Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users a classic way to control the interface with three touch keys at the bottom of the screen by default. However, with the growth of display diagonals and the introduction of frameless technologies, this method is gradually fading into the background, giving way to more ergonomic swipe management. Many owners of Redmi and POCO devices are looking to change the standard behavior of the system to free up useful screen space and speed up interaction with the gadget.
The process of deactivating a physical or software navigation bar does not require root rights or complex manipulation of system files. All the necessary tools are already built into the settings menu of the Android operating system, but their location can vary depending on the firmware version and regional binding of the device. Understanding the logic of the interface allows not only to hide buttons, but also to adjust the sensitivity of gestures, which is critical for comfortable use of the smartphone with one hand.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can switch to gesture control, look at the nuances of working in different versions of the shells from the manufacturer, and answer frequent questions that users have when switching to a new navigation format. You will learn how to adapt to new movements and what hidden opportunities are opened after abandoning the traditional “triad” at the bottom of the display.
Benefits of switching to gesture management
Removing static buttons at the bottom of the screen is not just a fashion homage or visual decoration, but a step towards improving the efficiency of your smartphone. When you remove the bottom buttons, the system redistributes rendering resources, and the interface becomes more airy and responsive to the content of applications, especially on devices with elongated screen proportions, where every millimeter of usable area is relevant for viewing content.
One of the main arguments for gestures is ergonomics: it's much easier to swipe from the edge of the screen with one thumb than it is to reach for the bottom of a large display, grabbing the grip of the device. This reduces the strain on the hand and minimizes the risk of accidentally slipping the gadget from the hands when interacting with the interface. In addition, animations of transitions between applications become smoother and visually related to the movement of the finger.
It is also worth noting the effect on the life of the matrix. Static interface elements such as the buttons "Back", "Home" and "Menu", when displayed long-term at high brightness, can contribute to uneven wear of pixels, especially on the surface. AMOLED-Dynamic control, where elements appear only when necessary or not at all, helps to extend the life of the display and avoid the effect of burnout.
For users who are used to a certain rhythm of work, the transition can seem difficult, but muscle memory adapts surprisingly quickly. After 2-3 days of active swipe use, you often do not want to return to the buttons. The system offers flexible sensitivity settings, which allows you to ignore the random touch of the edges of the screen, which previously could be used as navigation commands.
Where to find navigation settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Finding the right menu can be a challenge for beginners, as manufacturers are constantly changing the structure of system settings. In current versions of shells, the path to navigation management is standardized, but may have slight differences depending on the year of release of the device.
To get to the menu, you need to open the Settings app and scroll through the list to the Additional or Advanced Settings section. In some builds, especially the global versions of HyperOS, this item may simply be called System Navigation and be located in the root settings directory next to the items about display and sound. It is important not to confuse these settings with desktop customization, which does not affect the system buttons.
☑️ Check before changing the settings
If standard search doesn't produce results, you can use the built-in Settings Search feature, and you just click on the magnifying glass at the top of the Settings screen and type in the "navigation" or "gestures" query, and the system will prompt you to go to the appropriate section, which greatly speeds up the process and eliminates the human factor when you wander through the menu.
⚠️ Note: On devices with very old versions MIUI (10 below) the possibility of completely disabling buttons may be missing or not work correctly. In such cases, it is recommended to update the firmware to the current stable version through the About Phone menu».
It's important to understand that changing these parameters is instantaneous, and once you choose a new control method, the interface will reset without having to reboot the device, allowing you to experiment with settings, compare the convenience of different options, and go back to the previous state if the new method seems inconvenient.
Step-by-step instructions for disabling buttons
The process of transitioning to gesture control is as simple as possible and takes only a few seconds. Below is a detailed sequence of actions that is relevant for most modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. Follow the steps carefully so that you do not get confused in the menu.
First, open the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find and select the option Additional settings (in some versions it may be called "Advanced settings"). Inside this section, you need to find the subsection Full-screen display or Navigation on the screen, and this is where the switch that is responsible for the view of the bottom control panel is hidden.
Settings → Additional settings → Full-screen displayIn the window that opens, you'll see two or three choices. The first is the classic buttons (three dots or geometric shapes); the second is the full-screen display (or gesture control). Choose the second option. The system can show a brief animation or a training window showing the basic finger movements. Once the choice is confirmed, the bottom bar with the buttons will disappear, freeing up space.
| Action. | Gesture. | Analogue of a button |
|---|---|---|
| Back up. | Swipe from left or right edge | The triangle |
| Home. | Swipe from bottom up in the center | Circle |
| Appendix menu | Swipe from bottom up and hold | Square. |
| Close the application | Swipe up from center and sharp ejection | - |
Once you activate your gestures, you should immediately test them in different applications. Try to flip through social media feeds, switch between running programs and return to the desktop. If you feel uncomfortable, you may want to change the animation speed or sensitivity of the edges of the screen in additional settings of the same menu.
What if the gestures don’t work in the game?
Sensitivity settings and additional parameters
Switching to gestures is not just a binary “on/off” choice; MIUI and HyperOS provide a number of fine-tunings that allow navigation to be tailored to the user’s individual preferences, and ignoring these parameters can make the control seem “twitchy” or too slow.
The navigation type selection menu often features an "Advanced" button or a gear button, and you can find a slider for animation speed, and the increased speed makes the system response more instantaneous, which creates a sense of high performance of the smartphone, but on devices with a less powerful processor, too high speed can cause micro-twitching of the interface.
Another important parameter is the area where you ignore touches at the edges. If you use a high-sided case or a black-framed protective glass often, the system may not read back swipes. In the sensitivity settings, you can expand the active area or narrow it down to avoid accidental returns when scrolling content in reading apps.
⚠️ Warning: When High Sensitivity Mode (often used with protective glass) is turned on, battery consumption may increase slightly due to more frequent touchscreen surveys in edge areas.
You should also consider the possibility of hiding or displaying a thin bar at the bottom of the screen, which is a visual clue as to where to start swiping to access the desktop, and it is recommended that beginners leave it on until the movements become automatic, and experienced users often turn it off to maximize visual minimalism and immersion when watching videos.
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Use One Hand mode in conjunction with gestures. Swipe down the navigation bar (if it's on) or make a special gesture to shift the interface downwards, and control the upper corners of the screen with your thumb.
Solving navigation problems
Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may encounter various problems after switching to gestures, the most common being application conflict. Some programs, especially bank clients or third-party launchers, can block the system navigation layer, making it impossible to go back or fold an application.
In such cases, cleaning the cache of the problem application or reinstalling it helps, and it is also worth checking whether the developer’s settings have activated the Debugging by Debugging mode. USB» Resetting navigation settings to factory values (via the system's settings recovery menu) also often solves the problem.
If the gestures stopped working suddenly after the system update, there may have been a failure in the system process SystemUI. In this case, you do not need to completely reset the phone, just perform a forced reboot of the device by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds, this will restart all system services and update the configuration files of the interface.
- 📱 Launcher Conflict: If you have installed a third-party desktop (Nova, Lawnchair), make sure that your gesture control is also selected in its settings, rather than button emulation.
- 🛡️ Protection against accidental pressing: In pocket mode, the phone can block swipes. Check the Pocket Mode settings in the Lock and Protection section».
- 🔄 Failure after update: After major update MIUI/HyperOS It is recommended to switch to buttons and back to gestures once to re-initiate touchscreen drivers.
In rare cases, the problem may be in the hardware, such as when the display plume is damaged after a fall. If the bottom of the screen no longer responds to touch, then swipes will not work there. Check the touchscreen with the built-in engineering test (code set ##6484## in the call menu).
Navigation Methods Comparison: What to Choose
Choosing between buttons and gestures is a matter of habit and personal preference, but the objective benefits of gestures are still outweighed. For users who often work with text or documents, the lack of static elements at the bottom of the screen allows you to see more lines, which increases productivity. Visual noise disappears and content comes to the fore.
On the other hand, buttons provide a clear tactile (visual-tactile) binding, the user always knows where the home button is, and can press it without looking at the screen at the touch. Gestures require visual control or developed muscle memory, which can be uncomfortable in situations where the phone is at an unusual angle.
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Gestures benefit from buttons on ergonomics and speed of access to frequently used functions, but require an adaptation period of 2 to 5 days of active use.
For people with disabilities or older users, buttons may remain the preferred option because of their predictability and simplicity; the system does not force them to be abandoned by force, leaving the choice to the user; the main thing is that the interaction with the device is comfortable and not cause irritation.