Modern smartphone interfaces, including Xiaomi’s MIUI shell, are constantly evolving to offer users new ways to interact with the device. However, the habits of millions of people have been formed for years, and for many, the standard three buttons at the bottom of the screen remain the only convenient control option. Often, the location of navigation elements on a new device is different from the one you were used to on the previous smartphone.
Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have a flexible setup system that allows you to change the configuration of navigation elements without installing third-party software. In this article, we will discuss the process of repositioning buttons, examine the hidden capabilities of the navigation system and answer questions that often arise for owners of smartphones Redmi and Poco. You will learn not only to change the buttons in places, but also optimize the management of the gadget for your individual needs.
Before we start to make changes, it’s worth noting that the settings interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the MIUI modification. We’ll look at the universal ways that most modern models do. It’s important to understand that changing the order of the buttons is not just cosmetic editing, but a way to improve the ergonomics of using the device with one hand.
Standard ways to change the order of buttons
The basic method of rearranging navigation elements is built into the system settings and is available to every user immediately after purchasing the device. First, you need to open the main settings menu of your smartphone. Usually this is an app with a gear that can be found on your desktop or in the notification curtain. Find a section called Additional Settings or Advanced Settings. In some versions of the firmware, this item may be called simply "System" or be located inside the "Screen" menu.
Within the selected section, look for Navigation by buttons or System Navigation. This is where the functionality we need is hidden. After you go to this menu, you will see a visualization of the bottom panel of the screen. The system will ask you to choose between gesture control and classic buttons. Make sure that the button mode is selected, otherwise the options for permuting them may be hidden or inactive.
Then you'll have a few layout options, and the standard option is the "Back button" on the left, "Home" on the center, and the "App Menu" on the right, but if you're used to the logic of iOS or older versions of Android, you can choose the mirror option, in which case the return button will move to the bottom right corner, which for many users is a more convenient solution when using your smartphone with your right hand.
Once you have selected the desired configuration, the changes are instantaneous, you don't have to restart the device or do any additional things. The interface will immediately respond to your choice, and you can test the new layout in real time. If the location is uncomfortable, you can always go back to the menu and choose another option in seconds.
Configure through the menu "For developers"
In some cases, the standard settings menu may not contain all the options you need, especially on older versions of MIUI or in specific regional firmware. This is where the hidden Developer Menu comes in. This is a powerful tool designed primarily for testers and advanced users, but with many useful features for ordinary smartphone owners.
To start, go to About Phone at the top of the settings menu. Find the MIUI version or build number. You need to quickly click on this line 7-10 times in a row. After a few clicks, the system will warn you about how many steps are left before activation. When the counter reaches zero, you will see a notification that the developer mode is on.
Now go back to the Additional Settings menu, and there should be a new option, for developers, and when you go in, scroll down to the section that you're using to type in or use the system, and look for an option that's called "Order of Navigation Buttons" or "Swap buttons."
It depends on the specific model of your Xiaomi.
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If you can’t find the right option in the developer menu, try searching by settings by entering the “navigation” or “buttons” query.
Using the developer menu gives you access to more subtle settings that may not be available in the normal interface. However, be careful: changing unknown parameters in this section can lead to unstable system operation. Change only those settings that you are sure of. In this case, we are only interested in the order of the navigation elements.
Use of third-party applications for navigation
If you don't like the built-in features or your phone doesn't have the ability to change buttons, Google Play apps will come to the rescue. There are many utilities that completely replace the standard navigation bar with custom, offering advanced functionality and flexible configuration of the appearance. One of the most popular solutions is the Navigation Bar app or its analogues.
Once you install this app, you'll need to give it special permissions. Android will require access to Accessibility and permission to display over other windows. Without these permissions, the app won't be able to take control of the bottom of the screen. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate all the necessary functions.
The advantage of third-party solutions is that you can not only change buttons, but also add new features. You can create your own button combinations, set up double taps or long taps to run applications. In addition, many applications allow you to change the transparency, size and color of the buttons, which is not possible with standard MIUI tools.
Security of Third Party Applications
It is worth considering that using third-party navigation can consume additional battery power, since the application must run in the background constantly.In addition, on some models with cutouts in the screen or curved edges, the custom panel may not display correctly.
Transition to gesture management
Instead of swapping buttons, many users today prefer to abandon them altogether in favor of gesture control, a technique introduced in Android back in version 10 and has since become the de facto standard for modern smartphones. Gestures free up useful screen space and make interaction with the interface smoother and more intuitive.
To enable gesture control, go to the same navigation settings: Settings → Additional settings → Navigation buttons (or Full-screen mode). Select Full-screen mode or gesture control. The system will offer a brief training showing the main movements. Swipe from the bottom up returns to the desktop, swipe from the bottom up with a delay opens the multitasking menu, and swipe from the edge of the screen replaces the Back button.
The main advantage of gestures is that they don't have to be tied to a specific location of the buttons, and you don't have to think about where the return button is anymore, because it's "virtual" on both sides of the screen, and this is especially convenient for devices with large diagonals, where it can be difficult to reach the bottom corners, but it can take from a few days to a couple of weeks to get used to gestures.
☑️ Transition to gestures
MIUI also has a hidden bar at the bottom of the screen, which shows that gesture mode is active, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in content, but for many users, having this thin line is an important visual guide to help you swipe up to the desktop.
Comparison of navigation methods
To help you decide on the best way to control, we have prepared a comparison table that highlights the key differences between standard buttons, their rearranged version, and gesture control, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, depending on the use cases of your smartphone.
| Parameter | Standard buttons | The buttons on the right | Gesture management |
|---|---|---|---|
| ergonomics | It's common for most people. | Right-handed. | Maximum screen coverage |
| Speed of operation | Tall. | Tall. | Very high (after getting used to) |
| Visual noise | Take up space. | Take up space. | Minimum (or no) |
| Compatibility | 100% applications | 100% applications | Possible conflicts in old games |
As you can see from the table, gesture control benefits from the use of screen space, which is critical for modern bezel-free displays. However, classic buttons remain more predictable for users who often change devices or use smartphones from different manufacturers. Choosing the "bone buttons on the right" often becomes a compromise for those who switch from iPhone to Android.
And don't forget the effect of this method on the life of the screen, because when you use static buttons, the same pixels at the bottom of the display can burn out faster, especially on the back of the screen. AMOLED-Gesture control or periodic change of the design theme helps to distribute the load on the pixels more evenly.
Frequent problems and their solution
When you set up your navigation, you may encounter a number of common problems, such as when you update your system, you may reset to factory settings and the buttons will revert to the same order that you're used to, but uncomfortable with, and you just need to repeat the setup procedure. If the problem is repeated, you should check for updates for a particular System Interface application in the app store.
Another common problem is that buttons are not displayed correctly in individual applications. Some games or programs with non-standard aspect ratios may overlap the navigation bar. To solve this problem, you can try changing the aspect ratio for a particular application in the screen settings or temporarily switch to gesture control.
⚠️ Warning: If after changing button layouts or turning on developer mode, the touch screen reacts with a delay or chaotic response, reboot the device. In rare cases, the system process responsible for navigation may freeze.
Users also sometimes complain that the Back button doesn’t work as expected in certain applications, because the app developers set the logic for the return, and in such cases the system can’t influence the behavior of the button by software methods, and this is not a smartphone error.
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Replacing buttons is a matter of personal preference and habit, not technical necessity. Choose the one that requires the least amount of thumb movement in your typical use case.