How to change or remove the exit arrow ("Back") on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways

The arrow at the bottom of the screen on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a virtual back button that appears in the navigation bar. Many users want to change it, hide it or replace it with gestures, especially after the MIUI update. The reasons are different: someone accidentally presses a button, someone it interferes with games, and some simply prefer gesture control.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust the bottom bar on Redmi 9, from the classic turn off the arrow to the full replacement of gesture control. Also, we will tell you what to do if the settings do not save or the button disappears after the update. Importantly, the procedure differs depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the type of firmware (global, Chinese, custom).

Why the Back Arrow is in the way and when to change it

The arrow at the bottom of the screen is part of a virtual navigation bar that appeared in Android instead of physical buttons. On Xiaomi Redmi 9, it can cause inconvenience in several cases:

• 🎮 In games – random clicks on the back button are taken out of the application, especially in dynamic shooters or races.
• 📱 When watching a video, the panel takes up space on the screen, reducing the viewing area.
• ⚙️ After updating MIUI — Sometimes the settings are reset and the button appears again.
• 👆 When using gestures – if you switch to swipes, virtual buttons become redundant.

According to a survey of Redmi 9 owners, 63 percent of users prefer gesture control, while 28 percent leave the classic buttons, while the rest turn off the panel altogether to increase the workspace of the screen.

⚠️ Note: If you use full screen gestures (MIUI 12+), The back arrow can disappear by itself, replaced by a swipe from right to left at the edge of the screen!

Before you change your settings, check what version of MIUI you have. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. It depends on what options are available.

Method 1: Replace the arrow with gesture control (recommended)

The most modern and convenient option is to completely remove the virtual buttons and switch to gestures. MIUI has two types of gestures:

1. MIUI gestures - swipe from the bottom up to return to the main screen, swipe from right to left for the back button.
2. Android gestures are similar to the standard Android 10+, where swipe from the bottom manages multitasking.

To enable gestures:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select Full Screen Mode.
3. Slip by Navigation Type and select MIUI Gestures or Android Gestures**.

Then the back arrow will disappear, and it will swipe around the edge of the screen, and to go back, swipe from the right edge of the screen to the center.

Check out the MIUI version (should be 12+)

Backup settings (Settings → Additional → Backup)

Close all applications before changing

Try gestures in demo mode (available in settings)

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⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) gestures MIUI In this case, use Android gestures or go back to the classic buttons.

If after turning on the gestures, the arrow still appears, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Check if the mode for the visually impaired is turned on in the special features settings.
• 🔧 Reset the launcher settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data).

Method 2: Disconnect the arrow with saving the classic buttons

If you don't want to move to gestures, but the back arrow gets in the way, you can hide it or replace it with a dot.

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Select the Navigation buttons (if this item is missing, then you have an old version of MIUI - update).
3. Activate the option “Hide the navigation bar” or “Show buttons as dots”**.

As a result, the virtual buttons will remain, but will take up less space, and the arrow will turn into a small point that is harder to hit accidentally.

If there is no option to hide the buttons, try to enable it through the developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find USB Debugging and Allow window size change (enable both).
4. Restart your phone and check for the option to hide the panel.

💡

If you can’t go back in the app after hiding the panel, use a double tap on the screen (in some firmware, this duplicates the “Back” button).

Method 3: Change the arrow location (move buttons)

In MIUI, you can swap the navigation bar buttons, for example, move the back arrow to the right side if you're more comfortable with one hand.

1. Open Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Navigation buttons.
2. Select the Order of the Buttons.
3. Slip the icon "Back"** (arrow) and drag it to the left or right.
4. Save the changes.

Available combinations:

• 🔙 The arrow on the left (standard for Android) – “Back” → Home. → The latest».
• 🔙 The right hand handed handed handed handed handed handed handed handed hand → Home. → Back up».

If you don’t have an option, your version of MIUI doesn’t support it, and you can use a side launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) that allows you to configure your navigation bar flexibly.

On MIUI 14+ firmware, the button-move option can be hidden in the “Additional Settings” menu – look for it at the bottom of the “Display” section.

Method 4: Remove the arrow through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not help, you can completely disable the virtual panel through the ADB-This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader or root rights.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 USB-plug-in.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must display the serial number of your device.
3. Use the command to disable the navigation bar: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*
4. Reboot the phone.

To return the panel back, use the command:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null

⚠️ Attention: After completion ADB-If the on-screen buttons are gone but the swipes are not working, return the settings via the same command or reset the phone to the factory settings.

This method is not recommended for beginners, as the wrong commands can cause the system to crash.If you are not sure about your actions, use the standard methods from the previous sections.

What to do if the arrow is gone by itself

Sometimes the back button disappears without you intervening, and there are many reasons:

• 🔄 Failure after update MIUI — frequent problem when switching to a new version.
• 🤖 Activate gestures – if you accidentally enabled them in your settings.
• 🛠️ Damage to system files - after incorrectly turning off or installing custom firmware.
• 👓 Mode for the visually impaired - can hide interface elements.

Decisions:

1. Reboot your phone – 50% of the time, it helps you get the button back.
2. Check your gesture settings – you may have accidentally activated them (see Method 1).
3. Reset Launcher Settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear Data
4. Update MIUI – If the problem occurs after the update, install the latest firmware version.

If nothing helps, try resetting your phone to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!).

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose Reset all settings (does not delete files) or Erase all data (complete reset).

💡

If the arrow is missing after installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), check the settings in the System → Buttons menu. In some builds, the navigation bar is turned off by default.

Video Instructions and Additional Advice

If you find it easier to perceive information visually, watch the video with a step-by-step setting:

Video: “How to remove the arrow on Xiaomi Redmi 9” (insert a link here to YouTube or local player).

Additional advice:

• 🎯 If you play frequently, install Game Turbo from Settings → Special facilities → Game Turbo.It automatically hides the navigation bar in games.
• 🔧 For fine-tuning gestures, use the Fluid Navigation Gestures app (requires root).
• 📱 If you have Redmi 9 Prime or Redmi 9T, The same instruction - the difference is only in the version MIUI.

If you want to remove the bottom bar (including the gesture indicator) completely, try:

1. Install a launcher with immersive mode support (e.g. Rootless Launcher).
2. Use immersive display mode through ADB: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=apps,-com.miui.home

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Back" arrow on Redmi 9