How to change the control on Xiaomi devices: from remote to touch gestures

Xiaomi devices โ€“ from Redmi smartphones to Mi TVs TV โ€” It's famous for its flexibility, but it's not always obvious how to reconfigure the control system to suit your needs. You may have bought a used TV with a curved remote, want to switch from physical buttons to voice control, or just run into a bug when buttons don't respond properly. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to change the management on Xiaomi equipment โ€“ from standard methods to hidden functions for experienced users.

It is important to understand that under the "control" can hide several scenarios: reassignment of the remote buttons, resetting control settings to factory, connecting alternative input devices (for example, a game controller), or even a complete replacement of the firmware to change the logic of the work. We will consider each of them taking into account the features of different product lines โ€“ from Mi Box to Mi Box. POCO F5.

If your goal is simply to reset the remote settings or connect a new one, the first two sections will suffice. For deep customization (for example, changing gestures on your smartphone or firmware alternative software on your TV), read the article to the end - there you will find instructions for advanced users, including working with the Internet. ADB and Fastboot.

1. Standard ways to reset control on Xiaomi

Letโ€™s start with the basic methods that work on most Xiaomi devices without the need to tamper with system files.

  • ๐ŸŽฎ The remote stopped responding to some buttons (for example, volume control does not work).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ You want to return factory control settings after failed experiments.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ A bug has worked on the smartphone, and touch gestures conflict with the navigation buttons.

For Mi TVs, TV Redmi Smart TV The easiest way is to reset the remote settings through the menu:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ Devices and accessories โ†’ DU remote.
  2. Select the option Reset the remote settings (on some models - Restore factory settings).
  3. Confirm the action. The remote will reset, and all buttons will return to their original state.

On smartphones. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO steering-off:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Display โ†’ Full-screen display.
  2. Select the navigation type: buttons, gestures MIUI Or Android Gestures.
  3. If gestures are not working properly, click Reset gesture settings (not available on all models).
๐Ÿ“Š What Xiaomi device you are setting up?
Mi TV TV TV
Smartphone Redmi/POCO
Yeelight smart lamp
Xiaomi router
Other

It's important! On some TV models (e.g. Mi). TV Q1E 2023) Resetting the remote may require confirmation via a physical button on the case, usually a Menu or Power button that needs to be held for 5-10 seconds.

2. Reassignment of the remote buttons to Mi TV

If you need to change the function of specific buttons instead of resetting, such as as assigning another application to the Netflix button, you will have to use hidden settings or third-party applications. Xiaomi does not officially provide such a feature, but there are workarounds.

For Android TVs TV (Like Mi. TV A2 or Redmi Smart Fire TV):

  1. Install the Button Mapper app from Google Play (rights required) ADB).
  2. Connect the TV to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm grant flar2.homebutton android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
  3. In the app, select the button you want to reassign and assign it a new action (for example, launch YouTube instead of Prime Video).

For PatchWall TVs, this method wonโ€™t work โ€“ youโ€™ll have to use an alternative remote or flash the European version of the software.

List of compatible apps for button reassignment
Button Mapper โ€“ works on Android TV right-handed ADB. Retool is an alternative for Xiaomi smartphones (requires root). Tasker โ€“ for creating complex scenarios (for example, double pressing the volume button opens the camera).

On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall firmware, the reassignment of the remote buttons is officially blocked. The only way out is to flash the global version of the software or use a Bluetooth remote from another manufacturer (for example, from Fire). TV Stick).

3. Alternative control methods: voice, smartphone, game controller

If a standard remote is lost or broken, Xiaomi devices support several alternative control methods:

Management methodSupported devicesConditions required
Google Voice Assistant Assistant/Alice.Mi TV (Android TV), Redmi Smart TV, Mi BoxMicrophone in remote or external (e.g. Google Nest Mini)
Mi Remote app on your smartphoneAll Xiaomi TVs and consolesSmartphone on Android/iOS, connection
Game Controller (DualShock, Xbox)Mi TV with Android TV 9.0+Bluetooth or USB-OTG adapter
Mouse and keyboardMi Box, TVs with USB-portUSB-hub

To adjust the control from the smartphone:

  1. Download the Mi Remote app from Google Play or the App Store.
  2. Select the type of device (Mi) TV, Mi Box, etc.) and follow the instructions on the screen.
  3. Make sure that your TV and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

To connect the game controller:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ Devices and accessories โ†’ Add an accessory.
  2. Activate the pairing mode on the controller (for example, hold the Share buttons). + PS DualShock 4).
  3. Select the controller from the list of devices found.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the TV doesnโ€™t find the controller via Bluetooth, try connecting it through the phone. USB-OTG After the first pairing, Bluetooth memory usually works stably.

4. Change of control on Xiaomi smartphones: gestures, buttons, navigation

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Navigation management system is flexible to configure via the Settings menu โ†’ Display. Here's what you can change:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Type of navigation: classic buttons, gestures MIUI orroid.
  • โ†”๏ธ Navigation panel position: left/right (for left-handed users).
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Sensitivity of gestures: adjusting the swipe zone to return.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Blocking gestures: disabling random swipes in games or apps.

To change the sensitivity of gestures:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Display โ†’ Full-screen display โ†’ Additional gesture settings.
  2. Set up the edge swipe sensitivity parameter (recommended value is 50โ€“70%).
  3. Activate the option to Ignore random touches if gestures are triggered in games.

In the models with MIUI 14+ So we have a smart button feature that allows you to assign actions to keyboards, for example, you can configure them:

  • Double press the power button โ€“ start the camera.
  • Triple press of the volume button โ€“ turn on the flashlight.
  • Holding the Home button is activating the voice assistant.

To set up the smart buttons:

  1. Open the Settings. โ†’ Buttons and gestures โ†’ Smart buttons.
  2. Select a button and assign it an action from the list.

Select the type of navigation (buttons/gestures)|Adjust the sensitivity of swipes|Set up smart buttons|Check the work in games and applications

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5. Reset control through the engineering menu (for experienced users)

If standard methods do not help, you can try resetting the control settings through the engineering menu or ADB. This method is suitable for TVs and smartphones, but requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to a system failure.

For Mi TVs:

  1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings โ†’ About TV and click on Build Number 7 times.
  2. Go back to Settings โ†’ For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
  3. Connect the TV to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global tv_remote_control_reset 1
  4. Reboot the TV.

For smartphones Xiaomi to reset the gesture settings can be through ADB:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute: adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "0,0,0,0,0" (This will reset the navigation panel to factory settings).
  2. To reset gestures, use: adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural

๐Ÿ’ก

Work with ADB requires the developerโ€™s activation mode and USB-The wrong commands can disrupt the system!

Warning: on some TV models (e.g. Mi) TV P1) discharge ADB This could lead to a lock on the remote, and you'll need to run the firmware through the Fastboot.

6. Firmware alternative software to change the logic of management

If you need to drastically change the control system (for example, add gesture support on the TV or reassign hardware buttons on your smartphone), custom software firmware may be required.

For Mi TVs, TV popular:

  • ๐Ÿ“บ Global firmware (replaces PatchWall with Android) TV).
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Install Magisk for root rights and system file modification.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ CoreELEC firmware (turns TV into media center with alternative control).

For Xiaomi smartphones:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Installation of custom recaveri (TWRP) LineageOS and Pixel Experience).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Modification of the keylayout file for reassigning hardware buttons.

Example of CoreELEC firmware on Mi TV Stick:

  1. Download the CoreELEC image for your model from the official website.
  2. Format. USB-storage FAT32 and record the image with Rufus.
  3. Connect the flash drive to the TV and boot from it through recovery mode (hold Menu). + Power when powered on).

โš ๏ธ Warning! The firmware of the alternative software will void the warranty and may cause the device to "brick" before the procedure, back up through the TWRP or ADB backup.

7. Troubleshooting: if management does not change

Sometimes even after resetting or reassigning the buttons, problems remain, and here are the typical causes and solutions:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Remote does not respond to resetThe firmware of the Bluetooth remote or module is damagedSwipe the remote control through Mi Home or replace it
Gestures on the smartphone work with a delayConflict with MIUI shell or third-party launcherDisable animation in Settings โ†’ For developers
The buttons of the remote do the wrong things.Firmware conflict (for example, after updating)Remove the software via Fastboot or reset the TV
Voice control is not working.Microphone disabled in privacy settingsAllow access to the microphone for Google Assistant

If none of these methods worked, try:

  1. Update the firmware to the latest version (sometimes control bugs are fixed in new builds).
  2. Reset the device to factory settings (keep the data carefully!).
  3. Contact Xiaomi Support โ€“ if the problem is hardware (for example, the IR receiver broke), repairs may be required.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing management on Xiaomi

Can I reassign the Home button to launch another application?
On Xiaomi smartphones, you can't reassign hardware buttons without root rights, but you can use apps like Button Mapper (requires you to use it). ADB) Or Tasker for bypass scripting. On TVs, reassigning the remote buttons is not officially supported.
After the remote was reset, some buttons stopped working.
The reset probably led to a firmware conflict. Try: Take the batteries out of the remote for 10 minutes and insert them back in. Update the TV firmware through Settings. โ†’ Software Update: If the remote is wireless, remove it from the list of associated devices and reconnect it.
How to turn off gestures on Xiaomi smartphone and return buttons?
Go to Settings. โ†’ Display. โ†’ Full-screen display and select the button option. If this option is missing, your model does not support the classic navigation bar (relevant to the standard navigation bar). POCO F4, Redmi Note 12 and newer).
Can I use a remote from another TV to control the Mi? TV?
Yes, but with reservations: Universal IR remotes (for example, Xiaomi Mi Remote) can be programmed to Mi TV Bluetooth remotes (for example, from Fire) TV Sticks connect like gaming controllers, but not all buttons will work.Remotes from other brands' TVs (Samsung, LG) Incompatible without additional adapters.
How to reset control settings on Mi Box?
The Mi Box S or Mi Box 4K The control reset is done as follows: Go to Settings โ†’ The device โ†’ Reset settings. Select Reset remote (if not available, reset the device completely). For alternative control, use the Mi Remote app or connect your mouse over Bluetooth.