Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS offer swipe control by default. This makes the interface more modern and visually expands the usable screen area by removing the lower bar with buttons. However, many users who have switched from other devices or are simply used to the classic scheme experience discomfort from random clicks and the lack of familiar physical or on-screen buttons. Disabling gestures returns traditional navigation, which is especially true for older people or those who often change devices.
The process of deactivating the swipe management system does not require obtaining superuser rights or installing complex software. All the necessary tools are already built into the Android operating system and are available through the standard settings menu. In this article, we will discuss in detail each step necessary to switch to button navigation, as well as the subtleties of sensitivity settings and additional features that can interfere with the comfortable operation of the gadget.
It's worth noting that in recent firmware versions, the algorithms for touchscreen and touch interpretation may differ, so if the standard path doesn't lead to the desired result, there are alternative methods and hidden menus, which will also be discussed below. The right navigation setting is the foundation of convenient smartphone use, affecting the speed and overall experience of the device.
Difference Between Navigating Buttons and Gestures
Before making changes to the system, it is important to understand exactly what the two modes are different: button navigation involves three fixed or programmatic controls at the bottom of the screen: Back, Home, and App Menu. This is a static and predictable scheme that reduces cognitive load on the user. Button navigation occupies a certain part of the display, but provides an instant visual response.
In turn, gesture control is based on swipes around the edges of the screen, for example, a swipe from the left or right edge replaces the back button, and a swipe from the bottom up returns to the desktop. The full bar at the bottom of the screen disappears, freeing up space for application content. However, such a system requires more precise movements and adjustment, especially on devices with curved edges of the display, where false positives are possible.
Choosing between these modes is a matter of taste, but functionally they are the same. If you value maximum screen area and are willing to put up with occasional random actions, gestures can be convenient. If you care about clarity and no unnecessary movements, returning to the buttons is the best solution. The table below compares the main characteristics of both methods.
| Characteristics | Navigation with buttons | Gesture management |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied screen area | There's a bottom panel. | Panel hidden, maximum space |
| Adjustment rate | Instant (intuitive) | It takes time (1-3 days) |
| Risk of error | Minimum | False swipes are possible |
| Convenience with one hand | High (fixed zones) | Medium (you need to reach for the edges) |
Standard way to disable through settings
The easiest and safest way to switch navigation mode is available to anyone immediately after you buy the device. You don't need third-party utilities. First, unlock the smartphone and go to the main settings menu. Find the section that is usually marked as Settings or has a gear icon. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
Inside the settings menu, you'll need to find the one that handles screen and system interactions, most commonly called Additional Settings or Advanced Settings, and that's where the settings that govern the interface behavior are hidden. Once you go to this section, look for a line called Full Screen Display or Navigation on the screen, and you click on it and you'll see the controls that are available.
The system will offer you two or three options: gesture control, classic buttons, or, in some regions, buttons with the ability to change their order. You need to select the button option. Once you touch this item, the interface will instantly change, and at the bottom of the screen will appear familiar controls, the changes will take effect immediately and do not require rebooting the device.
☑️ Navigation switching algorithm
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, the path may look different, so look for Desktop or Home in the basic settings. If you can't find the right item, search inside the settings menu by typing in "navigation" or "gestures." This is the fastest way to get to the desired menu, bypassing a long subsection search.
Customization of order and sensitivity of buttons
Once you’ve successfully disabled gestures and returned button control, the system can offer additional fine-tuning, especially for those who are used to Google’s Android logic or the specific location of buttons on other devices. The menu where you chose the type of navigation is often available with the option of “Button Order” or “Location”.
The standard order for most Xiaomi devices is that the back button is on the right and the menu button is on the left. However, in pure Android, the reverse arrangement is accepted. If you use different phones often, changing the order will help avoid confusion. Just choose the desired option from the suggested schemes, and the buttons will change places instantly.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the order of the buttons only affects the visual location of the navigation elements. The function of the buttons remains the same, but the habit of muscle memory can play a cruel joke in the first hours of use.
Also worth paying attention to the sensitivity of the edges of the screen, even if you use buttons. In the section Additional settings may be a paragraph that regulates the prevention of accidental clicks. If you wear your phone in a tight case or use a protective glass with rounded edges, the correct setting of this option will eliminate false activation of the side zones, which is sometimes interpreted by the system as an attempt to trigger the multitasking menu.
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Use black-framed protective glass (2.5D or 3D) if you have trouble accidentally pressing the edges of the screen, which creates a physical buffer between your finger and the active area of the display.
Hidden Developer Features and Menus
For advanced users who lack standard options, Android provides access to advanced settings through the developer menu. Here you can find options that affect transition animation and navigation bar behavior. To get into this menu, you need to quickly click on the build number in the About Phone section several times until you see a message about the developer mode activation.
In the list of Advanced Settings → For developers, you should scroll down to the block associated with drawing or system. We are interested in a item that may be called Navigation Bar or. Here you can turn on the display of additional keys, such as buttons for quickly switching the keyboard layout or creating a screenshot that is not available in normal mode.
Be careful with the changes in this section, though. Some settings can lead to unstable interfaces or conflicts with system applications. The developer menu is primarily designed to test applications, and not all options are documented by the manufacturer. If you accidentally change the settings and the interface behaves strangely, you can always reset the developer settings to the original state through the top menu of the same section.
How to reset the developer settings?
Problems with the touchscreen bar and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where even after disabling gestures at the bottom of the screen remains a thin strip or the behavior of the system remains strange.This can be due to the operation of the Touchscreen Bar (or “Floating button”), which is analogous to Assistive Touch in iOS. It creates a virtual button on top of the interface for quick access to functions.
To turn off this item if it interferes, you need to go to Settings → Additional settings → Floating button (or Touchscreen Bar). Here you need to move the switch to the Off position. This will remove unnecessary elements from the screen and return the cleanliness of the interface. Often this feature is activated randomly when you quickly activate in the control menu.
Another reason for incorrect operation can be third-party launchers or applications for customizing the interface. If you installed themes, fonts or shells from third-party developers, they can intercept navigation control, in which case it is recommended to temporarily remove newly installed themes or reset the launcher settings to standard values to check if the problem disappears.
- 📱 Check if One Hand Mode is enabled, which can also change the screen control logic.
- 🛡️ Make sure the protective glass installed does not overlay sensors or edges, causing "phantom" touches.
- 🔄 Rebooting the device often resolves temporary software failures in the touch layer.
Impact of HyperOS Updates on Navigation
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on Xiaomi devices, the navigation algorithms have undergone some changes. The new shell seeks greater unification with the smart home ecosystem, so navigation settings can be integrated deeper into the overall system settings. In HyperOS, the path to customization is often shortened and is located in the Desktop and Recent section.
Importantly, newer versions of the software have improved the animation of the transitions between gestures and buttons. If you upgrade to the latest version, switching can become smoother, without noticeable delay. However, some users note that early beta versions of HyperOS have encountered bugs when the system spontaneously returned to gestures after rebooting, in which cases cleaning the cache of the system application System UI helps.
If you own a flagship device that was released in 2026-2026, it probably already runs on the new OS. The method of disabling gestures has not changed, but the visual design of the menu has become more minimalist. Icons have become larger, and text descriptions have become more detailed, which makes it easier for users with reduced vision to find the right item.
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Upgrading to HyperOS changes the visual style of the settings menu, but the logic of finding the “Full-screen display” or “Navigation” item remains the same in the “Additional settings” section.