Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the challenge of adapting the interface to their own habits. Android’s standard layout of navigation buttons involves “Back” on the left, “Home” in the center and “App Menu” on the right. However, for users who are switching from iOS or just used to a mirrored arrangement, this order may seem uncomfortable. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools to reconfigure the bottom panel.
The process of changing buttons takes only a few seconds and does not require root rights or installing third-party software. All the necessary functions are built deep into the system settings, which ensures the stability of the device after changes. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions for different versions of firmware, and also consider alternative ways of navigation.
It is worth noting that the layout change only affects the program buttons. If your device uses physical or capacitive buttons (which is true for older models), software reconfiguration may not be available. In such cases, the change is possible only through modification of system files, which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Access to the navigation button management menu
The first step to change configuration is to find the appropriate partition in the system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the MIUI shell. Most often the desired item is in the section "Additional settings" or "Screen". For quick access, you can search by settings by entering the query "Navigation".
Open the Settings menu and scroll down the list. Find the optional settings (some versions may simply call it System or Screen and Brightness). Inside this section, look for the option Full-screen Mode or System Navigation. That's where all the interface management keys are hidden.
⚠️ Warning: Some global firmware versions may have hidden paths. If you don't find an item, try typing the phrase "Navigation" in your settings search - this is the fastest way to get to the menu you want without wandering around for a long time.
Once you log in, you'll see the current navigation status, and the system will tell you to choose between the classic buttons and gesture controls. The switch is usually located at the top of the screen or highlighted by a separate block. The buttons mode selection will activate the bottom bar, and then you'll have settings for their appearance and order.
Instructions for changing the location of the buttons
Once you activate the button mode, a bottom panel preview will appear on the screen. Under the buttons image, there is usually a switch or drop-down list that is responsible for their order. In the standard state, "Back to the left" is selected. To invert the order, you need to select the "Back to the right" option.
Once you touch the right item, the changes apply instantly. You don't have to restart the device or confirm the action. The interface adapts immediately, allowing you to evaluate the convenience of the new layout. If the location is uncomfortable, you can return everything back to the same menu.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
It's important to understand the difference between changing order and completely hiding buttons. Some users confuse these features. Changing order changes only the logical arrangement of elements, while hiding puts the smartphone in gesture mode, where the physical or on-screen buttons disappear completely. To change places, make sure that the "Hide button" slider is turned off.
Set up full screen mode and gestures
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are increasingly switching to default gesture control, which frees up the usable screen area and makes one-handed use more comfortable. In the Full-screen menu, you can switch to gestures, where a swipe from the bottom up replaces the home button and a swipe from the edge of the screen replaces the back button.
When using gestures, sensitivity settings and trigger areas are also available, which is especially useful for devices with curved edges of the screen, where random touches can interfere. You can adjust the indentations so that the system ignores the pressing at the very edges of the display, responding only to confident finger movements.
If you're used to buttons, but you want to remove the black or white bar at the bottom of the screen, there's an option in the MIUI settings to hide the indicator. However, remember that without a visual cue, it can be difficult for beginners to master gestures, in which case you can leave a thin bar-indicator that does not take up much space, but shows the activation zone.
Differences in MIUI and HyperOS Interface
With the release of the new HyperOS shell, the menu structure has changed, the logic has remained the same, but the visual design and location of items have become more minimalist. In HyperOS, navigation settings are often placed in a separate subsection “System navigation” inside the main settings menu, bypassing “Additional options”.
In older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12 or 13), the menu design was more saturated, with larger previews, new versions focus on text descriptions and compact icons, while the functionality is not reduced: the ability to swap buttons is preserved in all current versions of the software from the manufacturer.
| Function | MIUI 12/13 | MIUI 14 | HyperOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| The path to settings | Supplemental settings → Full screen mode | Screen → Navigation | Settings → Screen → Navigation |
| Change of buttons | Switch on the menu | Selection of scheme | Selection of scheme |
| Hiding the lane | Separate switcher | Built into type selection | Built into type selection |
| Animation. | Standard. | Accelerated | Optimized |
For users who have recently updated, you should be careful when searching. If you can't find a familiar item, use the search bar at the top of the Settings app. Type the word "navigation" and the system will redirect you to the desired section, regardless of the shell version.
Resolving problems with displaying buttons
Sometimes, after a system update or application installation, buttons may disappear, freeze, or display incorrectly, this may be caused by a third-party launcher conflict or an error in the SystemUI system process. In most cases, a simple device reboot helps, which clears the temporary interface cache.
If the reboot didn't work, check to see if One Hand mode or special features for people with disabilities are activated, which can change the behavior of the bottom panel, and make sure that the screen doesn't have a thick edged protective film that physically locks the sensor in the button area.
⚠️ Note: If the buttons are missing after installing the theme from Themes, try changing the theme to a standard one. Third-party designs often have their own sets of icons and buttons that may conflict with system settings.
In rare cases, you need to reset your interface settings, you can use a command via ADB or special applications to reset application preferences, but this is an extreme measure, and most often the problem is solved by updating the system to the latest available version, where developers have already fixed known bugs.
Third-party applications for customization of navigation
Xiaomi’s standard functionality is enough for most users, but enthusiasts may want more. There are apps on the Google Play store that allow you to completely redesign the look, size and transparency of the navigation bar. Programs like Navigation Bar or Fluid Navigation Gestures give you complete control over the look.
Using third-party solutions requires special permissions, often through a computer with an ADB connected. This gives access to system settings that are hidden from the average user. You can add additional buttons, change their color depending on the background or create your own gestures.