How to set up buttons on Xiaomi: from basic features to hidden features

Buttons on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — It's not just physical controls, it's a flexible tool that can be adapted to your needs, and many users don't even realize that the standard Power, Volume and Lock buttons support advanced settings: From changing the duration of pressing to completely reassigning functions, for example, double pressing the power button can start the camera, and pressing the volume button can activate the voice assistant.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to configure buttons on Xiaomi devices, from the basic parameters in the Settings menu to hidden functions through Developer Mode and third-party applications. POCO F5), You'll learn how to turn off random taps, adjust vibrations, and even emulate extra buttons through gestures.

Important: instructions are relevant to devices on MIUI 14/15 (including hyperos and newer versions (MIUI 12 Some features may not be available or may be in other menu sections if your smartphone is running Android One (e.g. Xiaomi) A3), Some options will not be available – we will also mention this separately.

1. Basic button settings in the standard menu MIUI

So, to start with, what can you set up without enabling Developer Mode and installing third-party apps? Most of the options are hidden in the Settings section. → System applications → Buttons and gestures (on some models, the path may differ: Settings) → Additionally. → Buttons. There are available:

• 🔄 Action by double pressing the power button: start the camera, flashlight or voice assistant.
• 🔕 Disabling random taps: locking buttons in your pocket (Protection against accidental touches function).
• 📱 Customizing touch buttons (for models without physical keys): changing the order of the buttons/Dwash/recent.
• 🔊 Volume adjustment buttons: choosing whether to change the volume of the call, media or alarm clock.

For example, to set up a double press on the power button:

1. Go to Settings. → System applications → Buttons and gestures → Power button.
2. Select the option Double press.
3. Specify action: Camera, flashlight or Voice Assistant.

On models with an infrared port (for example, Redmi Note 11) in the same menu may appear option Long-press for the remote control – it allows you to use the power button as a universal remote for technology.

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After the update MIUI missing button settings, try resetting the Settings app via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the data.

2. Reassign buttons through Developer Mode

For advanced users, Xiaomi offers hidden button settings that open after activating Developer Mode.

• 🔧 Change the action with prolonged pressing of the volume buttons.
• 🚫 Completely disable button vibration (including tactile response).
• 🔄 Reassign the lock button to other features (e.g., start Google Assistant).

To enable Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.
3. Return to the main Settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.

Now you can set the buttons more flexibly, for example, to change the action when you press the volume button for a long time:

1. Open the Settings. → For developers.
2. Find the item Long-term pressing the volume button.
3. Select one of the actions: No sound, Screen capture or Launch the application.

In some models (for example, POCO F4 GT) In Developer Mode, you can have the option of Emulating additional buttons, which allows you to assign actions on key combinations, such as Volume up. + Power to start a game or screenshot.

3. Setting up touch buttons navigation

Xiaomi devices without physical buttons (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro) use touch-sensitive navigation buttons that can be adjusted or completely replaced with gestures:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
2. Select the type of navigation: 🔘 Navigation buttons (classic three buttons). 👆 Gestures MIUI (swipes). 📱 Full-screen gestures (no buttons, like on iPhone).

Navigation buttons

Additionally.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S) Navigation buttons can be made transparent or changed in the Settings menu → Display. → Style of navigation buttons.

If touch buttons don’t respond or are triggered by accident, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (at a discharge below 5% sensitivity may fall).
• 🛠️ Firmware updates (button bugs are often patched).
• 🧹 Screen cleanliness (dust or protective glass may interfere with the operation).

Check the sensitivity in the settings → Additionally. → Touch screen → Touch test

Reset the device

Update MIUI to the latest version

Reset the screen settings in Settings → Display. → Resetting display settings

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4. Turn off vibration and button sounds

Many users complain of an annoying vibration when pressing volume or lock buttons, and you can turn it off in several ways:

In some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) The vibration of the buttons is controlled separately from the system vibration. → Additionally. → Special facilities → Vibration and disable the item Vibration of hardware buttons.

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Turning off the vibration of the buttons can increase battery life by 5-10%, as the vibrator consumes additional energy even with short-term presses.

If the buttons stopped working after the vibrations were turned off or triggered after a time, try calibrating the sensor:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Touch screen.
2. Select Sensor Calibration.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to click on the dots several times).

5. Hidden button functions on gaming smartphones POCO and Black Shark

Gaming smartphones POCO F and Black Shark have additional physical buttons (such as Shoulder Triggers on Black Shark 5 Pro) that can be customized to play or system actions:

1. Open the Black Shark app (or the Game Space on the POCO).
2. Go to the Settings section → Hardware buttons.
3. Set up an action on: 🎮 Shooting buttons (for shooting or racing). 🔄 Double pressing (for example, starting a screen recording). 🔇 Turning off the microphone (good for streaming).

Nana POCO F4 GT and POCO F5 You can use trigger buttons even outside of games, like assigning them to them:

• 📸 Quick camera launch.
• 🔦 Lighting up the flashlight.
• 🔒 Screen locking.

To activate this function:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Trigger buttons.
2. Turn on the Allow Use Switch in any applications.
3. Set the action for a short and long press.

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On Black Shark, trigger buttons can be adjusted with different sensitivity, from a light touch to a full press, which is useful for games where you need a quick reaction (for example, for example, to play with a high-speed button, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty).

6. Customize buttons through third-party apps

If the standard capabilities MIUI Not enough, you can use third-party apps for advanced button management:

• 🛠️ Button Mapper – allows you to reassign any physical and touch buttons, including combinations (e.g. Volume Up). + Loudness down).
• 🎛️ Tasker – creates automated scripts by pressing buttons (for example, running Spotify with double tap on power).
• 🔧 Volume Button Controller – controls the actions of the volume buttons (track skip, brightness adjustment, etc.).

For the use of Button Mapper:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Grant permission for Special Features (in Android settings).
3. Select a button to reassign (such as the Power button).
4. Assign a new action: launch of the application, gesture, command ADB etc.

Example of settings in Tasker to start the camera by triple pressing the power button:

Profile: Triple tap on Nutrition


Event: Plugin → Button Mapper → Triple press




Task:




1. Launch the application → Camera




2. Set the %CameraLaunched variable at 1

Important: After reassigning buttons through third-party apps, standard functions MIUI For example, if you set the power button to start the camera, you have to use another action to turn off the screen (for example, double tapping on the screen).

7. Solving problems with broken buttons

If the buttons on Xiaomi stop working or fail to work correctly, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

If the power button doesn’t work at all, try alternative ways to turn on:

• 🔌 Connect the charger – some models turn on automatically when charging.
• 🔧 Hold the Loud up. + Power for 10-15 seconds for forced reboot.
• 🖥️ Connect the device to the PC and use ADB To send the switching command: adb shell reboot

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If the buttons stop working after falling or getting moisture, do not try to disassemble the device yourself - in 90% of cases this leads to damage to the plumes.

On models with an infrared port (for example, Redmi Note 10), the buttons can conflict with the remote control.

1. Go to Settings. → Connected devices → DU remote.
2. Turn off the option to use the power button as a remote.

8. Additional tips for optimizing management

To make the work with buttons as convenient as possible, use these tips:

• 🔄 Set up gestures instead of buttons: C Settings → Display. → Full-screen display can enable swipes for navigation, which will reduce wear on physical buttons.
• 🔋 Turn off unnecessary vibrations: this will save battery power and reduce the load on the vibrator.
• 🎮 Use the game buttons: on POCO and Black Shark assign frequently used actions to triggers (e.g. screenshot or homecoming).
• 🔒 Activate protection against accidental pressing: in Settings → Lock screen → Protection against accidental touch.

For users who take pictures often, it is useful to double-press the power button to start the camera, which will speed up shooting by 2-3 seconds compared to the standard way, and you can also set the volume buttons as a shutter trigger:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Go to Settings. → Management.
3. Turn on the Volume button as a shutter.

If you often listen to music, set a track pass at a long press of the volume button.

1. Install the Volume Button Music Control app.
2. Give him access to the notifications.
3. Set up actions for short and long pressing.

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On Xiaomi with Always On Display (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), you can configure the display of button prompts. For example, when you press the volume, you will show the current sound level directly on the locked screen.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up buttons on Xiaomi