How to change the navigation buttons of Xiaomi Redmi 5: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but its standard navigation buttons (back, home, recent) do not seem convenient to all users. Someone wants to swap them, someone wants to replace them with gestures, and someone just does not like the appearance. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways of customizing the navigation bar, including hidden MIUI settings, third-party applications and even editing system files for advanced users.

It’s important to understand that the ability to change buttons depends on the firmware version. Redmi 5 with MIUI 9-12 has some options available, and on newer versions (if you upgraded informally) – others.

If you've never changed your system settings, don't worry: most methods don't require super-user rights and are safe for the device, but some advanced methods can cause crashes, so we recommend backing up your data before experimenting.

1. Standard MIUI settings: change the location and style of the buttons

The easiest way to change navigation buttons is to use the built-in MIUI options. Even on the factory-built Redmi 5, there are basic customization tools.

• 🔄 Switch buttons, such as moving “Back” from right to left, like in Android stock.
• 🎨 Change the display style – make buttons transparent, miniature or add animation.
• ⚡ Activate full-screen gesture mode (available on the MIUI 10+).

To open these settings, go to: Settings → Display → Navigation buttons (or Full-screen mode in newer versions). If there is no such option, try an alternative path: Settings → Additional → Navigation buttons.

On the menu you will see several options:

• 📱 Standard buttons – the classic three buttons at the bottom of the screen.
• 👆 Gestures MIUI — Swipes instead of buttons (not available on all Redmi 5 versions).
• 🔄 Order of buttons – here you can change the “Back” and “Recent” places.

Limitation: The Redmi 5 with MIUI 9 may not have any gesture option, in which case upgrade to MIUI 10/11 (if possible for your model) or use alternative methods from the following sections.

2.Use of Button Mapper: Advanced Customization If built-in settings MIUI Not enough, you can use a third-party Button Mapper app (no root required: 🔧 Reassign button actions (for example, double-click on Home to start the camera). 🎯 Add additional buttons (such as the screen lock button). 🖼️ Change the appearance of the panel (color, transparency, size). Download Button Mapper from Google Play and follow the instructions: Download and install the app Give permission to use special features (in Android settings) Select a button to change (for example, "Back") Assign a new action (swipe, double-tap, etc.) Save the changes and restart the smartphone--> Important: Xiaomi Redmi 5 with MIUI You may need to include an option for developers. → Debugging by USB and allow Button Mapper to run on top of other applications (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Working on top of other applications). ⚠️ Note: Some actions (e.g. reassigning the Home button to launch a third-party application) may conflict with system processes. MIUI. If the smartphone starts to slow down - return the standard settings.

3. Activate full-screen gestures via ADB (without root)

If your version of MIUI does not support GUI gestures, you can enable them via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works on most Redmi 5 firmware, but requires a connection to a computer.

You'll need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Steps to activate gestures:

1. Connect Redmi 5 to your PC and open the command line (cmd).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Execute the command to enable gestures: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1
4. Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

After the reboot, the screen settings will have Full-screen gestures, and if you don't have one, try the alternative command:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI for Redmi 5 gestures may work unstablely (for example, random swipes will be perceived as clicks).In this case, return the standard panel with the command: adb shell settings put global settings force_fsg_nav_bar 0

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If the navigation bar is completely lost after activation of gestures, return it with the command adb shell settings delete global. force_fsg_nav_bar and reboot the device.

4. Change the appearance of buttons through MIUI Theme Editor

If you don't like the design of standard buttons, you can change it with MIUI themes.

1. Open the Themes app on your smartphone.
2. Select the Online Themes section and search for a theme marked Nav Bar or Navigation.
3. Download and apply the theme – the navigation buttons will change color, shape or animation.

If there are no suitable options in the theme store, you can create your own theme:

• 📲 Install. MIUI Theme Editor (available on Xiaomi forums).
• 🖌️ Edit the files. nav_bar_background.png and nav_icons.xml topic-folder.
• 📤 Upload the theme to the device through the themes → Mine. → Imports.

Example of popular button themes:

On Redmi 5 with MIUI 9, some themes may not apply to the navigation bar – in this case, use Button Mapper or edit system files (Section 5).

5. Advanced methods: editing system files (requires root)

If you're willing to take risks and get root rights, you can manually edit the system files that are responsible for the navigation bar, which gives you maximum freedom, but requires caution - an error can lead to a bootloop.

You'll need:

• 🔓 Root rights (for example, through Magisk).
• 📂 File Manager with access to /system (For example, Root Explorer).
• 💾 Backup copy of original files.

Instructions:

1. Open /system/usr/keylayout and find the Generic.kl file.
2. Copy it to a safe place (for example, on a PC).
3. Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: key 158 BACK key 172 HOME key 139 MENU
4. Change the values or add new buttons (for example, key) 115 VOLUME_UP volume-control).
5. Save the file, return it to /system, and set permissions 644 (rw-r-----).
6. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 5s MIUI 11+ Generic.kl can be protected by dm-verity, in which case, before editing, disable signature verification via Magisk (Disable DM-Verity module).

6.Alternative launchers with their own navigation panels

If you don't like the standard MIUI panel, you can install an alternative launcher that offers its own navigation options.

• 🌐 Nova Launcher – supports gestures and customization of the bottom panel.
• 🔄 Lawnchair – launcher with gesture support and changeable buttons.
• ⚡ Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration and flexible navigation settings.

To set up the navigation bar in Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the launcher settings and go to Gestures and buttons.
3. Select the navigation bar and set up: 🔄 Order of buttons. 🎨 Color and transparency. ⚡ Additional actions (for example, swipe up to search).

The disadvantage of the method: Alternative launchers do not replace the system navigation bar completely - it will remain visible in some applications (for example, in Settings or Camera).

7. Reset navigation buttons to factory settings

If after the experiments, the navigation bar began to work incorrectly (buttons do not respond, gestures are triggered by chance), return the standard settings.

No root:

• Open Settings → Display → Navigation buttons.
• Select Reset to factory or Standard buttons.
• Reset the device.

With root: If changes are made through system files, do:

adb shell settings delete global force_fsg_nav_bar


adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar

If the navigation bar is gone completely, check the settings in Settings → Display → Full-screen mode – perhaps the Hide navigation bar mode is enabled.

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Before resetting your ADB navigation buttons or editing system files, always back up your original settings, which will quickly return to service if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 5