How to Manage Gestures on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s current MIUI and HyperOS smartphones offer users two basic navigation options: classic on-screen buttons and more advanced gesture control. Swipes increase the usable screen area, eliminating unnecessary elements, and speeds up interaction with the device through intuitive finger movements, especially for owners of models with narrow display frames.

Many users ignore this feature, getting used to the standard Back-Home-Menu scheme, but gesture navigation significantly changes the experience of using the gadget, making it smoother and faster. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate this mode, what hidden settings are available for fine calibration and how to avoid typical errors when switching.

Benefits of Swipe Navigation on MIUI and HyperOS

The main advantage of not having screen buttons is to free up space. On larger displays, such as the Redmi Note series or Xiaomi 14 flagships, every millimeter is important for displaying content. By removing the bottom panel, you get more space to read articles, watch videos or play. In addition, gesture control is considered more ergonomic, since thumbs make fewer movements, covering the entire screen area with swipes from the edges.

Another important aspect is speed. Animations of transitions between applications when swiping look more natural and often run faster than when you press static buttons. MIUI is optimized so that swipe up to return to the desktop or swipe sideways to switch tasks react instantly, creating a sense of a live interface that follows your movements.

  • 🚀 Increase the screen area by removing the bottom navigation bar.
  • 🖐️ More convenient use of the smartphone with one hand thanks to swipes from the edges.
  • ⚡ Accelerated interface and smooth animations of transitions between applications.

It's also worth noting that getting used to the new circuitry is pretty quick: the human brain adapts to swipe motor skills in 2-3 days of active use. If you've previously used an iPhone or other Android smartphones with a clean interface, the transition to Xiaomi with gestures on will be almost invisible. For beginners, this is a great opportunity to master modern standards of mobile navigation.

⚠️ Note: When you first turn on gesture navigation, you may need to learn a little bit, and the system will show you the basic movements you need to remember to work comfortably.

📊 Which way of navigation is more convenient for you?
The classic three buttons at the bottom
Full gesture control (swipes)
Floating button (Ball)
I don't care as long as it works.

How to enable gesture control in settings

Swipe mode activation takes only a few seconds and does not require superuser rights or third-party software installation. All the necessary tools are already built into the shell system settings. To start, unlock the device and find the Settings icon on the desktop or in the notification curtain.

The next step is the same algorithm for most firmware versions, although the names of the items may vary slightly depending on the region and version of Android. You need to follow the path: Settings → Additional settings → System navigation. In some older versions of MIUI, this item may be immediately in the main settings menu or in the Screen section.

☑️ Pre-insertion check

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In the menu that opens, you'll see two or three main options: select "Full screen" or "Gestural." The system will immediately apply the changes, and the bottom bar with the buttons will disappear, giving way to a thin bar-indicator at the bottom of the screen (which can also be hidden). If the interface becomes uncomfortable, you can always go back and select "Buttons."

Action.Gesture (swipe)Analogue of a button
Home (work desk)Swipe up from the bottom edgeCircle/House
Back up.Swipe to the left or right of the side faceThe shooter back
Appendix menuSwipe up and finger retentionSquare/Menu
Close the applicationSwipe up from the indicator and a sharp throw up-

Once turned on, it is recommended to immediately test the operation of the touchscreen on the side zones. Sometimes protective glass or films of poor quality can interfere with the correct reading of swipes from the edge, in which case it is worth removing the protection or replacing it with a better, compatible with touch screens.

Basic gestures and their description

To effectively manage a Xiaomi smartphone, you need to understand the logic of movement. Unlike buttons, where each action is tied to a specific zone, gestures work with context and direction.

The most commonly used gesture is a return to the desktop, which requires a short, confident swipe up from the bottom edge of the display (where the indicator is located), and if you hold your finger at the top for a split second, you open the menu of the apps you've run, which replaces the "Menu" or "Recent" button.

  • 🔙 Back: swipe from left or right edge of the screen to center, depending on which side you're comfortable with.
  • 🏠 Home: Swipe from bottom up from bottom of screen.
  • 📋 Task menu: swipe from bottom up with finger stop in the middle of the screen.

To close applications, you use a home gesture modification. Swipe up, but don't let go of your finger right away, but bring it to the middle of the screen, stop, and then throw it up abruptly. The app disappears with a preview. You can also swipe the app cards up to close them or left/right for a quick switch.

The secret to fast scrolling
If you press the lower bar-indicator and lead to the left or right, you can quickly switch between open applications without opening the task menu completely.> If you start moving your finger too far from the edge (for example, 2-3 centimeters), the system will consider this as an attempt to scroll through the content or highlight text. Training to swing confidently from the frame of the case. Setting sensitivity and return zones Standard settings may not be suitable for all users, especially if you have large fingers or use a smartphone in a case with high sides. In MIUI and Hyper mode, you can change the "mode" buttons "to select the navigation buttons. By default, it can only be tied to the right or left edge, or it can be floating. For gesture control, it's most convenient to choose the "Both sides" option, so that you can swipe back from any edge. ⚠️ Warning: Don't set your sensitivity too high if you have thick security glass. This can cause an accidental "back" response when you just try to scroll through the social media feed at the edge of the screen. Some firmware versions also offer a vibration response setting when navigating. Light vibration helps to understand that the gesture is recognized by the system, which is especially useful at the beginning of use. → Vibration when touched or directly in the navigation menu. Despite the system's debugging, users may experience a situation where gestures stop working or are not working properly, most often the problem lies in a software failure of a particular application or a temporary sensor freeze. The first thing you can do is try to reboot the device, which solves 90 percent of the touchscreen problem, and if you only have one game or application that's having a problem, it may not be optimized for full screen. In this case, you can add the application to the exclusion list or force the display of buttons for it. → Special facilities → Handle gestures (the path may vary) and check compatibility settings. Another reason may be the screen's dead zone. If the swipe doesn't work in a particular corner, check if there's any mechanical damage or moisture sticking. It is also worth checking for system updates, as security patches often fix input bugs. 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to reset temporary sensor errors. 🧹 Wipe the screen and display edges from fat and dirt that interfere with slipping. 🛠️ Check for updates MIUI/HyperOS In rare cases, resetting navigation settings helps, by temporarily switching to buttons, rebooting, and then turning on gestures again, and this will force the system service responsible for processing input to restart. Many users are annoyed by the thin strip at the bottom of the screen, which reminds them of the presence of gesture navigation, which can be hidden by making the screen completely submersible. To do this, in the navigation settings menu, you need to find the switch "Hide the full-screen indicator" and activate it. Once you hide the strip, the control is there: swipes will run from the very edge of the screen, as if the indicator is there, but visually it will not. 100% But remember, without a visual guide, you can forget where to swipe Home. In addition to basic features, Xiaomi offers gestures for screenshots (three fingers down), calling a voice assistant (holding the power button or swipe out of the corner), and splitting the screen. All these combinations continue to work regardless of the type of navigation chosen, complementing the device’s control arsenal. 💡Hiding the indicator doesn't disable the gesture function, it just removes the visual element, making the interface cleaner and more modern. Can you adjust the pressing force to call the menu? No, in the standard shell. MIUI/HyperOS no setting of the force of pressing (3D Touch) to call the navigation menu. All actions are performed exclusively by swiping (moving your finger) on the surface of the screen. Why does the "Back" gesture not work in games? In games, swipes from the edge are often blocked by developers to avoid accidental exit. To exit, you usually need to use a swipe from the top corner or the "Home" button, and then close the game through the task menu. Does the activation of gestures affect battery consumption? The effect on battery consumption is minimal and almost imperceptible. The processor handles interruptions from the touch screen the same way, regardless of whether the button is pressed or the swipe is made less than the button, then you can make a "Lipe on the pole upwards." Yes, gesture control is available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running Android 9 and up, including the budget Redmi Go series models or the old Redmi Note if they received an upgrade to MIUI 11/12 and later.