Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still one of the most popular smartphones of the brand due to balanced characteristics and support for current versions of MIUI. However, even experienced users sometimes face difficulties in managing multitasking – especially after updates or resets. If you can’t find how to quickly switch between applications or close them, this article will help to understand all the nuances.
Depending on the firmware version and the navigation type you choose (buttons or gestures), the ways you call the Redmi Note 7 multitasking menu may be different. We'll look at all the current methods, including the hidden MIUI 12/13/14 chips, and explain why sometimes the appbar won't open and how to fix it. If you recently upgraded your smartphone or bought it from hand, save this instruction bookmarked!
1. Standard method: "Recent" button (for classic navigation)
If your Redmi Note 7 has three buttons on the navigation (back, home, square), then opening the multitasking menu is simple:
- Press the square button once (right of the Home button).
- Hold it for 1-2 seconds to see the extended menu with the option to pin apps or clear everything.
This method works on all versions of MIUI, including older builds for the Redmi Note 7. If the button does not respond, check if it is disabled in the settings:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Display. → Navigation panel
- 📱 Make sure you select the navigation button (not gestures)
- 🔄 If the buttons are hidden, turn on the panel display in the same menu.
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On the Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 12+, you can adjust the order of the navigation buttons, for example, swap the "Back" and "Recent" places for convenience to left-handers.
2. Gesture for multitasking (if gesture navigation is enabled)
With the release of MIUI 10, Xiaomi has started to actively promote gesture control, and on the Redmi Note 7, this mode works steadily.
- Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen and hold your finger for 0.5 seconds.
- If it doesn’t work, try to start a gesture just to the right of the center (where the “Recent” button used to be).
Important: on some firmware, the gesture may conflict with opening the notification panel.
Make sure Full-screen gestures are enabled | Turn off the gesture for the notification panel in Settings → Display → Full-screen display | Check the sensitivity of gestures in Additional settings → Gestures
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On MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 7, the multitasking gesture only works when the touch sensitivity setting is turned on in the screen settings. If the panel opens again, increase the sensitivity or calibrate the sensor.
3. Alternative methods: voice assistant and home button
Few people know, but on the Redmi Note 7, you can open multitasking without touching the screen or even with the display locked.
- 🎤 Voice command: Activate Google Assistant (or XiaoAI) and say, "Open recent apps." Works even on a locked screen if the Locked Voice Assistant option is enabled.
- 🏠 Double-click Home: In some firmware, you can set up a double-click on the Home button to call multitasking. → Additional settings → Home button".
These methods will come in handy if the Redmi Note 7 touch screen does not respond well to touch or you use a smartphone with gloves.
Limitations of alternative methods
4. Why the Multitasking Menu Doesn't Open: 5 Reasons and Solutions
If neither of these methods works, the problem is settings or software failure, and here are the most common reasons and solutions for the Redmi Note 7:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The "Recent" button doesn't respond | Disabled in the settings | Include it in Settings → Display → Navigation panel |
| The gesture doesn't work. | Conflict with cover or film | Remove the case or recalibrate the sensor to Settings → Display → Screen Calibration |
| The panel opens, but it's empty. | Miui.system service failure | Clear the cache of the Settings application → Applications → Application Management → System → Clear the cache |
| The menu opens with a delay | Lack of RAM | Close the background apps or restart the phone |
| No response to gestures after update | Resetting gesture settings | Switch to buttons and back to Settings → Display → Full-screen display |
If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try resetting MIUI to factory settings (be sure to back up!) in 90% of cases, this helps to return multitasking to work.
5 Hidden MIUI Multitasking Chips for Redmi Note 7
The developers of MIUI have added a few hidden features to the firmware that make it easier to work with applications, and here are the most useful ones:
- 🔒 App fastening: In the multitasking menu, swipe down the app card and tap the pin icon.The app won't close when you clear the memory.
- 📱 Separate screen: Hold the app icon in the multitasking bar and select Separate Mode. Doesn't work with all programs.
- 🔄 Quick switch: Swipe twice on the bottom of the screen (left to right) to instantly switch to the previous app.
- 🗑️ Clean with exceptions: Click on the cross in the multitasking bar and select “Clean everything except...” to save the desired applications.
These features can be hidden depending on the version of MIUI, to activate them:
- Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to turn on the developer mode.
- Return to Settings → Additional Settings → For developers and find the option Animation Multitasking (enable it for smoothness).
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MIUI 13+ for Redmi Note 7 has a feature called “Smart Cleanup”, which automatically closes unused applications when the battery level is low. You can turn it off in Settings → Battery → Settings → Smart Cleanup.
6. How to set up a multitasking panel for yourself
In MIUI, you can customize the look and feel of the appbar, for example:
- 🎨 Change the display style: Go to Settings → Display. → Multitasking and choose between “Cards” or “List».
- 🔢 Customize the number of apps displayed: In the same menu, you can select how many apps to show (3 to 10).
- 🔍 Add App Search: Activate the Search in Multitasking option to quickly find the right programs.
If you use a split screen frequently, we recommend you turn on the option to quickly start split mode in the multitasking settings, then it will be enough to hold the application icon in the panel to activate.
The Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 12+ also has a smooth transition feature that makes the open/close animation of apps smoother. However, it can slightly increase battery consumption - keep this in mind when setting up.
7. Frequent User Errors and How to Avoid Them
Many Redmi Note 7 owners experience the same problems when multitasking, and these are the most common mistakes:
⚠️ Note: If you use gestures but have enabled the bottom bar hidden in the screen settings, multitasking may not open. Disable this option or use alternative methods (e.g. voice commands).
Another typical situation is that users try to open the appbar more than 5 times in a row, after which the system blocks the gesture for 10 seconds (protection against random clicks).
Also, remember that some launchers (like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher) can override standard MIUI gestures.
- 🔧 Go to the launcher settings and turn off conflicting gestures.
- 📱 Or go back to the standard launcher. MIUI In Settings → Annexes → By default. → Launcher.