Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which are powered by the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, offer users the flexibility to personalize the interface. One of the first questions owners have when they buy a new device is to change the way they navigate. The standard three buttons at the bottom of the screen are common, but they take up useful space and make the interface visually heavier.
The switch to gesture control allows you to free up the bottom of the display, making content more immersive and easy to use with one hand. The navigation bar is not just a design element, but a tool that affects the speed and ergonomics of a gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the settings, hide unnecessary elements and adapt the control to your habits.
It’s worth noting that the process of changing the type of navigation takes literally a few seconds, but the result significantly changes the experience of interacting with a smartphone. Below we will look at the step-by-step algorithm of actions, as well as answering frequent questions related to this feature.
Why Change the Standard Navigation on Xiaomi
The traditional three-button scheme (Back, Home, Menu) comes from the early Android era. However, with the rise of screen diagonals and the advent of frameless displays, physical space under your fingers has become a critical resource. Gesture control eliminates the need to reach for the bottom edge of the screen, allowing you to perform basic swipes from the edges of the display.
In addition to saving space, the new navigation method often works smoother and is visually integrated into the system's animations. Many users note that after getting used to it, returning to the buttons seems uncomfortable and slow. MIUI allows you to flexibly adjust the sensitivity and direction of swipes.
⚠️ Note: When switching to gestures for the first time, it may be necessary to 2-3 Don't rush back the buttons if you experience discomfort in the first hour of use.
Also an important aspect is compatibility with protective glass: Some users prefer to hide the bottom panel to avoid accidental taps on the edge of the screen, especially on devices with curved edges such as the Xiaomi 10 Pro or Xiaomi 11.
Step-by-step: transition to full screen control
The process of changing navigation settings in the MIUI shell is unified and available through the main system settings menu. You do not need superuser rights or install third-party software. All the necessary tools are already built into the operating system.
To start, open the Settings app and find the section that deals with the look and feel of the system. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same.
- 📱 Click on the Settings icon on your desktop or in the notification curtain.
- ⚙️ Scroll through the list to “Additional Settings” (in some versions “Extended Settings»).
- 🖱️ Select the menu "Full screen management».
- ✅ Activate the “Fullscreen Control” switch or select the appropriate icon.
☑️ Check before changing navigation
Once the mode is activated, the bottom bar with the buttons will disappear. Now, to return to the main screen, you need to swipe from the bottom up in the center of the display. To call the menu of recent applications, use a swipe from the bottom up with a pause in the middle of the screen. This is the basic configuration that is set by default.
Setting the location of the buttons “Back” and “Menu”
If you prefer to leave the classic buttons, Xiaomi’s system allows you to change their order, which is especially true for users who are switching from Samsung or iPhone devices, where the logic of the buttons’ location may differ from that of Android.
The Full Screen Control or Navigation menu (depending on the software version) offers layout options. You can choose which side the return button will be on. The back button is standard for most devices, but many are used to right-handed placement.
To change the order:
- In the same navigation settings menu, find the “Order of the buttons” section.
- Select the preferred scheme: “Back to the left” or “Back to the right” button.
- Changes are applied instantly, without the need to restart the device.
⚠️ Note: The change in button order only affects the classic navigation mode. In gesture mode, the swipe direction for returns ("Back") can also be configured separately in advanced gesture settings.
The correct setting of the control reduces the number of erroneous clicks and speeds up the work with the interface, ergonomics in this case plays a key role, especially when using a smartphone with one hand.
Hidden navigation settings in the engineering menu
How to hide the lower bar-indicator
When you switch to gesture control, there's a thin horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen, which is a visual indicator that shows that swipes are active, but many users are annoyed by it, because it can overlap interface elements in applications or just horn in the eye.
Fortunately, MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and HyperOS have the ability to completely remove this indicator, which makes the screen completely clean and gesture control remains fully functional.
To hide the strip, perform the following actions:
- 👁️ Go to the settings "Full screen management».
- 🚫 Find the “Hide Gesture Hide” switch (or “Hide the indicator” switch»).
- 🔄 Activate it. The strip will disappear immediately.
Usually it's the bottom. 10-15% If you forget about the gestures, the control may seem to be broken until you remember to swipe.
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To temporarily call the gesture indicator, if you forget its location, just swipe your finger from the bottom of the screen up anywhere - the strip will appear for a couple of seconds.
Navigation Methods Comparison: buttons vs. gestures
Choosing between buttons and gestures is a matter of taste, but each method has its own technical advantages and disadvantages, and understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision about which way to keep the main one.
Below is a comparison table that will help determine the best use case for your scenario.
| Comparison parameter | Three buttons. | Gesture management |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied space | It takes up about 10-15% of the screen. | 0% (hidden completely) |
| Speed of access | Instant, one touch. | Requires swipe (faster with skill) |
| ergonomics | Requires a touch of the lower edge | Convenient for large screens |
| Compatibility | Works in all applications | There may be conflicts in old games. |
As you can see from the table, gestures benefit in terms of screen space and modern appearance, but for users with small palms or on compact models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 9 or Xiaomi 12X), buttons can remain more comfortable.
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Gestures save screen space and look more modern, but require a short period of habituation.
Solution: buttons are missing or gestures are not working
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the bottom panel disappears on its own, or gestures stop responding to commands, this can be caused by a system process failure of the SystemUI or a conflict with the installed launcher.
If you have lost buttons and do not turn on gestures, try the following steps:
- Reboot your smartphone. This solves 90 percent of the temporary software failures.
- Check if the One-Hand mode is activated, and in this mode, the screen shrinks and the navigation can behave strangely.
- Make sure that there are no third-party navigation management apps installed that may conflict with system settings.
In rare cases, resetting navigation settings through the developer menu helps, but this requires caution. If the problem is hardware in nature (the bottom of the screen does not respond), you will need to diagnose the display in the service center.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen has stopped responding to touches at the bottom of only certain apps, check the screen resolution settings for those apps.
Updating the system to the latest version of MIUI or HyperOS on time also helps to eliminate navigation dashboard bugs, and developers regularly release patches that improve the stability of the interface.