How to change navigation buttons in places on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 proven ways

The touch buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 9 are arranged in the classic order: Back → Home → Recent. But what if you prefer a different order? For example, smartphone owners of other brands (such as Samsung or Google Pixel) are used to the reverse arrangement: “Recent” → “Home” → “Back” or maybe you are left-handed and want to optimize the control of one hand.

Fortunately, MIUI (Xiaomi's branded shell) allows you to flexibly configure the navigation bar, both with built-in tools and with third-party utilities. In this article, we'll break down all the working methods, including hidden features and workarounds for different versions of the firmware, and we'll also tell you how to return the standard layout if the experiment failed.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 9 with gesture control (no virtual buttons), button reassignment is not possible - only on models with a classic navigation bar. → Display. → Full screen mode.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in system options, which works on most versions of MIUI 11-14 (including global and Chinese firmware), but may not be available on custom builds.

To swap the buttons in place:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select Full Screen Mode.
4. Slip the order of navigation buttons (or Setting up navigation buttons in new versions).
5. Choose your preferred option: 🔄 Standard ("Back» → «Home» → «Recent») 🔀 Reverse (Recently» → «Home» → «Back up») 🎯 Home only** (hidden side buttons, leaving only the central button)

✅ Once you select, the order of the buttons will change instantly, no reboot is required. If the order of the navigation buttons is not in the menu, then your version is the same. MIUI does not support this function (see alternative methods below).

2. Alternative method: through the MIUI Laboratory (hidden functions)

If you don't have a button reassignment option in your settings, try activating it through the hidden lab menu, which works on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12-14, but you need to be careful - not all parameters in the lab are stable.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You are a developer!” appears (if already activated, skip this step).
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → Developer options.
4. Find the switch "Laboratory" MIUI» and turn it on.
5. Go back and open a new section of MIUI Lab (will appear in the main settings menu).
6. Find the item “Order of navigation buttons” or “Setting up the navigation bar” and select the desired option.

⚠️ Attention: The lab has experimental features that can cause interface failures. If the navigation bar has disappeared or is not working properly after the changes, reset the laboratory settings through the Developer Settings. → Resetting the laboratory MIUI.

3. Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If the built-in methods don't work, third-party utilities will come to the rescue.

• 📱 Button Mapper – allows you to reassign any hardware and virtual buttons (requires root rights for full functionality).
• 🔧 Xposed Framework + Xposed Additions module – for users with custom firmware.
• 🖥️ ADB-commands - changing the configuration of the system through the computer (without root, but with the bootloader unlocked).

Let’s take a look at the most common version of the Button Mapper:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Grant permission to access Special Features (in your phone settings).
3. Select Soft Keys and assign new actions for each button.
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

Important: Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+ Button Mapper may not work without root permissions due to system limitations. ADB-method (see next section).

4. Reassign buttons via ADB (no root)

This method is suitable for users who do not want to get root rights, but are willing to connect the phone to a computer.

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original......>
• 📦 Installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB Debugging in Developer Settings.
2. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer and confirm your debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (or Terminal) and type in: adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,back;home;recent,space" For reverse order ("Recent-home-back"), use: adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Wrong ADB-If the navigation bar has disappeared after the command is executed, return the standard settings:

adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar

5. Features for different versions of MIUI

The functionality of the button reassignment depends on the firmware version. Below is a comparison table for Xiaomi Redmi 9:

On MIUI 11 and older, the option is usually available in display settings. In MIUI 14 (2023+), it can be hidden in the lab or removed altogether, in which case only ADB or third-party applications will help.

🔹 MIUI 12.5–13: There is an option to reassign buttons, but may require lab activation.

🔹 MIUI 14 (Global/China): In some assemblies, the function is removed - use ADB.

🔹 LineageOS, Pixel Experience: Button settings are available in Settings → System system → Gestures.

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If the buttons reset after the MIUI update, try clearing the Launcher app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Clear the cache).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When reassigning buttons, Redmi 9 users encounter common errors. Here's how to fix them:

Problem 1: The buttons do not change after the new order is selected.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🔧 Check if third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex) are installed – they can block system settings.
• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs are patched).

Problem 2: After using ADB, the navigation bar disappeared.

• 💻 Execute the reset command (see table above).
• 🔧 Switch to gesture control and back to Settings → Display. → Full screen mode.

Problem 3: Button Mapper doesn’t see virtual buttons.

• 🔓 Activate root rights (if you are prepared for risks).
• 🔄 Try the alternative app Custom Navigation Bar.

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Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 14+ The most reliable way to reassign buttons is to use ADB-Built-in settings may not be available due to Xiaomi's policy of unifying the interface.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions