How to swap the navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 working ways

The navigation buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 9 are the three virtual keys at the bottom of the screen: Back, Home and Recent. By default, they are arranged in an order that may seem uncomfortable, especially if you're used to a different arrangement on previous smartphones. For example, owners of a Samsung or Google Pixel often face discomfort when the Back button is on the right rather than the left.

The good news is that Redmi 9 (and other MIUI-enabled devices) can easily swap them without root rights or complicated manipulation. In this article, we’ll break down three official ways, including hidden settings, and tell you what to do if the option suddenly disappears after an update. Plus, we’ll answer frequent questions about compatibility with gestures and third-party launchers.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9 with version MIUI 14 and later, some menu items may be called differently. If you do not find an option, check the "Additional settings" section or search by settings (the magnifying icon in the upper right corner of the menu).

1. Standard method: through system settings

The easiest method is to use built-in MIUI options. It works on all firmware versions, including Redmi 9 with MIUI 12/13/14, and does not require the installation of additional applications.

To swap the buttons in place:

1. Open the “Settings” (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section → Full-screen mode.
3. Select “Navigation buttons” (or “Virtual buttons” in older versions).
4. Activate the option “Order of buttons” and select the desired arrangement from the proposed options.

✅ Available combinations:

• 🔄 Standard (Back) → Home. → Recent)
• 🔄 Reverse (Recent) → Home. → Back up)
• 🔄 Home on the left (Home) → Back up. → Recent)

If the button order option is missing, you have the control gestures on your device. To see it, go back to the buttons first.

Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Navigation type → Buttons

Turn off gestures in the display settings |

Check out the MIUI version (Relevance → MIUI version) |

Close all background applications |

Reboot your smartphone (optional)-->

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

In some versions of MIUI (especially on Redmi 9 with firmware for the global market), the option to change the order of the buttons is hidden in the Lab. This section contains experimental features that Xiaomi is testing before the official release.

How to get there:

1. Open the Settings section and scroll down to the About Phone section.
2. Click 5-7 times in a row on the MIUI version until the notification “You are a developer!” appears.
3. Go back to the main settings menu and find the new Advanced Settings (or Developer) section.
4. Inside, select MIUI Lab (may be called Special Opportunities).
5. Find the option “Setting up navigation buttons” and select the desired order.

⚠️ Note: The functions in the Lab may not work properly. If the buttons start to be late or disappear after changing, return the standard settings and restart the device.

3. Use of third-party applications (without root)

If the built-in methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities, such as Button Mapper, which allows you to reassign both virtual and physical buttons without superuser rights.

Instructions:

1. Download Button Mapper from Google Play.
2. Open the application and give it the permission “Special features” (a request will appear after launch).
3. Select “Navigation Panel” in the list of devices.
4. Click on the button you want to reassign (like “Back”) and select a new action (like “Recent”).
5. Repeat for the other buttons and save the settings.

✅ Advantages of the method:

• 🎯 It works even if Xiaomi has removed the option from the settings.
• 🎯 Allows you to assign double pressing or holding buttons.
• 🎯 Compatible with most versions of Android 10/11/12 on the Redmi 9.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g., SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may block Button Mapper due to security policies, in which case temporarily disable reassignment before using such programs.

Standard settings MIUI|

Laboratory MIUI|

Appendix side (Button Mapper et al.)|

I don’t change the buttons, I’m used to the standard order.-->

4. Features for different versions of MIUI

Depending on the firmware version on your Xiaomi Redmi 9, the process of changing the buttons may vary. Below is a comparison table for the most common builds:

🔹 Redmi 9s. MIUI 14 and newer Xiaomi has started actively promoting gestures, so the option to change buttons can be hidden.If you don't want to give up buttons, try rolling back on the buttons. MIUI 13 via Fastboot.

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Storage → Clear cache

5. Compatibility with gestures and third-party launchers

Many Redmi 9 users are switching to control gestures (swipes instead of buttons), but some prefer classic navigation.

• 🚫 Gestures MIUI: If you have gestures enabled, the button change option disappears. To return it, first turn off gestures in Settings. → Display. → Full screen mode.
• 🔄 Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Microsoft Launcher): Do not affect the order of the navigation buttons, as they are part of the system interface MIUI.
• ⚙️ "For Left-handed" Mode: In Some Versions MIUI There's a separate left-handed option that mirrors not just buttons, but other interface elements. → Special facilities → Usability.

📌 Important: If you use full-screen gestures (without buttons), then swipes can only be reassigned via the ADB or third-party utilities like Xposed Framework (requires root).

6. Problem Solving: The buttons don't change or disappear

Sometimes when the buttons change order, they get bugs that go inactive, disappear, or go back to normal.

• 🔄 Reboot: A banal but effective way to reboot Redmi 9 after changing your settings.
• 📱 Reset launcher settings: Clip the empty space on the home screen → «Launcher settings» → «Resetting settings».
• 🔧 Cleaning the System Cache UI»: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Show all applications → Systemic UI → Warehouse → Clear the cache
• 📲 Related: Retreat of the update MIUI: If the problem appeared after the update, try to roll back to the previous version through Settings. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a Service Package.

⚠️ Warning: If the navigation buttons are completely gone after manipulation, check if Immersive Mode is on, and it is turned off by swipeing from the bottom up and holding or through Settings. → Display. → Full screen mode → Hiding the navigation panel.

💡

If none of these methods worked, your firmware is probably modified (castomy or regional), in which case the only way out is to flash the official global version of MIUI through the Mi Flash Tool (the instructions are available on the 4PDA forum).

FAQ: Frequent questions about navigation buttons on Redmi 9