Are you used to the classic Android navigation button layout, but are they confused on Xiaomi’s new smartphone? Or do you want to optimize one-handed management by swapping Back and Recent? In this article, we’ll look at all the ways virtual keys are reassigned on MIUI devices, from standard settings to hidden features for power users.
The problem of non-standard navigation buttons is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi lines. By default, the manufacturer sets the order: Recent → Home → Back, which contradicts the usual format for most Android users. Fortunately, you can fix this in a few steps — without root rights and complex manipulations. Next you will find instructions for different versions of MIUI, including the current 13 and 14, as well as solutions for cases when standard settings do not work.
Why Xiaomi’s navigation buttons are not as positioned as other Android smartphones
The MIUI shell is historically different from pure Android not only in design but also in management logic. The manufacturer argues that the navigation buttons (Recent → Home → Back) are not the same as the default navigation buttons.
- 👆 Ergonomics for large screens: Xiaomi’s plan is to have the “Back” button (the most popular one) closer to the edge of the screen to make it easier to press with your thumb on 6.5 diagonal devices"+.
- 🔄 Compatibility with gestures: in MIUI 12+ Priority is given to gesture control, and classic buttons are considered as a secondary option.
- 📱 Legacy of iOS: Early versions MIUI The iPhone interface elements were copied, where the “Back” button is also located on the right.
But for users who are switching from other Android devices (such as Samsung or Google Pixel), this is often a source of discomfort. According to statistics from XDA Developers, about 68% of Xiaomi owners try to swap buttons in place in the first two weeks of use, and fortunately MIUI has built-in tools for doing so – you just need to know where to look for them.
Method 1: Change the order of buttons through standard MIUI settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in shell options. It works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 10 and later.
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
- Go to the Display section.
- Select the Navigation button (in some versions – Full-screen display → Navigation buttons).
- Activate the navigation button option (if you use gesture control).
- Click on the Order of the buttons and select the preferred option: 🔄 Recent → Home. → Back (by default on Xiaomi) 📱 Back up. → Home. → Recent (standard Android)
If your menu doesn’t have the order of buttons, it could mean:
- 🔧 You have custom firmware installed (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
- 📱 The smartphone model does not support reassignment (rarely found on budget Redmi for some regions).
- 🔄 Version. MIUI outdated (update the system through Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
☑️ Preparing for changing settings
⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) after changing the order of the buttons, the animation of transitions between applications may be lost. To fix this, go to Settings → Additionally. → Animation of the system and select the value 1x.
Method 2: Using ADB to force the order of buttons to change
If standard settings do not allow you to swap buttons (for example, on some versions of MIUI for the global market), you can use the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but does not require root rights.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📦 Utility. ADB (Download Platform Tools from Google).
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification “You are a developer” appears.
Settings → Additional → For Developers
USB debugging
Connect the smartphone to the computer and confirm the debugging permission on the device screen.
ADB
adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,back;home;recent"For reverse order (as on Xiaomi by default), use:
adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back"Reboot your smartphone.
If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) after use ADB To return it, you can run the command adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
Method 3: Applications for customizing navigation buttons
If the first two methods don’t work, third-party utilities can be used, offering more customization options, including changing the appearance of buttons, adding new features (like double-pressing), and even emulating gestures.
Top.-3 Applications for reassigning navigation buttons:
| Annex | Features | Wants a Root? | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NavStar | It allows you to change the order of the buttons, adjust their size and transparency. It supports gestures. | ❌ No. | Google Play |
| Fluid Navigation Gestures | Replaces navigation buttons with custom gestures with wide customization options. | ❌ No (but you need imposition rights) | Google Play |
| Button Mapper | Full customization of buttons, including hardware, supports remaping for any action. | ✅ Yes (for full functionality) | Google Play |
For the use of these applications:
- Download and install the selected utility from Google Play.
- Provide the necessary permissions (e.g. Special Opportunities or Overlay Rights).
- In the application settings, select the Navigation Bar and change the order of the buttons.
- Activate Replace System Navigation (the name may be different).
Problem 2: After changing the buttons, the backlight went missing
On some Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro), after reassigning the buttons, their backlight disappears in the dark.
adb shell settings put secure button_backlight 1If that doesn’t help, try turning off adaptive lighting in Settings → Display → Adaptive backlight.
Problem 3: Gestures conflict with buttons
If you use a combination of gestures and buttons, there may be conflict.
- Open Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
- Select Only buttons or gestures (mixed mode often works incorrectly).
- Reset the device.
💡
If the buttons don’t change after all the manipulations, check if the device has an app to block system settings (such as App Lock or Second Space) and turn them off temporarily.
How to return the standard button location
If experiments with settings have led to inconvenience or failures, you can return the original order of the buttons in several ways:
- 🔄 Through settings MIUI: Go to Settings. → Display. → Navigation buttons. Select Default Order (or Recent) → Home. → Back up).
ADB
adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_barAfter completing the command, restart the smartphone.
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Settings.
For POCO and Black Shark owners, additional settings are available in the proprietary POCO Launcher or Shark Space app, for example, you can set games to start when you hold the “Recent” button.
💡
If you use your smartphone horizontally often (like for games), try placing navigation buttons on the side. To do this, install the Edge Gestures app and adjust the touch zones around the edges of the screen.