How to use gestures on Xiaomi: full instructions with hidden chips

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer one of the most flexible gesture management systems among Android devices. However, many users use only basic swipes, unaware of hidden features, from contextual gestures in apps to hidden combinations for quick access to functions. This article will not only show how to turn on standard gestures, but also reveal professional techniques that save up to 30% of time with daily use of the phone.

It is important to understand that the system of gestures in MIUI It evolved from versions 12 to 14: some combinations have changed, new Quick Ball and Super Wallpaper Gestures have appeared.We analyzed all the current models (from Redmi Note 11 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and highlighted universal solutions, as well as unique chips for flagship devices with a high-end design. AMOLED-If you still use the classic navigation buttons, after this article, you probably don't want to go back to them.

Basic navigation gestures: how to turn on and configure

The standard gesture system in MIUI replaces three classic buttons (Back, Home, Recent) with intuitive swipes to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Navigation panel
2. Select "Full-screen gestures" (on some models - "MIUI gestures")
3. In the list of options, mark "Swipe up" (recommended) or "Swipe off the sides"

The main combinations after activation:

• 🔹 Back: swipe from right to left from the edge of the screen (similar to the back button")
• 🔹 Main screen: swipe up from the bottom edge (analogue Home")
• 🔹 Recent applications: swipe up with pause or diagonal swipe right-up
• 🔹 Quick switch: horizontal swipe on the bottom panel between open applications

On models with MIUI 14, the "Gestural Sensitivity" option appeared, a slider in the same setting menu. In low sensitivity, the system ignores random touches (good for games), in high sensitivity, it responds even to short swipes. Optimal value for most users: 70-80%.

Hidden gestures in MIUI: 7 little-known combinations

In addition to basic swipes, MIUI also has a few professional gestures hidden in it that are not documented in the official certificate, which work on all devices with MIUI 12+, but may require pre-activation in Settings → Additional → Special Features → Gestures.

A swipe down the center of the lock screen is especially useful, opening the notification bar without unlocking the phone, saving time when you need to quickly check messages without entering a password. On models with Always-On Display (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), this gesture works even when the main screen is off.

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If the double-touch wake gesture doesn't work, check the settings in Settings → Display → Sleep Mode → Double-touch to wake up. On some firmware, this option is disabled by default.

Gestures in applications: contextual management

MIUI integrates gestures not only into the system but also into standard applications, and these combinations are often ignored, although they speed up the work significantly:

• 📷 Gallery: Double-touch photography – Swipe up/down zooming – switching between albums Hold + swipe left/right – quick removal of photos
• 🎵 Music: Swipe left/right on the album cover – transition to the previous/next track Double touch progress bar – rewind for 10 seconds
• 📖 Browser: Swipe to the left of the screen – return to the previous page Holding the Back button – history of visited pages

In messengers (Mi Messages, WhatsApp) a hidden gesture works: a swipe to the right message calls a context menu with the options "Respond", "Send" or "Delete". On models with MIUI 14, Peek gesture support is introduced: a light click on the notification shows the preview message without fully opening the application.

Quick Ball: Swimming Assistant with gestures

Quick Ball is a unique MIUI feature that adds a floating circle with quick action access to the screen to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Quick Ball
2. Turn on the switch at the top of the screen
3. Set up position (left or right edge) and transparency
4. In the section "Fast Actions" select the desired options (up to 5 pieces)

Standard Quick Ball activities:

• 🏠 Return to the main screen
• 🔙 Going back
• 📱 Recent annexes
• 🔍 Search
• 🔧 Quick setups
• 📸 Screenshot.

Professional Lifehack: If you clamp Quick Ball and pull to the side, you will open an extended menu with additional options (for example, One-Hand Mode or Screen Lock). On models with MIUI 14, you can assign your own gestures for Quick Ball, for example, double-touch to launch the voice assistant.

Enable Quick Ball in Settings |Add 3-5 most frequent actions |Appoint position on less-used edge of screen |Control horizontal (for games) |Disable Quick Ball in full-screen applications (Hide in landscape mode option)

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One-Hand Gestures: How to Manage a Large Smartphone

Modern Xiaomi smartphones (e.g., Xiaomi) 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) have diagonals 6.7-7.3 It's an inch, which makes it difficult to control one hand. MIUI There are three solutions to this problem:

1. One-Hand Mode: Activated by swipe on the Home button (if you use gestures) or Quick Ball Reduces the interface to 4.5-5.5 inches (configured in Settings → Additional → One-Hand Mode)
2. Side gestures: Swipe down the left/right edge of the screen - calling the Swipe notification bar up the edge - calling the Quick Settings panel

Dynamic sizing change

MIUI 14

• Double touching on the bottom of the screen in horizontal mode – temporary reduction of the interface

For Redmi K60 and newer owners, games feature a hidden swipe-from-the-corner gesture that triggers the MIUI game menu with options for recording screen, blocking touches and responding quickly to messages, which is especially useful in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, where standard swipes can interfere with gameplay.

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One-hand mode in MIUI 14 supports “smart positioning” – the system automatically shifts the interface to the direction where the thumb is, analyzing the angle of the phone’s tilt.

Gesture problems: why they don’t work and how to fix them

If your Xiaomi gestures stop working or don’t work properly, the reasons may be:

⚠️ Note: On devices with unofficial firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience), system gestures may conflict with Magisk modules. Before setting up, disable all navigation-related modules (Fluid Navigation Gestures, Edge Gestures, etc.).

If the problem persists after all manipulations, reset the gesture settings to factory:

adb shell cmd overlay reset com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural

This command requires connecting the phone to a PC with installed ADB-Drivers and Included Debugging USB. After performing, restart the device.

Gestures on the lock screen: security and convenience

The lock screen in MIUI supports several unique gestures that combine convenience and security. It is important to understand that some of them can be disabled if you use a pattern lock or password - in which case they need to be manually activated in Settings → Lock screen → Additional.

• 🔒 Unlocking by camera: Swipe down the camera icon – quick start of the photo module Double pressing the volume button – an alternative method (configured separately)
• 📞 Quick call: Swipe left on the phone icon - direct dialing the last number Swipe to the right - opening the contact list
• 🔋 Energy saving: Keeping your finger on the charge indicator - turning on / off the energy saving mode

⚠️ Note: On devices with Always-On Display (Xiaomi) 12T Pro, 13 Ultra, etc.) gestures on a locked screen may be activated in your pocket by accident. To avoid this, turn on the option "Block gestures in your pocket" in Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings.

For owners of devices with MIUI 14, the experimental “Smart Unlock” gesture is available: if the phone recognizes a trusted Wi-Fi network or a connected Bluetooth device (such as the Mi Band), the lock screen automatically goes into simplified mode with a minimum set of gestures. This is convenient at home, but requires pre-configuration in Settings → Security → Smart Unlock.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Gestures on Xiaomi