only standard methods to avoid system instability.

Compare the main characteristics of the three types of navigation in the table below:

The use of a hidden panel is especially important on devices with AMOLED-The researchers found that static elements could theoretically contribute to pixel burnout at maximum brightness, although current technology minimizes this risk. The hidden panel automatically adapts its transparency based on the background color of the current application, becoming almost invisible on dark topics.

Setting up navigation in landscape mode

Special attention should be paid to the behavior of navigation elements when turning the smartphone to a horizontal position. When watching a video or playing, the interface is flipped, and the control buttons must follow the orientation of the screen. Xiaomi has an option to lock the position of the buttons or allow them to rotate along with the content.

By default, the system tends to be logically coherent: the Back button stays on the side you're used to in portrait mode, even if the phone is turned. However, for some use cases, such as first-person shooters or strategy games, constantly turning the buttons can get in the way, overlapping the elements of the game's interface.

To change the behavior in the landscape, you often need to go to advanced navigation settings, you can find a "Turn buttons" or similar switch, if you don't have one, then the behavior is rigidly set by the manufacturer for this model and the Android version, in which case the only way out is to use full-screen mode, where swipes work regardless of the orientation of the device.

Navigation problems and how to solve them

Users may experience a situation where buttons stop responding to clicks, disappear or malfunction, often due not to a hardware malfunction but to a software failure of the SystemUI process. The first step in diagnosis should always be to simply restart the device that clears the temporary caches.

If the problem persists, it’s worth checking the special features settings. Sometimes third-party applications for people with disabilities or interface “improvers” may conflict with standard navigation.

The main causes of failures and methods of their elimination:

• 🔧 Interface freeze: Try pressing the power button for 10 seconds for forced reboot.
• 🔧 Topics conflict: If a third-party theme is installed, reset the theme to standard through the Topics app».
• 🔧 Update error: After the firmware update, you may need to clear the Settings section cache through the app menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not install third-party apps to replace the navigation bar from the Play Market store on devices with new versions of Android (11, 12, 13)+). Android security system restricts access of such applications to system layers, which can lead to unstable operation of the entire smartphone or cyclical reboots.

In rare cases, the problem may be a touchscreen damage at the bottom of the screen, and to check this, you can run a display engineering test by typing a special code in the phone or using the Service app (only for some regions). If the screen does not respond to multi-touch in a certain area, you will need repairs at the service center.

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Useful tip: If the navigation buttons start to “shake” or randomly change position, check the protective glass. Cheap glass with thick edges can physically press the screen frame, causing false touch screen (ghost touch).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Flexibility of navigation settings is one of the main advantages of the shell MIUI/HyperOS, allowing you to adapt the smartphone to any user habits, whether it is conservative button control or modern swipes.