Modern Xiaomi smartphones have long moved to bezel-free displays, where every millimeter of the screen weighs in gold, but the standard navigation with three buttons at the bottom still takes up usable area and visually “cuts” the image. Users who are first encountering the MIUI interface or the new HyperOS shell often look for a way, like Xiaomi remove the bottom buttons to get a more modern and smooth control of one swipe. This is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also real convenience, since gesture control allows you to switch between applications and use the display space more efficiently.
The process of disabling the classic navigation panel and enabling full-screen mode is as simplified as possible by the company's engineers, but its location in the menu can vary depending on the version of the software. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the nuances of the transition to gesture control, consider the differences between the versions of the system and answer frequent questions that arise from owners of Redmi and Poco devices. You will learn not only to activate the desired function, but also to adjust the sensitivity correctly to use the smartphone became as comfortable as possible.
The Benefits of Handling Gestures Over Buttons
The shift to gesture control is an evolutionary step in mobile ergonomics that allows you to completely free the bottom of the screen from static interface elements. When you remove the bottom buttons, you get an immersive experience of using media, games and web surfing, as content is displayed to the entire available area without visual interference. In addition, swipes are often performed faster than clicks, which is especially noticeable when multitasking and quickly switching between running programs.
Owners of devices with AMOLED-screens will appreciate the possibility of hiding the navigation panel also because it reduces the risk of burning out pixels in the lower zone of the display. Static white icons of the Home or Back button, burning for hours, can leave a barely noticeable but unpleasant trace on the matrix over time, while dynamic gesture control distributes the load on different parts of the screen more evenly.
However, it is worth noting that the new method of interacting with a smartphone is a must, especially if you have been using buttons for years.It will take a few days for the brain to develop new muscle reflexes for swipes, but after this period, a return to the old navigation system usually does not occur, as gestures become intuitive and natural.
Instructions: How to turn off buttons in MIUI 12, 13 and 14
In most current versions of the MIUI shell, the path to changing the way you navigate is standardized and takes only a few seconds. You need to open the main system settings menu, find the section responsible for screen and interface operation, and choose your preferred management method. The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware (Global, China, EEA), but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
To do this, follow the algorithm: go to Settings, then go to Additional (in some versions it may be called Advanced Settings) and select Full-screen menu. This is where the switch allows you to choose between classic buttons and gestures. If you want to remove the bottom buttons completely, activate Full-screen gestures.
☑️ Check before changing the settings
Once the mode is selected, the system can offer a short tutorial showing basic finger movements to return, access the desktop, and open the task list. It is recommended that you do not skip this step if you do it for the first time to remember the location of virtual zones and avoid confusion in the first hours of use. In the same menu, you can often adjust the hidden bar-indicator at the bottom of the screen, which makes the interface even cleaner.
⚠️ Warning: When you switch to gestures, the old button bar will disappear instantly. If you get confused, remember: swipe from the bottom edge of the screen up will return you to the desktop, and swipe from the side faces is a back action».
Setting up navigation in the new shell HyperOS
With the release of the HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on new and updated smartphones, the menu structure has changed to become more logical and grouped. In the new shell, navigation settings have been moved to a more prominent place to make it easier for users to adapt.
To set up control in HyperOS, open Settings and find the Desktop section. Inside this menu, you will see System Navigation, where you can choose between buttons and gestures. Notably, the new system has made switching animations smoother and visual prompts (the strip at the bottom of the screen) more flexible, allowing you to hide it even when you use apps.
An important feature of HyperOS is improved handling of random touches and more accurate definition of swipe boundaries. This solves one of the main problems of early versions of gesture control, when trying to scroll through tape in an application could accidentally bring the user back. AI algorithms now better analyze the context of your action, distinguishing intentional swipe from accidental slipping of a finger.
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In HyperOS, you can customize the sensitivity of side swipes in the special features menu if the standard reaction rate seems too low or high.
Comparison of navigation methods: Characteristics table
To make your choice easier, we have created a comparison table that illustrates the differences between classic button management and modern gestures. Each method has its own advantages for different use cases, and the choice depends largely on your personal habits and device model.
| Characteristics | Three buttons (Classic) | Full-screen gestures |
|---|---|---|
| Busy screen space | The lower lane is always occupied. | 100% free of space |
| Switching speed | Medium (requires precise pressing) | High (one finger movement) |
| Convenience on big screens | Low (hard to reach corners) | High (swipe from any edge) |
| period of habituation | Not required (intuitively) | 2-5 days of active practice |
As you can see from the table, gestures are winning in ergonomics and space use, especially on devices larger than 6.5 inches. However, for users with small palms or those who often use a smartphone with one hand in narrow cases, buttons can seem more predictable. The choice of navigation method is a matter of personal comfort, and the system allows you to change it at any time without restrictions.
It’s also worth considering that in some heavy-duty games or specialty apps, having physical (albeit on-screen) buttons can prevent random exits, which is why many gamers prefer to leave buttons but hide them automatically when they launch a game mode or Game Turbo app.
Solution: buttons are missing or not working
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the bottom buttons disappeared on their own, but the gestures did not turn on, or the panel hung and stopped responding to presses. This can be caused by a temporary failure of the SystemUI system process, which is responsible for rendering the interface, in such cases, do not panic, since the problem is often solved by simply restarting the device or restarting the interface.
If the buttons are missing after the system update, check the theme settings. Some third-party themes downloaded from Themes store may have their own navigation styles that conflict with standard MIUI settings. Try returning the standard theme to Classic or Unlimited to eliminate the software conflict and return the functionality of the panel.
What do you do if nothing helps?
In rare cases, especially on custom firmware or after obtaining Root rights, the navigation configuration file may be corrupted. In this situation, you may need to reset your settings to factory, but before that, be sure to back up important data, as all user files will be deleted.
⚠️ Note: If the buttons stopped working in just one particular app, the problem is most likely on the developer side of that app, not the system.
Hiding the indicator and fine-tuning the interface
Even after full-screen gestures are enabled, many users notice a thin bar at the bottom of the screen that serves as a visual indicator of the swipe zone, although it takes up minimal space, some want to remove it to achieve the perfect picture. In the Full-screen menu settings, there is often a Hide the indicator switch that allows you to make the bottom edge absolutely clear.
But completely hiding the indicator has its consequences: you lose the visual reference point showing where to swipe. For beginners, this can be a problem, as you have to feel the edge of the screen, and it is recommended to leave the indicator on at least in the first weeks of use, until muscle memory remembers the exact position of the activation zone.
Also in the menu Additional -> Full-screen mode (or similar) you can find the settings of the order of the buttons, if you still stayed on the classic scheme. You can swap the buttons Back and Menu, if you are used to the logic of iOS or other operating systems, where the return is on the right side.
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Hiding the gesture indicator makes the screen cleaner, but deprives you of a visual clue about where the swipe active area is.
Features of navigation on Xiaomi Pad tablets
Owners of Xiaomi Pad and Redmi Pad tablets may also be wondering about optimizing space. On large tablet screens, gesture control works differently than on smartphones, and often includes additional areas for splitting the screen and controlling windows. Removing the bottom buttons on the tablet is especially important, since they occupy a significant physical area on a large display.
In tablets running MIUI for Pad or HyperOS, gestures allow you not only to close applications, but also to call sidebars, to switch between windows in multitasking mode. The swipe mechanics here are more complex: for example, swiping from the corner of the screen can start splitting the screen, not just returning. These features make the tablet a full-fledged workstation.
Tablets also have a smooth switch feature that visually links the app’s folding animation to its desktop icon, creating a sense of interface continuity that you can’t do with static buttons, and setting these parameters is in the same navigation section of the system.