Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have huge screens, which can make it difficult to control one hand, get to the top corner of the display, and constant touch can stain glass or cause thumb fatigue. To solve these problems, the company’s engineers have developed a unique tool called the Touch Assistant.
This software module is a floating button that duplicates basic system functions and allows you to control the device using special gestures. The virtual button makes navigation much easier, especially on models with a diagonal of more than 6.5 inches. Users can quickly switch between applications, take screenshots or lock the screen without using physical keys.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate this tool, customize it to your habits and use hidden features that not all Xiaomi owners know about. You will learn to create your own scripts and optimize the interaction with your gadget, making it as convenient as possible for everyday use.
What is a Touch Assistant and Why You Need It
The Touch Assistant is a software add-on over the MIUI or HyperOS interface that creates a floating widget on the screen. Unlike standard navigation buttons, this element can be anywhere on the display and respond to various types of touches. The main purpose of the feature is to expand the control capabilities without having to reach for the edges of the case or use physical buttons.
The tool goes far beyond simply replacing the home or back buttons, allowing you to run applications, manage media, and execute system commands with a single touch, and for people with disabilities or those who prefer a minimalist interface, it is an indispensable tool for accessibility.
It is important to note that the module has little impact on energy consumption, as it only activates when interacting with the screen. However, if you use game modes, the system can automatically hide the widget so that it does not interfere with view during battles.
⚠️ Attention: Touch Assistant activation may conflict with some third-party launchers or applications that use full-screen mode.If you notice strange interface behavior in a particular game, try temporarily disabling the feature.
How to enable and activate the function on a smartphone
The activation process is built into the standard system settings menu and does not require the installation of additional software.The path to the desired switch may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
To start, you need to open the main settings menu of your Redmi or Poco, then find the section responsible for additional system functions, and in newer versions of the shell, it is often hidden in sub-items associated with advanced settings or special features.
Find the item "Touch Assistant" and put the slider in the active position, immediately after that the screen will appear translucent button, you can drag it to any convenient place with your finger, the system will remember the location and return the widget to this place after locking the screen.
- 📱 Open the settings of your device.
- 🔍 Go to Additional Features or Advanced Settings.
- ✅ Find the Touch Assistant and turn it on.
- ✋ Set the button on the screen at your discretion.
☑️ Verification of activation
After activation, it is recommended to check the basic gestures immediately. A short press should open the menu, and a long press should perform the assigned action. If the button does not appear, make sure that the system does not start energy saving modes that block the background processes of the interface.
Customization of the appearance and behavior of the button
The interface of the Touch Assistant is deeply customized, and you can change not only its position, but also the visual design, and the response to different types of touch, and this allows you to adapt the tool to any style of use, whether it's active text or watching videos.
The feature settings menu has a section called "Button Settings," where you can adjust the transparency of the widget so that it doesn't overlap the content, or make it more visible, and you can also have a size setting, which is especially true for users with large fingers or low vision.
You can set up different commands for single press, double tap, and long hold, for example, double press can start the camera, and long press can turn on the flashlight, and this flexibility turns one button into a powerful control center.
| Action. | Description of reaction | Recommended appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Single touch | Opens the main menu of functions | Basic navigation |
| Double touch. | Instant launch of the application | Camera or calculator |
| Long pressing | Executes the system command | Screen locking |
| Dragging | Change of position on the screen | Convenient location |
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Try setting up a double tap to start a voice recorder – this is the quickest way to record an important thought without unlocking the phone completely and without looking for an app icon.
Using gestures for quick access
One of the most powerful features of the Touch Assistant is that it supports complex gestures, and unlike conventional buttons, it recognizes swipes in four directions, allowing up to four additional actions to be encoded beyond the standard taps.
For example, swipe up from the button can simulate a home click by returning to the desktop. Swipe to the right can open a list of recent apps. Swipe down can be assigned to turn off the screen, which is useful if the physical power button is inconvenient or malfunctioning.
For users who often work with text or documents, you can set up gestures to highlight all text or copy, which greatly speeds up the work with office applications on the large screen of a smartphone, and gesture combinations are especially useful when combined with a clipboard.
- ⬆️ Swipe up: return to the home screen or open the menu.
- ⬇️ Swipe down: locking the screen or turning off the display.
- ➡️ Swipe to the right: transition to the previous appendix.
- ⬅️ Swipe left: Launching voice assistant or searching.
It's worth remembering that gesture sensitivity can be adjusted, and if you accidentally trigger an action, try increasing the recognition delay or reducing the swipe activation area in the sensitivity settings.
Creating your own scripts and automation
Advanced users will appreciate the ability to integrate Touch Assistant with automation. While embedded tools are limited to basic commands, using third-party utilities in conjunction with a floating button opens up limitless possibilities.
You can set up a scenario where clicking on the widget will not just open the app, but start a whole chain of actions: turn on Wi-Fi, set the brightness to 50% and run music in a specific playlist.
It's important to set priorities right. If you're using automation scripts, make sure they don't conflict with system processes. Sometimes complex scenarios can cause micro-latency in interface response, which is especially noticeable on Redmi's budget models.