How to change buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

Changing the navigation buttons is one of the first steps that users take after buying a new smartphone. Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, which is based on the MIUI shell, provides ample opportunities for personalization of the interface, including reordering the back, home and menu buttons, a feature that is especially relevant for those who move from other brands or simply prefer to control the device with one hand, changing the position of the thumb.

As standard, Android smartphones often have buttons arranged in the order familiar to the Western market, but the order may be different in the firmware versions or after flashing. Users often look for a way to invert these controls so that the back button is on the right rather than the left, or vice versa. In this article, we will detail where the necessary switches in the Redmi 8 Pro menu are hidden and how to activate gesture control that completely removes the buttons from the screen.

It is worth noting that the MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and regional firmware (Global, EU, China).However, the logic of the search for settings remains the same for the entire Xiaomi ecosystem.

Standard configuration through the system menu

The main and most secure way to change the order of navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is in the standard system settings menu. You do not need to install third-party applications or obtain superuser rights. First, you need to unlock the device screen and find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear.

Once you enter the main settings menu, scroll down to the Advanced Settings section. This is where the interface appearance, date, time and language are concentrated. In some firmware versions, this may be simply called Advanced Settings, but the functionality remains identical.

Inside, look for Full-screen Mode, and clicking on it will open a window where you can choose between classic three-button navigation and modern gesture control. If you have buttons activated, the button order switch will appear below. As you move the slider, you will instantly see how the virtual bar at the bottom of the screen changes.

⚠️ Note: If you don't see the "Order of the Buttons" item, make sure you don't activate Full Screen gesture control.

The changes take effect immediately, without having to reboot the device. You can experiment with both of these to see which one is more ergonomic for your hand. Most often, a right-handed person is more comfortable using the back button on the right, since the right thumb naturally reaches to the right edge of the screen.

Transition to gesture management

Modern smartphones, including the Redmi 8 Pro, are increasingly abandoning physical or on-screen buttons in favor of gesture control, a technique that frees up useful display area and makes interface interactions smoother. To switch to this mode, go back to the Full-screen mode menu, which was discussed above.

Activate the Full-screen gesture switch. The system will offer a brief tutorial showing the basic movements. A swipe from the bottom up replaces the Home button, a swipe to the left or right of the edge of the screen replaces the Back button, and a finger delay at the bottom of the screen triggers the multitasking menu.

• 📱 Swipe from bottom up in the center - return to the desktop.
• ⬅️ Swipe from left or right edge – action “Back».
• ⏸ Swipe from the bottom up with a delay - the opening of recent applications.

An important advantage of this approach is the ability to hide the bar prompt at the bottom of the screen, which sometimes interferes with watching videos or reading, and in the same settings menu, you can turn off the display of this bar, making the control completely invisible and intuitive.

But remember, getting used to gestures takes time. If you've been using buttons for years, the early days can be randomly pressed or confused. MIUI allows you to go back to the buttons at any time by simply moving the slider back into the settings menu.

Hiding the navigation lane and fine-tuning

Even with classic buttons or gestures, many users are annoyed by the black or white bar at the bottom of the screen taking up space. On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, this bar can be hidden, but it requires one additional action.

In the navigation type selection menu (where you choose between buttons and gestures), find the Hide prompt switch. When activated, a warning will appear on the screen that the bar will disappear. The system will ask you to perform a certain gesture (usually a swipe up from the bottom edge) to confirm your consent.

Once confirmed, the band will disappear and the screen will become visually cleaner, which is especially useful in games and applications where every millimeter area of the display is important, but keep in mind that the lack of a visual landmark can be disorienting at first.

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If you've hidden your navigation bar and you've forgotten how to call the menu, just swipe from the bottom up from the very edge of the screen. This is a universal action to return to your desktop in gesture mode.

For users who want maximum freedom, there is a possibility to adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen. While this is limited in standard MIUI settings, some scenarios allow you to adjust indentations to avoid accidental taps in games.

Use of third-party applications for navigation

If standard MIUI capabilities aren’t enough, or you want to implement unique scenarios (such as changing the transparency of buttons, their size or adding additional features), Google Play apps come to the rescue. One of the most popular solutions is the Navigation Bar app or analogues.

Such applications require special permissions, such as access to special capabilities (Accessibility), without this permission, the program will not be able to intercept system commands and change the appearance of the bottom panel.

With the help of third-party software, you can:

• 🎨 Completely change the design and color of the buttons.
• 📐 Change the size and transparency of the navigation bar.
• 🔘 Add new buttons (for example, to screenshot, turn off the screen, or launch a specific application).

⚠️ Warning: Installing applications that change system navigation can lead to increased battery consumption, as they run in the background constantly.

Also, consider that after updating the Android system or the MIUI shell, third-party applications may stop working correctly before the update of the application itself.

Comparison of navigation methods

To help you choose the best control for your Redmi 8 Pro, we have prepared a comparison table that reflects the main differences between classic buttons, standard gestures and advanced settings.

As you can see from the table, switching to gestures, especially with the hint turned off, gives the greatest gain in the usable area of the screen. However, for older people or users with large smartphones, classic buttons may remain a more understandable and reliable option.

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Choosing between buttons and gestures is a matter of taste, but gestures provide a more modern and immersive experience with content on the Redmi 8 Pro’s big screens.

Solving problems with navigation

Sometimes users experience a situation where the navigation buttons are lost, freeze or behave incorrectly, this can be caused by a failure in the system process of SystemUI or a conflict with the installed application. The first step should always be to simply restart the device.

If the reboot didn't help, check if Full Immersion mode is on in a particular app. Some games and video players automatically hide the navigation bar to expand the view.

In more complex cases, when the buttons disappear completely and do not appear even after restarting, you can try resetting the interface settings.

1. Go to Settings → Apps.
2. Click on three dots in the corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find the System Interface (or System UI) in the list.
4. Select Memory → Clear (not “Erase Data”, namely, clearing the cache if available, or resetting the application settings).

It’s also worth checking for system updates. Sometimes navigation bugs are patched in security patches that come automatically or are manually accessible through the update menu.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Customizing the interface is an important step in personalizing your Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro. The right arrangement of controls increases usability and reduces finger fatigue during prolonged work with your smartphone. Experiment with settings to find the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics.