How to change the navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi: gestures, virtual keys and hiding the panel

Navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are one of the key interface elements that make the device usable. Many users don’t know that they can not only be moved or hidden, but also completely replaced with gesture controls that have become the standard in modern Android smartphones. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to customize the navigation bar, from the classic arrangement of buttons to completely abandon them in favor of swipes.

It is important to understand that the configuration options depend on the version. MIUI And Redmi models, like on devices with MIUI 12.5 and later, extended gestures are available, whereas older versions (e.g., older versions, MIUI 11) limited. Some features may not be available on the low-cost Redmi A or Redmi Note series with low RAM, and we will look at the general-purpose methods that work on most devices, and also point out the features for specific lines of data.

If you want to optimize your smartphone, reduce wear on physical buttons, or just try something new, this guide will help make navigation as convenient as possible. And for those who are afraid of breaking something, we have prepared a list of safe changes that do not require root rights or violate warranties.

1 What types of navigation are available on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They support three main types of navigation, each with its pros and cons, depending on the user's habits, device model and firmware version.

1. Classic virtual buttons – three familiar icons ("Back", "Home", "Recent") at the bottom of the screen.This option is suitable for those who are used to traditional control or use a smartphone with physical buttons (for example, Redmi). 9A The advantage is intuitive, the disadvantage is taking up space on the screen.

2.Gesturals MIUI (Full screen: Swipes from the bottom of the screen, for example, swipe up to the main screen, swipe sideways back, saves the display space and looks more modern, but requires getting used to.+) gestures work smoother due to the high frequency of sensor survey.

3. Android gestures (standard) are an alternative swipe, similar to running a clean Android. Here swipe from the bottom up and hold opens up a list of recent apps, and a quick swipe returns to the home screen. This mode may be more convenient for those who have previously used smartphones from other brands (for example, Samsung or Google Pixel).

• 📱 Classic buttons are the best choice for beginners and owners of small-screen devices (e.g. Redmi Go).
• 👆 Gestures MIUI — optimal for modern models with AMOLED-high-resolution screens.
• 🤖 Android gestures – suitable for those who often switch between different brands of smartphones.

On some devices (e.g. Redmi) K50 Or Redmi Note 11 Pro, which is an optional one-button navigation mode, where all actions are performed through one central button, which is rarely used, but can be useful for users with disabilities.

2. How to change navigation buttons through settings MIUI

The easiest way to change navigation buttons is to use standard settings. MIUI. This method works on all Xiaomi Redmi devices without the need to install additional apps or gain root access. MIUI 12–14.

To change the type of navigation, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select Full-screen Mode (some models may call navigation buttons or navigation type).
4. You will be offered three options: buttons, gestures MIUI And Android gestures. Choose the right one.
5. If you have selected the buttons, you can further adjust their order (for example, change the places "Back" and "Recent").
6. Click Ready or Apply to save the changes.

On some devices (such as Redmi 10 or Redmi Note) 10S) After you select the gestures, you'll see a short tutorial video that shows you exactly how swipes work, which you can skip, but we recommend you to check if you haven't used gesture control before.

If some gestures don’t work properly after changing the navigation type (for example, swipe up opens the notification bar instead of the main screen), try restarting the device. In rare cases, you may need to reset the interface settings to factory settings, but this is an extreme measure.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (international firmware) and MIUI China's navigation settings may vary, for example, the Chinese version can default to gesture mode without returning the classic buttons, requiring a change in the firmware region or custom Recovery.

3. Customization of order and appearance of virtual buttons

If you prefer classic virtual buttons, you can not only move them, but also change the appearance. For example, on Xiaomi Redmi, the following options are available:

• 🔄 Change the order of the buttons - you can swap the places "Back" and "Recent", which is convenient for left-handed people.
• 🎨 Hiding buttons – temporarily disabling the panel to view content in full screen mode.
• ⚙️ Additional features – for example, holding the Home button to start the voice assistant.

To change the order of the buttons:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Full screen mode → Buttons.
2. Click on the icon with three dots or the item Order buttons.
3. Choose one of the options offered: Standard (Back-Home-Recent) or Reverse (Recent-Home-Back).
4. You can also enable Auto-Hide option to allow the panel to disappear after a few seconds of inactivity.

On some models (e.g. Redmi) K40 or Redmi Note 11T Pro) button sensitivity is available, which is useful if the sensor is not responsive to touch:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Special facilities → Touch and retention.
2. Set up the Sensitivity setting (if it is available for your model).

If virtual buttons are lost in some applications (such as games or video players), it is normal for the system to return them, swipe from the bottom up of the screen.

💡

If the navigation buttons are too bright at night, turn on the “Dark Theme” mode in the display settings – this will reduce the load on the eyes and save battery power on the screen. AMOLED-screen.

4. How to turn on gestures MIUI and set them up

The gesture control on Xiaomi Redmi allows you to completely abandon virtual buttons, freeing up additional space on the screen. This mode is especially convenient on devices with large displays (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro).+ 5G or Redmi K60), Where to reach the top of the screen with one hand is difficult.

To turn on the gestures MIUI:

1. Open Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Choose Gestures MIUI.
3. The system will offer a brief training – flip through the instructions or skip them.
4. Now, swipes are running the system.

Some devices (e.g. Redmi 11 Prime) offer additional gesture sensitivity settings, so if swipes are too easy or require a strong press, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Gestures.
2. Select Swipe Sensitivity.
3. Adjust the slider according to your preferences.

If gestures conflict with control in games or applications (for example, swipe up opens the main screen instead of action in the game), you can temporarily disable gestures for a particular application.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
3. Activate the option to Disable gestures or Full-screen mode.

5 How to return classic buttons if they are missing

Sometimes after the update MIUI If you change firmware, virtual navigation buttons disappear, and the user is left without the ability to control the smartphone:

• 🔄 Automatic switch to gestures after update.
• 🛠️ Shell malfunction MIUI.
• 📱 Install custom firmware without support for virtual buttons.

To return the buttons, follow the following steps:

1. If the screen responds to touch, swipe up from the bottom edge — this should open the main screen or app list — then go to the settings as described in Section 2.
2. If swipes do not work, connect your smartphone to your computer and use them. ADB (Android Debug Bridge for changing navigation type. Command to return classic buttons: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1 After completing the command, restart the device.
3. If ADB Unavailable, try resetting the interface settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Resetting interface settings.

On devices with MIUI China may not be able to return classic buttons through standard settings:

• 🌐 Change the firmware region to Global or EEA (European).
• 📦 Install a third-party launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher) that supports a virtual navigation bar.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB requires on-set debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Developer → Debugging by USB). Incorrect commands can cause a system failure. If you are not sure of your actions, contact the service center.

If the buttons are missing after installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be the lack of support for virtual navigation in the build.

• 🔧 Installation of the Magisk button emulation module (e.g. NavBar Enabler).
• 🔄 Return to official firmware MIUI via Fastboot.

6. Additional Tricks With Navigation on Xiaomi Redmi

In addition to the standard settings, Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have hidden features and tricks that will make navigation even more convenient.

1. Single-button navigation

On some models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Gaming) is available in a mode where all actions are performed through one central button:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Button Management.
2. Choose Single-Knob Navigation.
3. Set up actions for single and double pressing.

2.Gestural gestures in landscape mode

If you use your smartphone horizontally often (for example, for games or watching videos), you can customize individual gestures for landscape mode:

1. Open the Settings. → Display. → Full screen mode → Additionally.
2. Turn on the Gesture option in landscape mode.
3. Configure the swipes from the left and right edges of the screen.

3. Hiding the navigation panel in games

In some games (such as Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire), virtual buttons may interfere to hide them:

1. Start the game.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge and hold your finger – the panel will disappear.
3. To get her back, repeat the swipe.

4. Customize gestures for specific applications

Nana MIUI 13 and later, you can assign unique gestures to individual apps, for example, swiping up on YouTube can open a miniplayer, and in Chrome it can go back to the previous page:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate application.
3. Press Gestures and set up custom swipes.

💡

On devices with MIUI 14 there is a function "Smart gestures", which allows you to assign actions for double touch on the back panel (for example, starting the camera or turning on the flashlight).

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change your navigation settings, Xiaomi Redmi users often face typical problems, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If after changing the type of navigation, the smartphone began to brake or overheat, this may be due to:

• 🔋 Background Processes – Close Unnecessary Apps in the Recent Menu.
• 🔄 Animation Conflict – Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Window animation = Off.).
• 📲 Incompatible Firmware - Update MIUI last-minute.

On devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10C or Redmi 9A) gestures may work less smoothly than on smartphones with Snapdragon, due to the peculiarities of touch processing by the chipset:

• Disable unnecessary background services.
• Use a lightweight firmware (for example, MIUI Lite).
• Reduce the sensitivity of gestures to avoid false positives.

⚠️ Note: If some features have stopped working after changing the navigation type (such as screenshots or calling a voice assistant), check your gesture settings in the Settings section. → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures. Swipe combinations may be in conflict.

8. Alternative ways to adjust navigation

If the standard settings MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party tools that allow you to flexibly adjust your navigation, add new gestures, or even create your own swipe combinations.

1. Applications for customization of navigation

There are several popular apps that replace the standard navigation bar:

• 📱 Fluid Navigation Gestures – adds smooth gestures and sensitivity tuning.
• 🎛️ NavStar – allows you to create your own gestures and assign them any actions.
• 🔄 GesturePlus – supports gestures on the edges of the screen and on the back panel.

These applications require:

1. Insert Special Opportunities → Special Opportunity Services for the selected application.
2. Provide permission to display over other windows.
3. Some devices will require ADB-Command to disable standard navigation: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 0

2. Use of Magisk modules

If your Xiaomi Redmi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk is installed, you can use the modules for deep customization:

• 🔧 XiaomiEU – firmware with advanced navigation settings.
• 🎨 Edge Gestures – adds gestures from the edges of the screen.
• 📲 NavBar Enabler – Forced to include virtual buttons on custom firmware.

3.Configure via ADB

Additional commands are available for experienced users ADB, And it's a way of fine-tuning navigation:

• Disable gesture animation: adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0 adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0 adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0
• Change the height of the navigation bar: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands and Magisk modules can lead to unstable system operation or loss of warranty.Before experiments, back up the data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

If you decide to return standard navigation after using third-party tools, do:

1. Disable special features for a third-party application.
2. Adb shell settings put global settings force_fsg_nav_bar 1
3. Reset the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions