What are the buttons at the bottom of Xiaomi touch phone: a complete navigation guide

Have you ever wondered what the three buttons at the bottom of your Xiaomi screen are called? These virtual controls are an integral part of the MIUI interface, but many users still confuse their names or don't know how to reconfigure them. In this article, we'll break down not only the standard notation, but the hidden features of each button, and also tell you how to hide them, replace them with gestures or return them.

Touch navigation buttons date back to the Android 4.0 era, when Google moved away from physical keys to software keys. Xiaomi went further, depending on the model and version of MIUI, you can see both classic three buttons and full-screen gestures. But even in 2026, many users are faced with the confusion of where is "back" and where is "home"? Let's get this straight.

Official Navigation Button Names in Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones (as with most Android devices) use a standard scheme of three virtual buttons located at the bottom of the screen, their names and functions are unified, but may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI:

• 🔙 Back – returns to the previous screen or closes the current app/menu.
• ⚪ Home - returns to the home screen (launcher). in Xiaomi often has the appearance of a circle or a house.
• □ Recent Apps: Opens a list of recent apps that have been launched, and can look like a square or three vertical lines.

Importantly, MIUI 12/13/14 has updated the design of the buttons to include minimalist bars or dots instead of classic icons, but the functionality remains the same. For example, in Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13T, the recent button may look like a thin horizontal line, but still opens up multitasking.

Interesting fact: in some regional firmware (for example, in India or Europe), the order of the buttons can be changed by default, so in POCO F5, the back button is sometimes on the right, which is due to the localization of the interface for right-handed users.

Where to find navigation button settings in MIUI

If you don't like the standard button layout, or if you accidentally hid it, you can get it back through the settings menu.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Screen section.
3. Select Full Screen Mode or Navigation Style (name depends on the version of MIUI).
4. In the menu you will see three options: 📱 Navigation buttons – the classic three buttons at the bottom of the screen. 👆 Sidebar gestures – swipes from the edge of the screen (analogue of iPhone). ✨ Full-screen gestures – swipe control at the bottom of the screen.

You can change the order of the buttons in the same menu, for example, if you're left-handed, it's more convenient to place "Back" on the right.

1. Click on Additional settings (or Order of buttons).
2. Select the preferred option: "Back left" or "Back right".

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If the buttons don’t appear even after changing the navigation style, try temporarily turning off Developer For Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times pressing).

How to Hide Navigation Buttons and Use Gestures

Many Xiaomi users prefer full-screen gestures over classic buttons, which frees up space on the screen and makes the controls more intuitive.

1. Open Settings → Screen → Full-screen mode.
2. Select Full-screen gestures or gestures from the sidebar.
3. Check out the management tips (they will appear on the screen).

In full-screen gesture mode, button functions are replaced by swipes:

• 👆 Swipe up from the bottom edge - returns to the main screen (analogue "Home").
• 👆 Swipe retention – opens up recent apps.
• 👈 Swipe from right to left - action "Back".

Important: On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra), gestures may conflict with system applications such as the camera or games, in which case it is recommended to use the Sidebar Gestures mode, where swipes are performed from the edges of the screen, rather than from the bottom.

If you want to return the buttons back, repeat the same steps and select the Navigation buttons. The settings will be saved automatically.

Hidden functions of navigation buttons in MIUI

Few people know, but the standard buttons in Xiaomi have additional features that can be activated through hidden settings or third-party apps.

• 🔥 Double-click on Home: Google Assistant opens by default, but you can reassign to start the camera, flashlight or other application through Settings → Additionally. → Home button".
• 🔄 Retention of the "Recent" button: in some versions MIUI This action opens the Quick Settings menu (similar to swipe on top).
• 🎮 Gamer Mode: In games, navigation buttons are automatically hidden, but they can be fixed by holding home" + "Back at the same time (not working on all models).

For advanced users, there is the option of customizing buttons through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), for example, you can change the action of the back button to close the application with the memory clearing.

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

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Attention: Changing settings through ADB can lead to unstable system operation. Before experimenting, back up your data in Settings → Additional → Backup.

Another useful trick is using the Button Mapper app (available on Google Play), which allows you to reassign button actions without root rights, for example, you can make a double-click on "Back" opens the last application.

The differences in navigation buttons in different models Xiaomi

While most Xiaomi smartphones use a standard three-button scheme, there are models with unique features.

On devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi) K50) Navigation buttons can automatically hide in a dark theme so that they don't highlight the pixels. It's not a bug, it's a power saving function. To turn off this behavior, go to Settings. → Screen. → Dark mode. → Additionally, deactivate the option "Hide the navigation bar".

On some budget models (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the navigation buttons may look rougher due to the low screen resolution, in which case full-screen gestures are recommended – they look more neat.

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On devices with MIUI for POCO (e.g., POCO X3 Pro), the default button order may differ from the standard MIUI.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When using navigation buttons, users often encounter common errors that cause inconvenience or even system failures, and these are the most common:

• ❌ Random gesture activation: Many people don’t notice switching to swipes when they lose their buttons. Always check your navigation style after updating. MIUI.
• ❌ Use of informal topics: some topics MIUI Themes can break the display of buttons. Read reviews before installing.
• ❌ Disable touch buttons in games: Many games have a "Block Navigation" option in their settings that hides the buttons.

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Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the standard MIUI button settings may not work, in which case navigation management is configured via the firmware menu itself (usually Settings → System → Gestures).

Another common problem is sticking buttons when you don't press the first time, and this may be related to:

• 🧹 Screen pollution (dust, greasy traces).
• 🔋 Low battery power (on some models, the system saves resources, reducing sensor sensitivity).
• 📱 Damage to the sensory glass (diagnosis is required at the service center).

If the buttons are less responsive, try calibrating the touch screen.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click 5 times in a row on the "Version of the kernel" (the test menu will appear).
3. Select Sensor Test → Touch Screen and follow the instructions.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions