Modern mobile operating system interfaces tend to be minimalist, but some features can annoy users with their intrusiveness. Owners of Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI 12 shell often face a situation where a random movement of a finger from the bottom of the screen causes a search to start or widgets to appear. This action, known as swipe up, can interfere with comfortable work, especially if you are used to classic navigation.
It’s possible to remove this feature, but the settings are scattered across different parts of the system, which causes confusion. Depending on the regional firmware (Global or Chinese) and the interface version, the paths to the desired switches may differ. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate unnecessary gestures and regain full control of the desktop of your device.
Why do you need a swipe up and why it is turned off
The up swipe feature was introduced by developers to quickly access search and recommended content, which in theory should speed up interaction with a smartphone, allowing you to instantly find applications or information on the Internet, but in practice, many users accidentally activate this mechanism, simply trying to grab a phone or unlock it.
The main problem is that the search gesture often overshadows important interface elements or triggers unnecessary processes in the background, which is not only distracting, but can also consume traffic and battery power, especially for those who use minimalist desktops without unnecessary widgets.
Also, constant pop-ups with news or app suggestions can reduce productivity. By disabling this feature, you will make the use of Xiaomi’s smartphone more predictable and cleaner.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to your system settings, it is recommended to make sure you have an alternative way to search quickly if you are actively using this feature.
It's worth noting that different versions of the firmware may have different algorithms for this gesture, in some cases it opens Google Discover, in others it opens the built-in app search, and understanding what triggers the screen response will help you choose the right method of disabling.
Disabling Google Search Gesture on the Desktop
The most common scenario where swipe up opens the news feed or search bar is related to desktop settings. In the MIUI 12 shell, the desktop component is responsible for this. To remove the annoying effect, you need to go to the appropriate settings menu.
To start, go to your device's general settings. Find a section that can be simply called "Desktop" or hidden inside the "Home" item. This is where the key switches that control the behavior of the home screen are located. If you don't see this item right away, search the settings by entering the word "Worker."
In the menu that opens, look for "Desktop Search" or "Swipe Up," and you can choose the action that you'll perform when you move your finger, and the default is often "Google Search" or "News Feed."
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Desktop for access to interface management.
- 🔍 Find the Gesture or Swipe option up in the list of available actions.
- 🚫 Choose No or Nothing to completely deactivate your motion response.
- ✅ Check the result by swiping up on the home screen.
If there is no direct switch in the desktop settings menu, try pressing and holding your finger on the empty desktop space. In the bottom menu that appears, select Settings (the gear icon), often the desired option is hidden there, in the "Additional" or "Search" section.
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If a standard search doesn’t find the right item, try typing the phrase “gesture” or “swipe” in the settings search – this often leads directly to the desired switch.
Setting the Home button and navigation
In MIUI 12, there is a strong link between the home button and navigation gestures. If you have gestures enabled instead of buttons, swiping up from the bottom of the screen can be perceived as a return command to the home screen, which sometimes conflicts with other actions.
Check the full screen settings. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Full screen mode. You can switch to classic buttons or adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen. Sometimes shifting the gesture area helps to avoid accidental activation.
Also worth paying attention to the default launcher. If you have installed third-party themes or launchers, they may have their own gesture settings, in which case Xiaomi system settings may not apply, and you need to look for the switch already in the settings of the installed launcher.
| Parameter | Standard value | Recommended value | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swipe up. | Google search | No. | Opens search or widgets |
| Home button | Main screen. | No change. | Return to the desktop |
| Long press. | Google Assistant | Nothing/Search | Launch of the assistant |
| Double tap. | Off | Lock/Flamelight | Quick action |
It's important to understand the difference between swiping back to the home screen and swiping back to search, the first is a system navigation gesture, the second is a launcher function, and the second is the one you can turn off, because the first is necessary for managing the interface.
Management of widgets and news feed
Users often confuse swiping up with calling widgets or Google Discover tape. In MIUI 12, these elements can be integrated into the desktop quite deeply. To remove them, it's not enough to just turn off the gesture, you also need to configure the display of content.
Go to the widget settings. This is usually done by long-term tapping on the blank area of the screen and selecting "Widgets" or "Add." If you have the news feed activated to the left of the first screen, you can turn it off in the desktop settings by finding the "News Tape" or "Google Discover" switch.
Removing widgets from your desktop can also help, sometimes a randomly installed widget takes up space and triggers gestures, audit your workspace and leave only the necessary elements.
- 🗑️ Remove unused widgets, long pressing on them → Delete.
- 📰 Turn off Google Discover in your desktop settings if you don’t use news.
- 🧹 Clean the first screen of excess debris for faster interface operation.
Once the interface is cleaned, the swipe up may stop responding because it simply has nothing to display, but for guaranteed results, it is better to still use the software shutdown of the function, as described in the previous sections.
⚠️ Note: When system widgets are turned off, some features, such as weather or steps, may stop showing up on the home screen unless alternative apps are installed.
Use of third-party launchers for full control
If standard MIUI 12 methods don't work, or if settings are permanently reset after an update, there's a radical but effective solution: installing a third-party launcher, which is an application that completely replaces the desktop interface.
Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher allow you to customize each gesture in detail, and you can assign a swipe action to swipe up, down, left, and right, giving you absolute control over the behavior of your smartphone.
To install a third-party launcher, download it from Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default app for the home screen. Select a new launcher. Now all gesture settings will be managed through its own menu.
Installation of Nova Launcher:
1. Download from the Play Store.
2. Press "Open."
3. Select "Default"
4. Set up gestures in the "Gesturing and input" menu.Using third-party software has its advantages: you get a cleaner Android without the branded add-ons Xiaomi. However, it is worth remembering that some features MIUI, such as themes or specific widgets, may become unavailable.
Compatibility of third-party launchers
Specifics of different versions of MIUI firmware
Xiaomi owners are well aware that the same phone model in different regions can have different software. Global version (Global), European (EEA) and Chinese (China) firmware have different settings menu.
In Chinese firmware versions, swipe up is often tightly tied to Baidu's search engine or the internal app store. It can be harder to turn off, sometimes requiring a change in region in settings (Settings → Additional settings → Region). Changing region to India or the US can change the set of available features.
Also worth considering is the version of Android that MIUI 12 is based on. Android 10 and Android 11 may have different gesture behaviors. If you’ve recently upgraded and the feature has suddenly appeared, it’s likely the result of an update to Google’s system components or the launcher itself.
- 🌍 Changing the region could remove intrusive services typical of China.
- 🔄 Update launcher via GetApps or Play Market may bring back old settings.
- 📱 On different models (Mi 9, Redmi Note 9, Poco) X3) The menu can be called differently.
If you can't find the items described, try searching for their English names by switching the language of the system. Sometimes the translation is incorrect and the option you're looking for is called something else, for example, "Up swipe gesture" instead of "Swipe up."
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Interface settings in MIUI often depend on the specific region and firmware version, so the location of items can vary.