How to permanently remove the touch assistant on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The Touch Assistant (or “Touch Assistant”) on Xiaomi smartphones is a floating button that appears on the screen and duplicates the functions of navigation gestures or hardware buttons. For many users, it becomes a source of irritation: Accidental taps, occupied space on the display, and sometimes conflicts with games or applications. 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 and Mi flagships 11/12/13, where the assistant is activated by default after updates MIUI 12/13/14.

In this article, you'll find 5 working methods for disabling touch assistants, from standard settings to hidden commands for power users, and we'll also look at why the button might reappear after a reboot, and how to prevent it. If you're tired of the annoying mug on the screen, read on.

What is a touch assistant on Xiaomi and why you need it

Touch Assistant or Floating Button is a virtual button developed by Xiaomi to make navigation easier, which appears as a semi-transparent circle at the edge of the screen and contains quick actions:

• 🔙 Back – returns to the previous screen (analogue of a gesture or hardware button).
• 🏠 Home - Opens the main screen.
• 📱 Recent apps – triggers a multitasking menu.
• ⚙️ Additional features – quick access to screenshots, screen recordings or lock.

Xiaomi’s goal is to make it easier for users to manage their assistants, who:

• 👶 Used to physical buttons (on older models).
• 🎮 Often play games where gestures interfere with gameplay.
• 🦾 Have limited capabilities (e.g. motor problems).

However, in practice, most users disable this feature because of:

• 🎯 Accidental clicks (button interferes with games or when watching videos).
• 🖥️ Occupied screen space (especially on smaller Redmi displays) 9A/10A).
• 🔄 Unauthorized activation after updates MIUI.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to deactivate the assistant in the settings menu, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO s MIUI 10 and newer (including) MIUI 14 based on Android 13. Follow the instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to Special Features (or Additional Settings → Special Features on older versions).
3. Find Touch Assistant (can be called Floating Button or Touch Assistant).
4. Move the slider to the off position (grey).
5. Confirm the action if a pop-up window appears.

Restart your phone (sometimes the button disappears only after the reboot)

Check the screen in games/apps – the assistant should not appear

Make sure that in the settings → Special. capabilities slider remained off-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global POCO F3) After the system update, the assistant can turn on again, in which case repeat the steps or use alternative methods from this article.

If the Touch Assistant item is not in the settings, it means:

• 📱 You have custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) – use Method 4 (ADB).
• 🔧 The function is disabled at the system level – try Method 3 (hidden settings).

Method 2: Deactivation via the navigation menu

On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 12/13/14 The sensor assistant is closely linked to the navigation settings. If the standard method didn't work, try turning it off here:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Select Full-screen display (or Navigation buttons on older versions).
3. Click on Additional navigation settings (could be called Gesture Settings).
4. Find the floating button option and turn it off.

💡 Useful tip: If after turning off the assistant still appears in games (for example, in Genshin Impact or in the game). PUBG Mobile, check the settings of the game itself. Some titlesforcedly activate virtual buttons for easy gameplay.

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In the models with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F3/F4) The sensory assistant can be hidden in the Settings menu → The phone. → Version. MIUI (slip 7 Time to unlock hidden options).

Method 3: Disconnect via hidden settings (for experienced)

If the sensor assistant doesn't turn off using standard methods, it can be deactivated through hidden system settings. MIUI, but it requires caution:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. Select Testing (or Testing)
3. Go to the User Interface Settings section.
4. Find the Force Floating Button option (or similar) and turn it off.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Changing hidden parameters can lead to unstable system performance. on some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) This method causes gestural malfunctions - make a backup copy of the data before using.

An alternative way for firmware based on Android 11/12/13:

Settings → About the phone → MIUI version (shap 5 times)


→ Developer → Interface settings → Floating button (disable)

Method 4: Complete removal through ADB (advanced)

If the touch assistant persists in returning after the shutdown, it can be completely removed by using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This is a method that's suitable for users who are willing to work with the command line. You'll need to use it:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional settings → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) and type in adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.touchassistant
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Removal of the system application may result in:

• 🚨 Errors in updating MIUI (The system can restore the assistant).
• 🔧 Problems with gestures on some models (Mi 10 Ultra, Redmi) K40).

If you want to not delete, but simply disable the assistant through ADB, use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.touchassistant

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ADB-The method is the most reliable way to get rid of the sensory assistant forever, but it requires caution. MIUI The button will come back, repeat the procedure.

Method 5: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don't want to go through the settings or use ADB, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🛠️ App Inspector allows you to disable system applications without root permissions. Find com.miui.touchassistant and deactivate it.
• 🔍 Package Disabler is a similar tool, but with a more user-friendly interface. MIUI 12/13.
• 🚀 Shizuku + App Ops – Advanced solution for managing system application permissions (requires customization).

💡 Important: When using third-party applications:

• 🔒 Give them only the necessary permissions (don't give them access) SMS or contact).
• 📥 Download. APK only from verified sources (APKMirror, official website) XDA Developers).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI You may need to re-configure.

Example of work with App Inspector:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to Special Opportunities.
3. In the search, enter touchassistant.
4. Select the app found and click Disable.

Why the sensory assistant turns on on on its own and how to prevent it

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the assistant appears again after:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI (Especially when moving to a new version, such as MIUI 12-13).
• 🔋 Resetting settings (even partial, through Settings) → Recovery).
• 🎮 Running certain games (some titlesforcedly activate virtual buttons).
• 🔧 Changes to special features settings (for example, enabling Screen Increase).

How to prevent spontaneous inclusion:

💡 Gamer's advice: In games like Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire, the touch assistant can interfere with aiming:

1. Disable the assistant via Method 1 or 2.
2. In the game settings, find the Control section and turn off the option to Show virtual buttons.
3. Use the game mode in MIUI (in the notification curtain), which blocks pop-ups.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off the touch assistant, users often make mistakes that lead to the opposite result.

• ❌ Disable only in one menu - the assistant can be controlled from several sections (Special. capabilities, Navigation, Gestures.
• ❌ Ignoring updates after update MIUI Always check the system after installing new versions.
• ❌ Deleting system files manually can result in a bootloop. Use only proven methods (ADB third-party).
• ❌ Disable debugging by USB after-use ADB — If the assistant comes back, you will need to access the adb again.

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked loader (Redmi) 9C, POCO M3) attempt to remove the system application through ADB Or root can lock the device, and then only flashing through Fastboot will help.

If after all the manipulations, the assistant still appears:

1. Check if the phone has a virus that emulates system functions (use Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).
2. Make sure you don’t activate Child Mode or Easy Mode in Settings – they can force virtual buttons to turn on.
3. If the problem occurred after a phone drop or moisture, perhaps the touch screen is faulty - contact the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions