Xiaomi smartphone owners often want to make their device’s interface stand out of the box. The standard design of a MIUI system or a new HyperOS, while functional, can seem monotonous after months of use. One of the most noticeable controls that catches your eye every day are on-screen navigation buttons and action buttons inside apps.
Changing the look of the gadget is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the ergonomics of the gadget. Unfortunately, with built-in tools, it is not always possible to change the shape of the standard Back, Home and Menu buttons, since the manufacturer strictly regulates the appearance of the system elements.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to transform the interface in detail, how to use embedded themes, third-party launchers and specialized applications for deep customization. We will look at both safe methods for ordinary users and more advanced techniques for enthusiasts who want to gain full control of their Xiaomi.
Using built-in design themes to change style
The easiest and safest way to change the look of buttons and other interface elements is to use the official Themes app. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi provides a powerful tool for global system design changes without the need for superuser rights.
When you install a new theme, not only do the wallpaper and icons change, but so do the style of the system buttons, notification curtains, and settings menus. Some authors create themes where the navigation buttons become minimalistic, transparent, or more contrasting. Go to the Themes app to find the right design and search for keywords.
However, not all themes support changing system elements on global firmware versions. Chinese themes often have more functionality, but may require changing the region or using special installation tools. If standard search fails, try searching for themes by tags like Minimal, iOS style, or Custom UI.
Always check how a new theme looks in commonly used programs like instant messengers or browsers. If elements merge with the background, it’s better to remove the theme or look for an alternative with a more responsive design.
Navigation and gesture settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Before looking for third-party solutions, it’s worth exploring the capabilities that the operating system itself provides: In today’s Xiaomi shells, you can not only change the location of the buttons, but also completely abandon them in favor of gesture control, which radically changes the visual style of the bottom of the screen, making it cleaner.
To switch to gesture control, you need to open your system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the Android version, but it's usually in Settings → Desktop → Navigation. Here you can choose between classic buttons and full-screen gestures.
☑️ Setting up navigation
If you choose to use buttons, the system often allows you to change the order of buttons. The standard Back Home Menu sequence can be replaced with the one that is more familiar to users of other Android smartphones. Some firmware versions also offer a setting to hide buttons when watching videos or games, which prevents accidental clicks.
⚠️ Attention: When switching to gesture control, the habituation period can take from 2 to 5 days, during which time random swipes and returns in applications are possible, which is normal behavior.
Deep gesture tuning also includes sensitivity of the screen edges and response speed, which are especially important for devices with curved screens, where casual touches can interfere with work. Experiment with settings to find a balance between convenience and functionality.
Application of third-party launchers for customization
If the built-in capabilities of the system seem limited, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Replacing the standard desktop is an effective way to change the style of buttons, panels and menus. Launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer huge opportunities for personalization.
Installing a third-party launcher allows you to change not only the appearance of the icons, but also the style of the buttons in the dock bar (bottom panel), you can add your widgets, change the transparency of the background, rounding corners and even click animations, which creates the feeling of a completely new device.
Compatibility of launchers with Xiaomi
To install the launcher, download the apk file from a trusted source or through Google Play. Once installed, Xiaomi will request permission to use the new desktop, confirm your choice and, if necessary, configure the permissions in the special features menu to make the gestures work correctly.
Many advanced launchers allow you to create your own button profiles, so you can adjust the size, indentation, and even the behavior of the buttons with a long press, and this gives you the opportunity to create a unique interface that will fully match your smartphone usage habits.
Specialized applications for changing buttons
There is a category of applications that specialize exclusively in modifying the navigation bar, and programs such as Navigation Bar or Fluid Navigation Gestures can overlap the standard Xiaomi panel with their interface.
These apps allow you to add additional buttons, such as to quickly start the camera, turn on the flashlight or switch tracks, so you can change the transparency, color and shape of the buttons regardless of the theme you set, which gives you maximum flexibility in setting.
But these apps have their own peculiarities: they require special permissions through the ADB or the Special Features menu, and without those permissions, the app won't be able to take control of the bottom of the screen.
| Annex | Type of change | Difficulty | I need a Root. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topics (Mi Themes) | Global style | Low. | No. |
| Nova Launcher | Desktop and dock | Medium | No. |
| Fluid Nav. Gestures | Complete panel replacement | Tall. | No (ADB needed) |
| Substratum | System elements | Very high. | Yes. |
When choosing an application, pay attention to resource consumption. Some heavy navigation substitutes can increase battery consumption or cause delays in system response. Lightweight applications are preferred for mid- and low-end devices.
Advanced configuration via ADB and system files
For users who are not afraid of the command line, there is the possibility of fine-tuning through debugging over USB. Using the tools of ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to disable standard navigation components and replace them with custom ones without obtaining root rights.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Then in the Additional → For developers menu, turn on USB debugging.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.internal.customnav
adb shell settings put global sysui_nav_bar"back,home,recent"These commands are an example of how system settings can be managed. However, misuse of ADB commands can cause navigation to fail, so always check the command syntax for your particular version of MIUI. Changing system files requires caution and understanding the structure of Android.
⚠️ Note: Making changes to system files or using commands ADB Disabling critical components can lead to a “bootloop” (cyclical reboot).Always have the ability to reset settings through Recovery on hand.
There are also dedicated modules for Magisk when your phone is unlocked, which allow you to implement changes at the deepest level of the system by changing the resources of the buttons directly in the files of the framework, which is the most powerful, but also the most risky method.
Solution and possible problems
In customization, users often face a number of common problems, such as when a new theme is installed, buttons may become invisible against a dark background or stop responding to clicks, often solved by simply restarting the interface or the device itself.
Another common problem is the conflict between the third-party launcher and Xiaomi system gestures. If swipes are not working correctly, try to enable the option “Use system gestures” in the launcher settings or, conversely, disable system gestures in favor of the launcher navigation.
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If the navigation buttons are missing or are acting strange, try temporarily switching to the standard buttons in the settings, and then returning the gestures.
You should also consider system updates. After a major MIUI or HyperOS update, theme and third-party application settings may get lost, in which case you will need to re-apply the theme or reconfigure the launcher, check regularly for updates to the applications you use to ensure compatibility.
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Customization is a balance between beauty and stability. Don't install too many modifiers at once, so as not to overload the system.
If none of these methods helped you achieve the desired result, your device model or Android version may have limitations that you can’t get around without flashing it, so you’d better wait for the official updates or the community’s custom firmware.