How to set up the bottom buttons on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

The bottom buttons on Xiaomi smartphones are not just controls, but a key interface for interacting with the device, which is responsible for navigating, returning to the previous screen and calling the app menu. However, not everyone knows that these keys can be reconfigured to their needs: change their location, turn off vibration, add additional features, or even completely hide in favor of gestures.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to customize the lower bar on Xiaomi, Redmi and the Internet. POCO — from basic settings in MIUI to the hidden functions through ADB. We will focus on solutions to typical problems: when buttons do not respond to clicks, spontaneously trigger or interfere with the viewing of video. MIUI 15, and adapted for different models - from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

Types of lower buttons on Xiaomi: touch vs mechanical

Before you start setting up, it’s important to understand what type of buttons you’re dealing with. There are two options on Xiaomi smartphones:

• 🔘 Touch buttons – virtual keys embedded in the screen (for example, on Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K60). They do not have physical secretion and respond to touch.
• 🔧 Mechanical buttons are physical keys under the screen (old models like Redmi). 4X or Mi A1). Their configuration is limited due to hardware features.

Touch buttons are more flexible in terms of customization: they can be completely hidden in favor of gestures, change order or add additional functions (for example, calling a voice assistant), Mechanical ones usually only allow you to turn off the backlight or vibration.

To determine the type of buttons on your device:

1. See if there are physical protrusions under the screen.
2. Try tapping the button area when the screen is off – if you feel a click, it’s mechanics.
3. Go to Settings. → Display. → Navigation type – if there is a gesture option, then touch buttons.

Basic settings through the menu MIUI

The easiest way to change the behavior of the bottom buttons is to use built-in options. MIUI. For that:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select the Navigation Type (or Navigation Panel in older versions).

The following options will be available to you here:

If you select the navigation buttons, an additional menu will appear to customize them:

• 🔄 Order of buttons – you can change “Back” and “Recent” in places (useful for left-handed people).
• 🎨 Color of backlighting - a choice of preset themes or custom color.
• 🔇 Vibration when pressed - turning on / off tactile response.

Reassign button functions (without root)

By default, the bottom buttons on Xiaomi perform the standard steps: go back, go to the home screen and call the app menu. But what if you want, for example, the recent button to open Google Assistant, and a long press on Home to start the camera?

The easiest way is to use the Button Mapper app (available on Google Play), which allows you to reassign button actions without superuser permissions (root).

1. Download and install the Button Mapper.
2. Launch the application and grant permission for Special Features (required to intercept presses).
3. Select the button you want to reassign (such as “Recent”).
4. Assign a new action from the list: Launch the application, shortcut, gesture or command ADB.

Examples of useful reassignments:

• 📸 Double tap on "Home" → launch.
• 🔍 Long press on "Back" → Opening Google Search.
• 🎵 Pressing "Recently" → Launching the last track to be played.

💡

If Button Mapper doesn't recognize the taps, check if the battery optimization is blocking it. → Annexes → Button Mapper → Battery and select "No restrictions".

Limitations of the method:

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) Button Mapper may not work due to blocking MIUI. In this case, it will be necessary to use ADB root-rights.

Hiding the lower buttons and switching to gestures

If you prefer a full-screen experience without unnecessary elements on the display, the bottom buttons can be completely hidden by switching to gesture control, especially for owners of smartphones with notches under the camera (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), where every pixel of the screen counts.

To activate the gestures:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Type of navigation.
2. Choose Gestures MIUI Full screen gestures (depending on the model).
3. Check out the management tips (e.g. swipe from the bottom up to return to the home screen).

Difference between types of gestures:

• 👆 Gestures MIUI — Swipes are executed at the bottom of the screen (analogue of buttons, but without visual elements).
• 🌐 Full-screen gestures – swipes around the edges of the screen (like in iPhone or Android 10)+). More immersive experience, but requires habituation.

If you need to temporarily return buttons after you switch to gestures (for example, to configure another device via Mi Remote), do the following:

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

This command will force the navigation bar to turn on. To return gestures, replace 1 with 0.

Solving problems with the bottom buttons

Sometimes the bottom buttons on Xiaomi start to behave incorrectly: they do not respond to clicks, spontaneously trigger or illuminate at the wrong time. Consider typical malfunctions and how to fix them.

1.The buttons are not working or are late

Reasons:

• 🔋 Low battery power – below 5%, the system can turn off some of the functions to save energy.
• 📱 Sensor damage – relevant for smartphones after falling or getting moisture.
• 🛠️ Firmware failure – especially after the update MIUI.

Decisions:

1. Restart the device (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory → Cleanup → Cash.
3. Reset navigation settings through ADB: adb shell settings delete global policy_control

2. spontaneous pressing ("ghost touches")

This problem often arises from:

• 💧 Moisture under the screen.
• 🔌 Faulty charger (interference with the charger) USB).
• 📲 Films or glass tightly attached to the sensor.

How to check:

1. Run the sensor test through the engineering menu: dial ##4636## and select the Sensor Test.
2. See if false touches are fixed in the button area.

⚠️ Note: If spontaneous taps only occur when connected to a charge, the problem may be in the power supply.Try using the original Xiaomi adapter (e.g., the power supply, MDY-12-ED fast-charging).

3. The buttons are not illuminated

If the buttons are gone:

1. Check the brightness settings: Settings → Display. → Brightness of buttons.
2. Turn off the power saving mode: Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
3. Reset the lighting settings through ADB: adb shell settings put system button_brightness 1 (significance 1 — minimum brightness, 255 — maximum).

Advanced settings through ADB

For experienced users who need maximum customization, commands are available. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows you to change options that are not available through the standard menu. MIUI.

What can be done through ADB:

• 🔄 Change the order of buttons at the system level.
• 🚫 Disable the navigation panel completely (even if in the MIUI There's no such option).
• ⚡ Set up button delay (useful for people with disabilities).

Instructions for using ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Activate Debugging on USB on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Connect the device to your PC and execute the command: Adb devices (should appear serial number of your Xiaomi).

Examples of useful commands:

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB You can crash your system. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → System system → Backup.

💡

Teams. ADB circumvention MIUI, But you need to be careful. Always check the syntax before you do it!

Tune buttons to POCO and other sub-brands of Xiaomi

Branded devices POCO (for example, POCO X6 pro POCO F5) They're running on the same firmware. MIUI, But with some features, the main difference is the presence of a branded shell. POCO Launcher that can override standard gestures.

How to set the buttons to POCO:

1. Open the Settings. → Display. → Type of navigation.
2. If there is no Gesture option, update the firmware to the latest version MIUI for POCO.
3. Use Button Mapper to reassign buttons (see section above), but select the mode in the app settings POCO Device.

Features POCO:

• 🎯 In some models (for example, POCO X3) The "Recent" button opens the Game Turbo by default when you press long.
• 🔄 V POCO Launcher can disable button animation via Launcher Settings → Animation.

For Black Shark devices (Xiaomi gaming smartphones):

• 🎮 Navigation buttons are automatically hidden in Shark Space mode).
• 🔧 Reassignment of buttons is available only through ADB rat.

Tips for optimizing work with buttons

To make interaction with the bottom buttons as convenient as possible, use these recommendations:

• 👆 For larger screens (6.7" or more), enable full-screen gestures - this will reduce stretch marks when accessing the top of the display.
• 🎭 For a single button use (e.g. in games), activate Auto Hide in navigation settings.
• 🔋 To save the battery, turn off the vibration of the buttons and reduce the brightness of the backlight to 30%.
• 👶 For older users, increase the delay of buttons through ADB: adb shell settings put secure long_press_timeout 1000 (millisecond).

If you often use your smartphone with gloves or wet hands, activate Sensory Screen mode:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Additionally. → Sensitive screen.
2. Enable the option (will appear after 5 times pressing the line Version). MIUI).

💡

For a quick return to the previous application, swipe the "Recent" button to the left or right (works in the MIUI 12+).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s bottom buttons