Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users the flexibility to personalize the interface. One of the first questions that arises for owners of new devices or those who have switched from another brand is the management of navigation. The location and type of controls at the bottom of the screen directly affect the ergonomics and speed of the gadget in everyday scenarios.
In this article, we will discuss how to change the standard buttons to gestures, adjust their order or completely hide the navigation bar to increase the usable display space. You will learn about the hidden features of the system that allow you to adapt the interface to the individual habits of Xiaomi use, as well as solve possible problems with incorrect display of controls.
Navigation is not just a cosmetic change, but a way to improve the comfort of interaction with the device. The right control method allows you to switch between applications faster and use a large screen more efficiently, which is especially important for models with elongated proportions.
Main types of navigation in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi
Android
The button method involves three virtual keys at the bottom of the display: Back, Home, and App Menu, which can vary depending on regional settings or user preferences, and gesture controls, in turn, free up the bottom of the screen, allowing swipes to call the necessary functions.
The choice between these methods depends on your habits. If you're used to physical buttons or often work with one hand, the classic option may seem more reliable. However, for today's large screens, gestures provide a smoother and faster interaction with content, minimizing the overlap of the view with your fingers.
How to switch to gesture management
Settings
Desktop
Inside, select System Navigation, and you will see a window with two main options, select Full Screen Mode to discard the buttons, and the system will immediately change the keys, and the three usual keys will disappear, giving way to the thin bar at the bottom or completely disappear.
☑️ Checking the transition to gestures
After the switch, it is recommended to perform several trial actions to get used to the new logic: a swipe from the bottom up returns to the desktop, a swipe to the left or right of the edge of the screen works as a back button, and a long swipe from the bottom up with pause opens the menu of running applications.
Hidden Signatures
Importantly, in some applications, the navigation bar can be hidden automatically to avoid disturbing the viewing of content.This is normal system behavior designed to maximize the usable area of the display.
Customization of classic navigation buttons
System navigation
Buttons
There are two basic options for the order of the buttons: the one that's standard for many devices: left to right, "Menu," "Home," "Back," and the other, often called "iOS style," or simply alternative, changes the position of the "Back" and "Menu" buttons in places, critical for those who are switching from iPhone to Xiaomi.
In addition, this menu allows you to activate the vibration when pressed, and the tactile response gives you confidence that the command is received by the system, even if the screen is contaminated or you are wearing gloves, which improves the user experience and reduces the number of erroneous taps.
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If you type with one hand often, try typing closer to your thumb, and left-handed people usually have the right side, right-handers usually have the left side.
Remember, changing the order of the buttons requires a period of adaptation. The fingers' motors remember the location of the items, and abrupt changes can lead to frequent erroneous returns instead of entering the menu.
Hiding the navigation lane and additional options
Xiaomi
System navigation
Hide the gestures
Once this function is activated, the bottom bar will disappear completely, and navigation will be carried out through invisible areas of the screen, which makes the interface as clean as possible and resembles the picture from advertising booklets, but it is worth remembering that without a visual guide, you need to clearly remember where to swipe.
⚠️ Note: When hiding the navigation bar in some applications (for example, video players or games), it may be difficult to know whether full-screen mode is active.
Also in the advanced settings, you can find the option “Accelerated App Launch” that allows you to open frequently used programs by double tapping on the screen when turned off, which is a great alternative to traditional buttons for quick access.
Comparison of management methods: characteristics table
Xiaomi
| Characteristics | Three buttons. | Full-screen gestures | Hidden lane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupied screen area | High (around 10-15%) | Minimum (thin strip) | 0% (completely hidden) |
| Adjustment rate | Instant. | 2-5 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Convenience with one hand | High. | Medium (depending on size) | Low (need accuracy) |
| Risk of accidental pressing | Low. | Medium. | High-pitched |
As you can see from the table, gestures are winning in terms of usable screen area, which is critical for modern displays with an aspect ratio of 20:9. However, buttons remain more predictable for users with large fingers or when using protective glasses with thick edges.
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Choosing between buttons and gestures is a matter of personal preference, but gestures objectively give more space for content on modern frameless screens.
Solution: buttons are missing or gestures are not working
SystemUI
If the reboot didn’t work, check to see if Do Not Disturb mode or special features are on, which can block the touch screen in certain areas, and the problem may lie in the protective film that created a “dead zone” at the bottom of the screen.
⚠️ Note: If the buttons are missing after installing a third-party launcher, return to the standard launcher MIUI Third-party shells may not work properly with Xiaomi’s system navigation.
In rare cases, resetting your navigation settings to factory settings helps, so you just switch to a different mode and back again in the navigation menu, and this will restart the configuration file without losing any personal data.