How to set up gestures on Xiaomi: from classics to HyperOS

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users flexible tools to personalize their screen experience. One of the first steps after buying a new device is often to abandon the usual navigation buttons in favor of more ergonomic swipe management. It’s not just a fashion homage to Apple and Google’s trends, but also a real way to increase the usable display area, especially on models with elongated proportions.

Switching to a new type of navigation can seem difficult only in the first hours of use, until muscle memory adapts to new finger movements. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to adjust gestures on Xiaomi to achieve maximum efficiency in everyday use. We will touch not only on the basic settings, but also on the hidden features available through the engineering menu or special applications.

It’s worth noting that the settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific shell modification. However, the logic of the work remains the same for the entire model range of the brand, whether it’s a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi.

Basic activation of gesture control in MIUI and HyperOS

The process of enabling gesture navigation in Xiaomi smartphones is as simplified as possible by developers and takes only a few seconds. You need to open the main menu of the device settings and find the section responsible for the appearance and behavior of system elements. Depending on the firmware version, this item can be called “Full screen mode” or be integrated directly into the “Additional” menu.

Once you've moved to the right section, the system will offer you two basic interaction options: classic three buttons or swipe control. When you choose the second option, you'll see a training animation showing basic movements. The key difference is that the new system has no static interface elements at the bottom of the screen, which frees up to 15% of usable space.

If you’re used to a certain course of action, such as swiping back from left to right, make sure that the settings are the right mirror, especially for users who have previously used devices from other manufacturers with different navigation logic.

To activate, perform the following actions:

• 📱 Open the Settings app on the main screen.
• 🔍 Go to the Additional section (or Advanced Settings).
• 🖱️ Select the Full Screen Mode option.
• ✅ Activate the switch opposite the item Full-screen gestures.

After the changes are applied, the interface will change instantly, and a thin bar-indicator may appear at the bottom of the screen, which some users prefer to hide to achieve the effect of a “floating” interface, although this is not always recommended due to the loss of the visual hint about the swipe zone.

Fine tuning of sensitivity and swipe zone

Standard settings do not always take into account the individual characteristics of smartphone use, such as the presence of protective glass or the specific grip of the device. In the shells of the latest versions of MIUI, it is possible to adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen, this avoids accidental taps or, conversely, makes the response more responsive for users with a wide hand.

To access advanced settings, you often need to activate the developer mode or use special codes in the Phone app. However, in most cases, a standard menu is enough. If swipes are not working correctly, try changing the activation area to move it closer to the center of the screen or to the edge itself.

⚠️ Warning: Excessively increasing edge sensitivity can cause random palm touches to be perceived by the system as a “back” command, interrupting current activities in applications.

Optimizing the interaction zone is especially important for devices with curved edges of the display, where physical glass bending can interfere with accurate reading of touches, in such cases, it is recommended to use software compensation if this option is available in your version of the firmware.

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If gestures are delayed, try temporarily increasing the thickness of the navigation line in the settings – this will expand the active touch area.

You can also adjust the duration of transition animations, which indirectly affects how you feel gestures are responsive, and quick animations create the illusion that the system will respond more instantly to your actions.

Hiding navigation strips and visuals

Many minimalist enthusiasts are annoyed by the thin bar at the bottom of the screen, which is an essential part of the gesture control interface. Unfortunately, with standard Xiaomi tools, it cannot be completely removed without losing functionality, as it serves as a visual anchor for the user.

One method involves using third-party design themes or custom apps from the GetApps store that can overlap system interface elements. Some versions of HyperOS also offer the option to change the color of the strip depending on the theme, which allows you to better fit it into the overall design.

For those who are ready for more complex manipulations, there is a method of hiding through USB debugging and ADB commands, but it requires caution.Misuse of system commands can lead to unstable launcher operation or complete loss of navigation requiring a reset.

Comparison of navigation options:

Themes are a safe way to customize, and they don't require root rights. Just download your favorite theme in the Themes app, apply it, and check how the bottom bar has changed.

Advanced settings through the engineering menu

For power users who want to make the most of their Xiaomi, there is an engineering menu available: a hidden part of the system designed to test hardware, but containing useful features for customizing the interface, logging in through a special application or a set of code in the “caller”.

Enter ##6484## in the phone app to open the CIT (Customer Interface Test) menu, where you can check the sensor performance, display calibration and other parameters that affect the accuracy of gesture recognition. If swipes are not working correctly, the Touchpanel test will help determine if there are hardware problems with certain areas of the screen.

You can also find touchscreen response settings in the engineering menu, and it's not recommended to change these settings without understanding the consequences, because it can lead to chaotic cursor behavior or complete false positives.

Remember that any changes to the engineering menu you make at your own risk. Before experiments, it is advisable to create a full backup of data in order to restore the device to work in case of a failure.

Solving Typical Problems with Swipe Recognition

Even on today’s flagships, users sometimes face a situation where gestures stop working or work with errors. Most often, the problem lies not in the hardware, but in software conflicts or the settings of specific applications. For example, some games or video players can block system gestures to prevent accidental outputs.

If gestures are “missing” in certain applications, check the full-screen settings for those specific programs. MIUI has a separate list of apps for which you can force gesture support to be turned on or off. You can find it by Settings → Additional → Full-screen Mode → Selected apps.

A common cause of failures is a crowded system launcher cache or conflicts with installed themes, in which case it helps to clear the cache of the Security application or temporarily return to a standard theme, and it is also worth checking whether the “Work with gloves” mode is turned on, which can increase the sensitivity of the screen to inadequate values.

⚠️ Warning: If gestures stop working after the firmware update, don't rush your phone to the service. Often, it helps to simply restart the device or reset navigation settings to factory values.

In rare cases, the problem may be caused by damage to the display plume or the touchscreen itself, especially if the phone fell, then not only the swipe will not work, but also individual parts of the screen when typing or scrolling pages.

Alternative launchers and third-party solutions

A standard POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher launcher doesn’t always meet the needs of advanced users. Installing an alternative shell like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher can dramatically change the experience of gesture interaction. These applications often offer more flexible swipe settings on icons and in empty areas of the screen.

When installing a third-party launcher, system navigation gestures (return, home) are usually saved, but a new layer of customization is added. You can assign a double tap to turn on the screen or swipe up for search, which makes control even more efficient.

However, it is worth considering that third-party launchers consume more RAM and can work less stable on devices with low RAM. In addition, new versions of Android have restrictions on the deep integration of third-party launchers with system gestures, which sometimes leads to delays.

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Third-party launchers give more freedom to customize swipes by icons, but can consume more battery and memory resources.

For maximum performance on older models, Xiaomi is better off staying within the stock launcher, optimizing it through built-in theme tools and settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)