Setting up navigation buttons on Xiaomi: a complete guide to MIUI 12-15

Navigation buttons on Xiaomi smartphones are not just interface elements, but a key tool for interacting with the device. Their location and functionality determine the usability of the gadget: whether it is the classic back/home/recent gestures, popular in the latest versions of MIUI. However, not all users know that these buttons can be flexibly adjusted: change order, hide, replace with gestures or even assign additional functions.

In this article, we will analyze all available ways to customize navigation buttons on Xiaomi, Redmi devices, POCO Black Shark – from basic settings in the system menu to hidden features through the system ADB We will focus on the differences between the shell versions. MIUI 12-15, and also the nuances for models with AMOLED-So if you want to optimize your smartphone experience for your needs, this guide is for you.

1. Standard navigation button settings in MIUI

The basic navigation button options are available in the Xiaomi Settings menu without the need to use additional tools. To open them, go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode. Here you will find three main management options:

• 📱 Navigation buttons – a classic mode with three virtual buttons at the bottom of the screen (Back, Home, Recent").
• 👆 Gestures – control swipes from the bottom edge of the screen (similar to iPhone or Google Pixel).
• 🔄 Full-screen gestures – an advanced version with support for diagonal swipes to call an assistant or menu.

Most Xiaomi devices have Navigation Buttons activated by default. To change the order of the buttons (for example, swap Back and Recent), tap on the button location and select the preferred option. Note: some models (for example, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) have up to 5 layout options, including a symmetrical layout with the Home button in the center.

It’s important to note that MIUI 14+ has removed the ability to completely disable the navigation bar without switching to gestures. However, there’s a workaround: if you need to temporarily hide buttons (for example, for screenshots or videos), use Immersive View mode in the specific application settings (available in Special Permissions → Immersive Mode).

2. Reassign button functions via ADB

For advanced users who don’t have enough standard settings, it is possible to reassign navigation button actions using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to, for example, replace a long click on Home with a Google Assistant call or double-click on Back to close all applications.

Before you start, make sure your Xiaomi has USB Debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).

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


adb shell settings put global policy_control "immersive.full=*"

These commands will change the order of the buttons and activate immersive mode. Use the following settings to reassign functions:

Note: Reassigning buttons via ADB can lead to system gesture conflicts in MIUI 14+. For example, if you swipe up from the bottom edge to call the notification panel, this may block the standard return gesture to the home screen. Before experimenting, it is recommended to back up the settings via Settings → Additional → Backup.

3. Hiding the navigation bar for full screen mode

Many Xiaomi users want to hide the navigation bar to make the most of the screen space – this is especially true for devices with a wide range of devices. AMOLED-displays and small bezels (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro. Unfortunately, in standard settings MIUI There's no option to completely turn off the buttons without switching to gestures:

• 🛠️ Immersive mode – activated in the settings of a particular application (for example, for YouTube or games).
• 📱 Third-party launchers – some shells (like Nova Launcher) support the system panel’s concealment.
• 🔧 ADB-commands - allow you to forcibly hide the panel, but can cause bugs with gestures.

To temporarily hide the panel in games or videos, use a combination of:

1. Open Settings → Special permissions → Immersive mode.
2. Select an app (like PUBG Mobile or Netflix).
3. Activate Full Screen Mode and install Hide Navigation Bar.

💡

If the gestures stop working after hiding the panel, restart the device. Some versions of MIUI require re-activation of full-screen mode after the reboot.

For permanent hiding through ADB, do:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=com.package.name

Replace com.package.name with an application ID (e.g. com.android.chrome for the browser). note that this method may conflict with system dialogs and notifications.

4. button settings on POCO and Black Shark devices

The POCO and Black Shark (Gaming Devices from Xiaomi) have unique navigation management features, such as the POCO F5 Pro or Black Shark 5 Pro, which offer additional options for gamers:

• 🎮 Game triggers are physical buttons on the body that can be assigned to navigation actions (for example, swipe back).
• 🖥️ Game Turbo mode – automatically hides the navigation bar in games and adds a floating menu with buttons.
• ⚡ Quick gestures – double-tapping on the back to call a menu or return.

To set up game triggers on Black Shark:

1. Open the Shark Space app (pre-installed on the device).
2. Go to Settings. → Physical buttons.
3. Select a button (L1, L2, R1, or R2) and assign an action (like Back or Home).

On POCO devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), Full-screen gestures 2.0 is available, which allows:

• The left hand side of the back is the back.
• Swipe up and hold to call Google Assistant.
• Diagonal swipe from the corner to call the application menu.

💡

On Black Shark and POCO s AMOLED-gestures work even when the display is off (always-on gestures function), but this increases battery consumption on the screen. 5-7%.

Please note: on some models POCO (for example, POCO M6 Pro) Full-screen gestures 2.0 can be hidden. To activate it, perform via ADB:

adb shell settings put secure swipe_up_to_switch_apps_enabled 1

5. Restore standard settings and fix bugs

If after experimenting with the settings, the navigation buttons stopped working correctly (for example, they do not respond to clicks or are not displayed completely), you can return everything to the factory parameters in several ways:

• 🔄 Reset gesture settings - in the Settings menu → Display. → Full screen mode select Reset settings.
• 📱 Cleaning the system launcher cache - go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher and press Clear Cache.
• 🔧 ADB-command to reset - execute adb shell cmd overlay reset com.android.systemui.

If the buttons are completely gone, check:

1. Is the mode for left-handed people activated in the settings of special features?
2. Are there any third-party themes that may conflict with system elements (for example, themes from the MIUI Theme Store with custom icons) installed?
3. Demo Mode is not enabled (for this purpose, do adb shell settings put global). sysui_demo_allowed 0).

Make sure developer mode is turned off | Check for MIUI updates |Reboot device |Reset gesture settings | Clear the system app cache-->

⚠️ Note: If after resetting the settings through ADB The navigation buttons have become transparent or have disappeared, this may be due to damage to system files, in which case only flashing the device through Fastboot or the device will help. MI Flash Tool. Do not try to restore settings through Local Backup - this can return the problem. 6. Alternative ways to manage: third-party applications If standard features MIUI You are not satisfied, you can use third-party applications to customize navigation. Most popular solutions: Application Compatibility Fluid Navigation Gestures Smooth gestures, swipe zone settings, animationsMIUI 12-15 (demand ADB) NavStar button reassignment, custom gestures, immersive mode All models Xiaomi Edge Gestures Gestures from the edges of the screen, support for multitasking Requires root or ADB To install Fluid Navigation Gestures: Download APK from the official website or APKMirror. enable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Install unknown applications. Connect the device to your PC and execute: adb shell pm grant com.fb.fluid android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS Launch an app and follow the setup wizard. One of the key benefits of third-party solutions is that you can adjust your gesture sensitivity. For example, in NavStar, you can say, Minimum swipe length to trigger (10-50px). Gesture activation zone (left/right edge or bottom of screen) vibratory response when performing the action. 💡If after installing a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) gestures stopped working, turn off the option Hide the navigation bar in its settings. MIUI. 7. Optimization of navigation for users with disabilities MIUI It offers several features to adapt navigation to the needs of people with disabilities. → Special facilities → Physical capabilities: 👁️ Increased touch area – increases the area of pressing for navigation buttons (useful for hand tremors). 🕒 Pressing delay – allows you to adjust the retention time to trigger the long tap. 🔊 Voice control – activate the commands “Back”, “Home” with voice (requires Google Assistant). To enable one-handed mode (relevant for large devices like Xiaomi) 13T Pro: Go to Settings → Additional settings → One-hand mode. Select Enable and set the interface offset side (left or right). Activate the Mini screen option to reduce the size of the workspace. Color filters (Settings) are useful for visually impaired users. → Screen. → Color mode, which allows: Invert the colors of the navigation bar for better visibility; adjust the contrast of the buttons (for example, make them black on a white background); Activate Daltonizer mode to correct color blindness. ⚠️ Note: When activating the Color Filter mode, some navigation button animations (such as holding pulse) may not display correctly. To return standard behavior, turn off the filter or restart the device. FAQ: Frequent questions on setting up navigation buttons on Xiaomi Can you return physical buttons on new Xiaomi models? No, starting with Xiaomi Mi 8 (2018 The company has completely switched to virtual navigation buttons or gestures. 2020 years (e.g. Redmi) 7A). On new devices, you can't get hardware buttons back without a body modification. MIUI So, you've got no navigation buttons? MIUI 12 on MIUI 14+, where gestures are activated by default. To return buttons: Go to Settings → Display. → Full screen mode. Select Navigation buttons instead of Gesture. If option is not available, reset via ADB: adb shell cmd overlay reset com.android.systemui. How to make navigation buttons transparent? In standard settings MIUI There is no transparency option, but workarounds can be used: Set theme with a transparent navigation bar from the MIUI Theme Store (e.g. Transparent theme) UI). Use it. ADB-Adb shell settings put global navigation_bar_color "00000000" (color ARGB). For devices with AMOLED Activate the Dark Theme, and the buttons will become less visible, POCO X5) Transparency can conflict with immersive mode. Can you double-tap the home button to run an application? Yes, but only with third-party applications like Button Mapper or Tasker. MIUI To configure via Button Mapper: Grant the application permissions Special access → Special Options Services. Select the Home button and set the Action Launch the App. Set the number of clicks (e.g., Double tap). MIUI 15 this method may not work due to security constraints. Why is my Xiaomi not offering Full-screen gesture 2.0? This feature is only available on Snapdragon processors. 8xx Series (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, Black Shark 5) and regional firmware MIUI If your device does not support this mode, you can: Install custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu). ADB-command to be forced to turn on (see section 4) Update to the latest version MIUI (In some cases, the option appears after the update).