How to swap the buttons “Back” and “Menu” on Xiaomi: 3 working ways

Why users want to change the location of the buttons on Xiaomi

Touch navigation buttons on Xiaomi smartphones are a classic MIUI feature that many users are used to seeing at the bottom of the screen. However, the standard layout of the Back buttons (left) and Menu buttons (right) is not always convenient, for example, left-handers can more easily press Menu with their left hand and right-handers can press Back with their right. In addition, on some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), the buttons can accidentally touch their palm while playing games or watching videos.

Another reason is the switch from other brands, because users who are used to the Samsung or Google Pixel interface, where the back button is traditionally on the right, often experience discomfort from the reverse order on Xiaomi. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to reassign the buttons, including hidden features and third-party tools, then we will analyze all available methods, from the simplest to the most advanced.

It is important to note that the customization options vary depending on the version of MIUI. For example, in MIUI 12/13/14 the algorithm differs from the older versions (MIUI 10-11), and on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or POCO F4) it may be necessary to activate the developer mode. But don’t worry — we covered all scenarios.

📊 How do you usually hold your smartphone?

Right hand.

Left hand.

Two hands.

Depends on the situation.

Method 1: Change buttons through standard MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most devices on MIUI 10 and later, including Redmi 9, Xiaomi Mi 11, POCO M4 Pro and others.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
Go to the Display section.
Select Full-screen Mode (or Navigation buttons in older versions).
Slip on the button location option (may be called the button order).
Choose the desired option from the suggested schemes (for example, “Menu-Home-Back” instead of the standard “Back-Home-Menu”).

If you don't have button location on your menu, your version of MIUI doesn't directly support this function, so move on to the next one.

- Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version

Make sure touch buttons are on (not gestures!)

Close all applications before setting up

- Connect charging if the battery is under 30%-->

Advantages of this method:

🔹 No need to root or connect to a PC
🔹 Works without installing third-party applications
🔹 Retained after system update

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the transition animation may be lost after changing the button location.

Method 2: Using ADB to reassign buttons (without root)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have a button change option, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires a connection to a computer.

🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB

Steps to change buttons through ADB:

Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item MIUI version.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
Open the command line (or Terminal) macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "Space,back;home;recent,space" This command will swap the buttons in places: "Back" will be on the right, "Menu" (recent applications) - on the left.

To return the standard location, use the command:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

ADB Team Team	The result	Suitable for
sysui_nav_bar "space,back;home;recent,space"	Back up. → on the right, menu → left	MIUI 12/13/14, Android 10+
sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"	Standard location	All versions.
sysui_nav_bar "space,back/home;recent"	Home button in the center, Back to the left	MIUI 11 and below

If the buttons have not changed after you enter the command, restart the phone or check if the antivirus (such as Mi Security) blocks access to settings through ADB.

💡

Before using ADB, back up your settings through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will help restore the system if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Third-party applications for button customization

If the first two methods didn't work or you want a more flexible setup, you can use third-party utilities, such as the Button Mapper app, which allows you to reassign not only touch buttons, but also physical buttons (for example, the Bixby button on some models).

Download Button Mapper from Google Play (or APKMirror if the app is not available in your area).
Grant the application the rights Special features (will request itself at the first start).
Select the Navigation Bar from the main menu.
Slip the button you want to reassign (such as “Back”) and select a new action (such as “Open menu”).
Save the changes and restart the phone.

The benefits of Button Mapper are:

🎛️ Flexible setting (you can assign double press, long hold, etc.)
📱 It works on most devices, including POCO and Black Shark
🔄 Supports the creation of profiles for different applications

Disadvantages:

⚠️ Requires constant work in the background (may affect autonomy)
⚠️ On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra may conflict with system gestures

What if the Button Mapper doesn’t work?

If the buttons don’t respond after setting up, try: 1. Disable Battery Optimization for Button Mapper in Settings → Applications → Battery Management. 2. Reinstall the cache cleaner app. 3. Use the alternative – NavStar or Custom Navigation Bar (requires root).

Features for different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally supportive of button change, and here are the key differences for the popular series:

Model/Series	Support for changing buttons in settings	Need an ADB?	Notes
Redmi Note 8/9/10/11	✅ Yes (MIUI 12+)	❌ No.	MIUI 11 requires ADB to be used
POCO F3/4/5, X3/X4	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	In POCO Launcher, the option may be called differently.
Xiaomi Mi 11/12/13	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	3 location schemes available on MIUI 14
Black Shark 4/5	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	Required to turn off the game mode in the settings
Xiaomi Pad 5/6	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	On tablets, buttons change only through ADB.

On devices with flexible buttons (such as the Xiaomi MIX Fold) or a subscreen scanner (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro), standard methods may not work, and in such cases, it is recommended to use Button Mapper or alternative launchers (such as Nova Launcher), which allow you to customize gestures and buttons regardless of the system.

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI For Russia (e.g. Redmi 10 2022), the button change option may be hidden due to localization. To unlock it, change the device region to India or the Global version in the settings.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When reassigning buttons, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1.The buttons don't change after the ADB command

Causes and solutions:

🔌 USB-Debugging disabled: Check that in Settings → For developers activated the option Debugging by USB and confirmed PC authorization.
🔄 System cache: Clear the Launcher app cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
📱 Incompatible version MIUI: On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) The command must be executed first: adb shell pm grant com.android.systemui android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

2.The buttons return to standard after rebooting

This is typical for devices with a locked bootloader.

🔧 Use Button Mapper with Auto-Start.
📲 Install Tasker and create a task to apply the command ADB loading.
🔓 Unlock the bootloader (not recommended for beginners).

3.Touch buttons disappear after change

If the navigation bar is gone:

Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode and select Buttons instead of Gesture.
Execute the command to reset the panel settings: adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar

💡

If none of these methods worked, check if your device has custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), and if so, the buttons are set up through the firmware menu, not MIUI.

Alternatives: gestures and virtual buttons

If you can’t reassign the buttons or want to completely abandon the touch panel, consider alternatives:

1.Switching to gestures

MIUI offers three types of gestures:

👆 Swipe up: Return to the main screen.
👆➡️ Swipe up and hold: Opening the menu of recent apps.
☰ Swipe from the Edge: Backwards (analogue of the Back button»).

To enable gestures, go to Settings → Display → Full-screen Mode → Gestures.

2. Virtual buttons in games

For gamers, Xiaomi offers Game Turbo, where you can add virtual Back and Menu buttons on top of the game.

Settings → Special features → Game Turbo → Virtual buttons

3. Launchers with button customization

Some launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) allow you to customize gestures and buttons regardless of the system.

Install a launcher from Google Play.
Go to its settings and find the Gestures and buttons section.
Assign actions to swipes or virtual buttons.

The advantage of this method is flexibility, but remember that the system buttons (for example, in the recovery menu) will remain unchanged.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I change the buttons to Xiaomi without a computer?

Yes, if your version of MIUI supports this option in settings (see Method 1). If not, you will need a computer for ADB or install a third-party application (such as Button Mapper).

Why did the MIUI update return to the standard look?

The system update resets some user settings, including button location. To return them, repeat the procedure (via settings or ADB). If you use Button Mapper, update the app to the latest version.

Will button reassignment work on custom firmware (like LineageOS)?

On most custom firmware, buttons are customized through their own menus (e.g., Settings). → System → Buttons in LineageOS. MIUI (including ADB) may not work.

Can physical buttons (such as the power button) be reassigned?

Yes, but it would require root rights or apps like Button Mapper: Remap your keys. Without root, you can only reassign retention actions (like running Google Assistant).

How do you get back to the standard button location if something goes wrong?

If the buttons stop working or are randomly located, follow one of the commands: adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar # Reset to standard adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space" #Obvious indication of standard order Then restart the device.