Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have long moved to frameless design, where physical screen space is valued at the weight of gold. In this regard, classic navigation buttons are becoming a thing of the past, giving way to intuitive gesture controls. However, not all users are satisfied with standard system behavior, and many are looking for ways to adapt the interface to their habits.
Changing gesture settings not only improves ergonomics, but also speeds up the overall experience of the device, and in this article we will discuss how to change gestures on shaomi, what hidden features the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer, and how to fix frequent motion recognition errors.
It's worth noting that touchscreen algorithms and software signal processing may vary depending on the firmware version, so it's important to understand the difference between system settings and the capabilities that special applications or engineering menus provide. We'll look at all the methods available.
Basic management settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The first thing to start with is the standard settings that allow you to switch between buttons and gestures, which is the most secure method and does not require superuser permissions. → Desktop.
Here you'll see System Navigation, where you click on it and you get a choice between two main modes: the first is the classic buttons at the bottom of the screen, and the second is full-screen control, which is based on swipes.
If you choose gesture mode, the system will offer a brief training, but few people know that the same menu often hides the ability to change the order of the buttons (if you still choose to leave them) or adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen to prevent false positives.
It's important to understand that switching to gestures frees up the usable area of the display, and this is especially true for models up to 6 inches, where every millimeter counts, and space optimization is the main trump card of this approach.
How to change gestures on shaomi: detailed instructions
Many users are wondering if you can change the movements themselves, like swipe on the left for returns instead of on the right. With standard Android tools, this is difficult to do, because the logic is laid down at the framework level. However, there are nuances in the Xiaomi shell.
Some versions of MIUI (especially Chinese or global with specific regions) have a Gesture Mirror option available, which changes the return side, which is critical for left-handers, and can be found by Settings → Additional Settings → Language and input, although newer versions of HyperOS often migrate to Special Features.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
If there is no standard option to change sides, help comes to the rescue. ADB-It's a way for advanced users to make changes to system files without flashing them over. It's going to require a computer and a Platform Tools installed.
Connect your smartphone to your PC in USB debugging mode. In the command line, enter a command to check the current configuration:
adb shell settings get system system_navigation_modeThe value of "2" usually means gestures, and "0" or "1" means buttons. Changing these values may require specific commands that depend on the Android version, so proceed carefully. Changing system parameters through ADB can lead to unstable interface operation if the command is entered incorrectly.
Sensitivity setting and error prevention
A common problem with using shaomi gestures is random returns or opening menus, when you just flip through the feed on the social network, which is due to the high sensitivity of the edges of the screen, and you can solve this through special settings.
Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features. Find a section related to navigation or one-handed control. Often, the slider adjusts the gesture activation zone from the edge of the screen.
- 📱 Zone reduction: Moves the active area further away from the edge, reducing the number of false presses.
- ⚡ Response delay: In some launchers, you can adjust the speed of response to the swipe.
- 🛡️ Game Mode: Disables gestures during games so you don't accidentally leave the app.
⚠️ Attention: If you set the activation zone too narrow, you'll have to swing your finger too wide, which is uncomfortable when using your phone with one hand.
And it's also worth mentioning the one-handed function, which when it's activated, the screen shrinks and the gesture areas shift, which is a temporary solution, but it can help in situations where the opposite corner of the screen is physically difficult to reach.
💡
If your gestures are delayed, try turning off animations in the Developer Menu, which will speed up the system's response to your movements.
Use of third-party launchers and applications
When standard MIUI functionality is lacking, users turn to third-party solutions, launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow many actions to be reassigned, but they cannot change deep-seated system gestures (go home) without root rights.
But there are helper apps that create an overlay layer, which intercept touches and emulate actions, such as Button Mapper or Fluid Navigation Gestures (older versions of Android).
| Annex | Functional | I need a Root. | Compatibility with MIUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button Mapper | Reassignment of volume buttons | No. | Tall. |
| MacroDroid | Creating complex gesture scenarios | Partially. | Medium |
| Xiaomi Eu Tools | Expanding system settings | No. | EU-only firmware |
Using third-party software requires broad permissions, and data security is the responsibility of the app developer, and always check reviews and permissions before installing.
Custom firmware is a stand-alone feature, and if you install Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS, you can access hidden menus where you can fine-tune touchscreen sensitivity and kernel-level gesture logic.
Special gestures and hidden functions
Beyond basic navigation, there are many secondary gestures in shiomi smartphones that not everyone knows about, which allow you to control a device without touching the screen, or perform complex actions in one move.
For example, the Quick Commands feature allows you to run an application or function by tapping the back cover (if supported by sensors) or drawing a letter on a screen that is off. You can find this in Settings → Special Features → Quick Commands.
- 👆 Double tapping: Wakes up the screen or triggers a flashlight.
- ✍️ Letter drawing: Starting the camera when drawing a "V" or a flashlight when drawing an "O" on a black screen.
- 🤳 Selfie by gesture: The camera takes a picture when you show your palm to the lens.