Xiaomi Gesture Management: How to turn on and configure in 5 minutes

Gesture control on Xiaomi smartphones became the de facto standard after the release MIUI 10, but many users still don't use this functionality to its fullest, and the reasons are different: some are used to classic navigation buttons, some just don't know how to activate hidden features, and some are plagued by bugs after updates. Meanwhile, properly tuned gestures save up to 30% of the time you interact with the device, according to Counterpoint Research 2023 research.

In this article, we will discuss not only the basic ways to enable gestures on Redmi, POCO And Xiaomi flagships, but also little-known tricks, like how to return swipes after resetting, why the navigation bar on some firmware is lost, and what to do if gestures are delayed. MIUI — From 12th to current 15th, where the logic of the setup has changed dramatically.

If you've moved from an iPhone or a Samsung, the gestures that you're used to might work differently -- we'll talk about that, too. ADB unlock hidden animations and adjust the sensitivity of swipes to your needs.

⚠️ Important: Before changing the settings, check the version MIUI In Settings → Some features are only available on firmware newer MIUI 13.5 (released in March 2023).

1. What gestures support Xiaomi smartphones

System system MIUI It offers three main types of gesture controls, and their availability depends on the device model and firmware version:

1. Full-screen gestures (MIUI Full Screen Gestures is the most modern version, where the bottom navigation bar is completely hidden. Instead, swipes from the edges of the screen are used:

• 🔹 Swipe up - return to the main screen (analogue of the home button").
• 🔹 Swipe up with a delay - opening the menu of the latest applications.
• 🔹 Swipe left/right - back (analogue of the button "Back").

2.Gestural lane gestures are a hybrid mode where a thin white bar is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

• 🔹 Short swipe up - return to the main screen.
• 🔹 Long swipe up - opening the application menu.
• 🔹 Swipe left/right - go back.

3. Classic navigation buttons are three virtual buttons (Back, Home, Recent) that can be moved or hidden, which is saved for compatibility, but Xiaomi is gradually abandoning it.

🔎 How do you know which mode you're in? Just swipe from the bottom of the screen up. If the screen responds, full-screen gestures are on. If you see the white bar, hybrid mode. If you see the bottom three buttons, classic navigation.

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on gestures on Xiaomi

The process of activating gestures differs depending on the version MIUI. Below is a universal instruction that will suit most devices, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Step 1. Open Settings and go to the Display section (on some firmware - Screen).

Step. 2. Find Full-screen display or Navigation buttons (in the MIUI 14/15 It may be called System Navigation).

Step 3: Choose one of three options:

• 📱 Full-screen gestures – the recommended mode for modern smartphones.
• 📲 Navigation lane gestures are a compromise for those who are afraid of random swipes.
• ⚙️ Navigation buttons are a classic option (not available on all devices).

Step 4: Once you select the mode, the system will offer short learning, flip through it or skip it by clicking Skip.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) When you turn on full-screen gestures, the home button indicator in the apps may disappear. MIUI — Just swipe up from the bottom edge to return to the main screen.

3. Hidden gesture settings: what can be customized additionally

Few people know, but in MIUI There are hidden gesture controls that don't show up in the standard menu, like changing swipe sensitivity, turning off vibration when you press, or even adding custom gestures to run apps.

How to open hidden settings:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
3. Find the points: 🔧 Full-screen gesture sensitivity – regulates how hard you need to swipe your finger. 🔊 Vibration when pressing navigation buttons – disables tactile response. 🖥️ Showing the navigation bar in full screen mode – adds a visual hint.

💡 Useful Lifehack: If you don’t like how back-swipe works (like Chrome or Instagram), try reducing sensitivity to a new one. 50-60%. This will reduce the number of accidental returns.

Important for owners POCO: device-wise POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO X6 Pro) gestures may conflict with branded animations. To fix this, turn off the "Smooth transitions" option in the launcher settings".

4. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after setting up properly, gestures on Xiaomi may not work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If you have some apps (such as games or banking) that have stopped working after changing navigation mode, try temporarily returning classic buttons.

📌 Advice for gamers: In games of the type PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact full-screen gestures may interfere. To avoid this, add the game to Settings → Annexes → Full screen mode and select the option "Disable gestures".

5. How to customize gestures on specific Xiaomi models

Despite the general logic MIUI, Some models have unique gesture customization features. Let's look at the most popular devices:

📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra (MIUI 14/15):

• 🔹 Support dynamic gestures – animations smoothly adjust to the speed of the swipe.
• 🔹 In the developer settings, you can enable Enhanced gestures for large screens (recommended for flagships).
• 🔹 Problem: sometimes the Google Assistant swipe goes missing, so we can update Google Play.

📱 Redmi Note 12/11/10 series:

• 🔹 On budget models (Redmi Note 10 and older), full-screen gestures can be slowed by a weak processor, in which case it is better to use the mode with a lane of navigation.
• 🔹 On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Adaptive gestures are available – the system itself chooses the optimal mode depending on the application.

📱 POCO F5/F4/X6:

• 🔹 Nana POCO s POCO Launcher gestures may conflict with proprietary animations. it is recommended to use a standard launcher MIUI.
• 🔹 In the settings there is a hidden option Game gestures - allows you to turn off navigation swipes in games.

📱 Xiaomi Pad 6/5:

• 🔹 On tablets, gestures work differently: a swipe from the side causes the taskbar, not a backup.
• 🔹 Multitasking is supported by gestures – swipe up with retention opens a separate screen.

🔎 How do you know which gestures your model supports? Go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI Check the last number (for example, MIUI 14.0.5. If it's odd (3, 5, 7), you have a stable global firmware where all functions are available. If even (2, 4, 6) is a beta version and some gestures may not work smoothly.

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On devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite or Redmi) K50 Pro) enable the “Dark theme for gestures” option in the display settings – this will reduce power consumption and improve the visibility of the navigation band.

6. Alternative ways of controlling gestures

If the standard settings MIUI You are not satisfied, there are several ways to customize gestures to your needs:

Appendices for gesture setting:

• 🛠️ Fluid Navigation Gestures – adds swipes from the side edges, like on the iPhone.
• 🎨 Edge Gestures – allows you to assign your actions to swipes (for example, open a camera or flashlight).
• ⚡ Swiftly Switch – speeds up switching between apps.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party gesture apps, banking programs may be disrupted (due to Google Play Protect security requirements). Before installing, check if your device supports root access - without it, some features will not work.

2. Set-up through ADB (advanced):

If you are ready to dig into the system settings, you can ADB Change your gesture settings. For example, to enable gestures from both edges (like in iOS), run the command:

adb shell settings put global system_navigation_gesture_quick_switch 1

🔧 Other useful ADB-team:

• Disable vibration when gestures: adb shell settings put global haptic_feedback_enabled 0
• Reduce back-to-back swipe: adb shell settings put global back_gesture_width 1.5 (significance 0.5 before 2.0)
• Bring back old gestures from MIUI 11: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

Important: Changes through ADB You can make a backup copy of the system before experimenting with it. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

7.Comparing Xiaomi gestures with other brands

If you switched to Xiaomi from a different smartphone, you might have noticed that gestures work differently here.

💡 Interesting fact: B MIUI 15 (released in 2026) Xiaomi has added support for dynamic gestures that adapt to the content on the screen. for example, in video games swipe back is blocked automatically, and messengers have an additional gesture for a quick response.

⚠️ Warning: If you're used to the gestures of the iPhone, on Xiaomi, swiping back to the left may seem uncomfortable at first. 2-3 Adaptation day – after that, most users note that gestures are not a good idea. MIUI It's even more convenient than Apple.

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On Xiaomi smartphones with high screen refresh rates (120 Hz or higher), gestures work smoother but can drain the battery faster. To balance performance and autonomy, turn on Adaptive Frequency mode in the display settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gestures on Xiaomi