Touch navigation buttons on Xiaomi Poco X3 take up precious space on the screen, and their random taps are sometimes annoying while playing or watching videos. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to hide or completely deactivate this panel – from standard gesture controls to deep settings through ADB. But not all methods are equally safe: some can lead to sensor malfunctions or conflict with the MIUI shell.
In this article, we’ll discuss three working ways to turn off navigation buttons on Poco X3 (relevant to MIUI 12-14 versions), including hidden developer and power user commands. We’ll focus on the nuances that the manufacturer doesn’t say: for example, why the swipe to call Google Assistant can go missing after turning off the buttons, or how to return navigation back if the screen stops responding to touch, and you’ll learn which apps conflict with gesture control and how to fix it without resetting.
We warn you in advance that changes to system settings through ADB or editing configuration files can lead to loss of warranty (if the device is still in warranty service) or software failures.
Method 1: Standard switching to gesture control
The easiest and safest method is to activate full-screen gestures, which is officially supported by MIUI. This method does not require root rights or a connection to a PC, but has limitations: for example, swipe from the bottom to return to the home screen can conflict with some games (like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
To enable gestures:
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Select the Full Screen Mode option.
- Slip on full-screen gestures and confirm the choice.
- A thin white bar will appear at the bottom of the screen, which is a sign indicator, and it will disappear after 3-5 seconds of inactivity.
If swipes are not working correctly after switching (for example, a backup does not work), check the sensitivity settings:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → Gestures.
- 📱 Activate the screen edge sensitivity option (recommended for gaming).
- 🔄 If gestures conflict with the app, add it to exceptions via Settings → Annexes → Permits → Full screen mode.
An important nuance: on the Poco X3 with MIUI 13+ firmware, the swipe to call Google Assistant (if it was configured) may disappear after activating gestures.
⚠️ Attention: Open Settings → Google → Settings for Google apps → Search, assistant and voice and re-set the gesture of calling the assistant (usually swipe from the corner of the screen).
Method 2: Disabling buttons through developer settings
If you don’t like standard gestures (e.g., because of your button habit on older Androids), you can hide the navigation bar through developer mode, which doesn’t remove the buttons completely, but makes them transparent and reduces the touch area to 1-2 pixels, which visually expands the screen’s workspace.
Instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
- Find the option Miniature size navigation bar (or Hide the navigation bar depending on the version of MIUI) and turn it on.
- Reset the device.
After the changes are applied, the navigation bar will become almost invisible, but it can still be swiped from the bottom. To completely deactivate the buttons, you will need ADB (see next method).
Developer mode activated
Backup of important data is made
Battery charge is sufficient (minimum 50%)
The device is not connected to VPN (can block ADB)-->
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 It doesn’t work in some apps (for example, in YouTube, the panel may reappear when you watch a full-screen video).
- 🔄 After updating MIUI settings may reset.
- 📱 Some gestures (such as swipe for multitasking) become less responsive.
Method 3: Completely disabling buttons via ADB (for experienced ones)
If you need to completely remove the navigation bar (including swipes), you will have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method is suitable for users who are ready to work with the command line and understand the risks. Wrong command can lead to loss of functionality of the touch screen!
What you need:
- 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
- 📱 Included debugging by USB Poco X3 (Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Execute the command to disable the navigation bar: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*
- Reset the device.
If the buttons have disappeared after the reboot, but the swipes do not work, return the setting by the command:
adb shell settings put global policy_control nullWhat if the ADB can’t see the device?
Consequence warning:
⚠️ Note: After switching off the buttons through ADB Some system features (such as gesture screenshots or Google Assistant) may stop working, and there may be problems with the keyboard display in landscape mode. To get it back, use the command adb shell settings put global. policy_control null.
Table: Comparison of methods for disabling navigation buttons
| Method | Difficulty | PC required | Reversibility | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gesture management | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Conflicts with games |
| Developer settings | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | Reset after update |
| ADB-team | ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | Loss of function, sensor failures |
| Editing by build.prop | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Partially. | Brick device, loss of warranty |
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after successfully disabling navigation buttons, Poco X3 users are faced with typical bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
1.Missing the multitasking menu
If after switching to swipe up to call the list of applications does not work, check:
- 🔄 Is Full Screen Mode Included in the Display Settings.
- 📱 Does the running app (e.g., Nova Launcher or Good Lock) conflict with gestures).
- 🔧 Try resetting your gesture settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset your gesture settings.
2.The touch screen has become less responsive
This is a common problem after changes through ADB. To regain sensitivity:
- 🛠️ Calibrate the screen: Settings → Display. → Sensor calibration (if no point is available, use the Touchscreen Calibration app from Google Play).
- 🔋 Restart the device in Safe Mode and check the sensor’s performance – if the problem has disappeared, the third-party app is to blame.
3.The navigation buttons appear again after the reboot
If you used the method with the developer settings, and the panel returns after the reboot, try:
- 🔄 Re-apply the setting Miniature size of the navigation panel.
- 📱 Update MIUI up to the latest version (in some builds it is a bug fixed in patches).
- 🚫 Disable battery optimization for Launcher system application.
💡
If after switching off the buttons, the screenshots with a gesture stopped working (triple touch), return the function to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot.
Applications in conflict with gesture control
Some programs are poorly adapted for full-screen mode and can "return" the navigation bar or block swipes. Here is a list of the most problematic applications and solutions for them:
| Annex | Problem. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| PUBG Mobile | Swipe from below conflicts with the control of the character | Add the game to full-screen exceptions or use floating buttons in the game settings |
| YouTube | The navigation panel appears in full screen mode | Turn off screen autorotation or use YouTube Vanced (if available) |
| TikTok | The "back" gesture works when scrolling the tape | Reduce the sensitivity of the screen edges in gesture settings |
| Nova Launcher | Swipes are not working or are working with a delay | In the launcher settings, disable the Immersive Mode option or update the application |
If your app isn’t on the list but conflicts with gestures, try:
- Add it to full-screen exceptions (Settings → Apps → Permissions → Full-screen mode).
- Disable gestures within the application itself (usually under the "Management Settings" section).
- Use alternative gestures, such as swipe sideways to return back (configured in Settings → Gestures).
How to return navigation buttons if the screen is unresponsive
If, after experimentation with the settings or ADB-commands touch screen stopped working correctly (does not respond to swipes or buttons do not appear), use these recovery methods:
1.Gestural reset via Safe Mode
- 🔄 Press the power button and select Reboot in Safe Mode.
- 📱 In Safe Mode, go to Settings → System system → Gestures and reset settings.
- 🔋 Reboot the device normally.
2.Recovery through ADB
If the screen does not respond to touch, USB-Debugging was enabled earlier, connect the phone to the PC and execute:
adb shell settings put global policy_control null
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS3. Reset settings via Recovery
The last resort, if other methods do not help:
- 🔧 Turn off the phone, then press the power. + Volume up to enter Recovery.
- 📱 Choose Wipe & Reset → Reset Settings (not Wipe All Data!).
- 🔄 Reset the device.
⚠️ Note: If you use unofficial firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), resetting your settings via Recovery may result in data loss.
💡
Before any manipulation of system settings, backup through Settings → System → Backup or Mi Mover application.