How to completely or partially disable touch buttons on Xiaomi Mi A1: a detailed guide

The Xiaomi Mi A1 is a legendary smartphone with pure Android that is still used by many users. However, its touch-sensitive navigation buttons (back, home, recent) can be annoying: random taps, wear of the sensor or just wanting to switch to gesture control. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to disable them, from standard settings to technical tricks with ADB and third-party utilities.

Important: the methods vary in complexity and consequences. Some simply hide the buttons, others completely deactivate them at the system level, we will describe each option in detail, its pros and pitfalls, and give recommendations on the best solution for your tasks.

Why users want to turn off touch buttons on the Mi A1

There are several reasons, and they are not always related to the malfunction of the device:

🔄 Transition to gesture control – in new versions of Android (even on Mi) A1 via custom firmware) swipes are available instead of buttons, which saves space on the screen and reduces sensor wear.
👆 Accidental presses - buttons on Mi A1 are located close to the edge of the screen, which leads to false positives when playing or scrolling.
🛠️ Physical wear – over time, the sensory areas lose sensitivity or, conversely, begin to react to touching the body.
🎨 Aesthetic preferences – some users consider the button bar outdated and want to hide it for a minimalist interface.

In practice, a combination of these reasons is most common: for example, Mi A1 owners, after upgrading to Android 9 Pie (via custom firmware), get access to gesture control, but touch buttons continue to be displayed, taking up useful space.

⚠️ Note: On the original firmware Mi A1 (Android 8.1 Oreo is not a gesture control. If your goal is gestures, you will have to install custom firmware (like LineageOS), which requires unlocking the bootloader and may not be guaranteed.

Method 1: Disable buttons through system settings (without root)

It's the easiest and most secure method, but it doesn't work on all firmware versions, and the point is to hide the navigation bar through standard Android options.

Instructions:

Open Settings → System → Gestures (on some firmware, the path may differ: Settings → Screen → Navigation Panel).
Choose the option “Swipe up on the home screen” or similar (the name depends on the version of Android).
Confirm the change – the button bar should disappear, and instead a lower gesture bar will appear.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
🔧 Find the System Interface (or Lawnchair if you use this launcher).
📱 Open “Additional Settings” and look for the option to hide the navigation bar.

This method is reversible: to return the buttons, select the option "3 navigation buttons" in the gesture settings.

Make sure your firmware has a "Gestes" section in the settings |

Backup important data |

Charge your phone at least 50% |

Check the gesture control in safe mode (if in doubt)

-->

Method 2: Using ADB to deactivate buttons (without root but with PC)

If the standard settings don’t help, you can turn off buttons via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require superuser rights, but requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
Turn on the Mi A1 to debug via USB: Settings → About Phone → Build Number (click 7 times to unlock Developer Mode), then Settings → System → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
Connect your phone to your PC and enter in the command line (terminal) in turn: adb devices (device should appear) adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*
Reboot your phone. The navigation buttons should disappear.

To return the buttons, execute the command:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null

Advantages of the method:

✅ Doesn't require root rights.
✅ It works on most firmware.
✅ Reversible process.

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmwares may not only miss navigation buttons after using this command, but also the status bar (top bar with time and icons). To return the status bar, use the command: adb shell settings put global settings policy_control immersive.status=*

💡

If you don't have a gesture control after you turn off the buttons, install the Fluid Navigation Gestures app from Google Play, which emulates swipes even on older versions of Android.

Method 3: Completely disable via build.prop editing (requires root)

This is a radical method for power users that completely deactivates touch buttons at the hardware level, suitable if the buttons are physically faulty (e.g., constantly firing on their own) and interfere with the use of the phone.

Instructions:

Get root rights to the Mi A1 (e.g., via Magisk).
Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
Open /system/build.prop file in the text editor.
Add a line to the end of the file: qemu.hw.mainkeys=1
Save the changes, restart the phone.

After that, the touch buttons will no longer respond to the presses, and the system will assume that the device has hardware buttons (which are missing on the Mi A1), you can return everything back by deleting the added line.

Method	Root is required.	PC required	Reversibility	Risks.
System settings	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	Minimum
ADB	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	Medium (possible interface glitches)
build.prop	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	High (risk of "bricking")
Third-party annexes	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	Low (depending on the application)

Through system settings|

With ADB|

Through editing build.prop (from root)|

Third-party applications|

Not yet.

-->

If previous methods seem complicated, you can use third-party utilities that don't turn off buttons at the hardware level, but simply hide them visually or block clicks.

Top.-3 tested applications:

📱 Nacho Notch - hides the navigation bar and adds gesture control. Works without root, but requires the inclusion of special features in the settings of Android.
🔄 Fluid Navigation Gestures -- swipe buttons, sensitivity zone settings, free version with limitations.
🛠️ Button Mapper – allows you to reassign or disable buttons (including touch.

How to set up Nacho Notch:

Download the app from Google Play.
Open Settings → Special Features → Nacho Notch and turn on the service.
In the application settings, select "Hide the navigation bar".
Activate the option “Immersive mode” to hide buttons in full-screen applications.

Cons of this method:

⚠️ Applications may conflict with certain games or banking programs.
⚠️ Possible delays when swiping (depending on model and firmware).
⚠️ On some firmware, buttons may appear briefly after a reboot.

What if the app doesn’t hide the buttons?

1. Check if special features are included in Android settings. 2. Try rebooting your phone after you set up the app. 3. Install another launcher (like Nova Launcher) – some button hiding apps work better with alternative shells. 4. If you use custom firmware, upgrade to the latest version – old builds may have bugs with immersive mode.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off the touch buttons, users of the Xiaomi Mi A1 face typical difficulties, and let's analyze the most common and ways to eliminate them.

Problem 1: After using ADB, the status bar disappeared.

Solution: Follow the command:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.status=nav_bar

Or return the settings to the standard:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null

Problem 2: Gesture control doesn’t work after hiding the buttons.

Decision:

Install Fluid Navigation Gestures and set up swipes manually.
Check if the Settings option is enabled → System system → Gestures → Swipe up on the main screen.
If you use custom firmware, update it - in new versions, bugs with gestures are often corrected.

Problem 3: The buttons return after the reboot.

Solution: This is typical of rootless methods.

For ADB: Create a script with a disable command and run it automatically when you download it (e.g. via Tasker).
For apps: Add them to autoboot in Android settings.

Problem 4: Touch buttons will fire on their own even after shutting down.

Solution: It's a hardware malfunction.

Calibrate the sensor through the engineering menu (code ##6484##).
If the calibration does not help, you need to replace the touch glass or plume.

💡

If after all the manipulations, the buttons continue to interfere, and gesture control is not satisfied - consider installing custom firmware with support for full-screen mode (for example, Havoc-OS or Pixel Experience).

Alternative Options: What to Do When Nothing Helps

If none of the methods described have worked, radical solutions remain:

🔄 Custom firmware installation – many builds (like LineageOS 16 or Resurrection Remix) have built-in gesture control support and allow you to completely disable touch buttons through settings.
🛠️ Physically disabling the button plume is an extreme method that requires disassembling the phone, suitable if the buttons are faulty and interfere with the operation, after the plume is turned off, the buttons will stop working forever, even after the settings are reset.
📱 Use of external keyboard - if Mi A1 used as a media player or for work, you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and control the phone without touch buttons.

Before using these methods, assess the risks:

Castom firmware can contain bugs, especially on older devices like the Mi A1.
Disassembling the phone takes away the warranty (if it is still valid) and can damage other components.
External input devices (keyboards, gamepads) are not always convenient for everyday use.

If you decide to install custom firmware, follow this checklist:

Unlock the bootloader via fastboot oem unlock|

Make a full backup through TWRP|

Check firmware compatibility with Mi A1 (codename tissot) |

Charge your phone to 100% |

Download firmware, GApps (if you need Google services) and Magisk (for root)

-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I turn off only one button (for example, "Back")?

Yes, but it will require: Button Mapper app (with or without root). ADB-command to reassign a specific button (e.g. adb shell input keyevent) KEYCODE_BACK — But it's a temporary solution. Without root, you can't completely disable one button -- you can only reassign it to work.

Why don’t the swipes at the bottom of the screen work after the buttons are turned off?

This is a typical problem of old firmware Solutions: Update your firmware to the latest available version (like Android 9 Pie via LineageOS). Install the Fluid Navigation Gestures app and set up the swipe zone manually. Check if your launcher conflicts with gesture control (try Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).

How to return buttons if after experiments they are missing, and gestures do not work?

Recovery Methods: Connect your phone to your PC and follow ADB-Adb shell settings put global policy_control null If ADB It does not help, reset the settings to the factory (Settings) → System system → Reset settings. In extreme cases, reflash your phone via Fastboot or TWRP. If even after resetting the buttons do not appear, the problem is in the damaged build.prop file (you need to restore it through recovery).

Will Face Unlock or fingerprint work after buttons are turned off?

Yes, these functions are not dependent on touch buttons. However: If you use gesture control, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen can conflict with fingerprint unlock (if the sensor is located on the back, like the Mi A1). On some firmwares, after hiding the buttons, unlock animation may not display correctly. Solution: configure swipe area in applications like Fluid Navigation Gestures so that they do not overlap the fingerprint scanner area.

Can you turn off the buttons permanently so they don’t appear even after resetting?

Yes, but you need to: Get root rights. Edit /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl by commenting on button strings (e.g., adding # before key 158 BACK). Or physically disable the button plume (requires disassembly of the phone). These methods are irreversible without manual intervention. Once you reset or flash the buttons will not return if they are locked at the system file level or hardware.