Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are powered by MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users many ways to interact with the interface. Often, the manufacturer’s standard layout of navigation elements seems inconvenient, especially if you’re switching from a different brand. The ability to change the type of navigation is one of the first settings new owners are looking for.
In this article, we will discuss how to change the control to the shaomi to suit your habits, you will learn how to switch from the classic three buttons to modern full-screen gestures, as well as how to configure additional features to improve the comfort of using a smartphone in everyday life.
Changing the way you navigate doesn't require super-user rights or complex technical manipulations, and all the tools are built into the system and are accessible through a standard settings menu, allowing you to quickly adapt the interface to your own needs.
Main types of navigation in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi interfaces have historically offered two basic management approaches: classic button and progressive gesture. Understanding the difference between the two will help you make an informed choice in favor of the option that best suits your ergonomics and smartphone usage style.
The traditional method involves three virtual or hardware keys at the bottom of the screen, usually a back button (left), a home button (center), and an app menu (right), a feature that is common to people who used smartphones a few years ago, because it provides a clear visual separation of functions and eliminates random swipes.
The industry-standard gesture controls free up the useful display area from unnecessary elements, and in this mode, navigation is done by swiping from the edges of the screen: from the bottom up to return to the desktop, from the bottom up with a delay to open the menu of running applications, and by piling from the side edges to go back, which allows the content to take up as much space as possible.
⚠️ Note: when switching to gestures, some old apps may not display the bottom of the interface correctly, as the system stops reserving space for virtual buttons.
The choice between the two systems often depends on the diagonal of the device. On large screens such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, gestures allow you to reach the upper corners with the thumb of one hand, which is physically impossible with the lower buttons.
Instructions: How to switch buttons to gestures
The process of changing the type of navigation in current versions of firmware is as simple as possible and takes just a few seconds. You do not need to search for hidden engineering menus or install third-party launchers, since all options are placed in the main section of the system settings.
To start, open the main settings menu of your device. Find a section that may be called Desktop or Additional Settings, depending on the version of your shell. Most of the time, the path is: go to Settings → Desktop → Navigation.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a visual representation of the two options available, and the system will tell you to choose between Buttons and Gestures. Just tap the right option, and the changes will take effect instantly, without having to restart the device.
☑️ Navigation switching algorithm
If you have chosen gestures, the system may offer a brief tutorial video or an interactive demo, and it is recommended not to skip this step if you are doing it for the first time to understand the logic of swipes and avoid confusion in the first hours of use.
In some regions or on specific firmware versions (e.g. China’s CN ROM), the path may be slightly different. Then look for the option under Settings → Additional Settings → Full-screen menu. The logic remains the same: choosing between graphical controls.
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Try each regimen for at least 15 minutes before making your final choice, as muscle memory takes time to adjust.
Setting up the location of the navigation buttons
If you prefer a classic button scheme, MIUI allows you to flexibly adjust their appearance and location, which is especially true for users who are used to the logic of iOS or stock Android, where the back button can be located on the other side.
The navigation type selection menu, immediately under the preview of buttons and gestures, often contains the option “Order of buttons” or “Order of buttons” or “Location”, and by clicking on it, you can invert the order: the “Back” button will be on the right, and the application menu will be on the left, or vice versa.
Button hiding is also available. If you like the buttons, but it's annoying that they take up space on the screen, you can activate the "Hide buttons" option, in which case the navigation bar will only appear when you touch the bottom of the screen or when you swipe, freeing up space for watching videos or reading.
⚠️ Warning: Hiding buttons can cause random navigation while playing horizontally if game optimization is not configured.
Special attention should be paid to adjusting the sensitivity and speed of animation of the buttons, although this is more often related to the general settings of the system. For navigation buttons, the key parameter is their physical location relative to the user's thumbs.
One-Hand Management: Functions and Activation
With the growth of Xiaomi smartphones, one-handed control becomes a challenge, and to solve this problem, the company’s engineers have introduced a special mode that temporarily reduces the usable screen area by moving the image down.
There are several ways to activate this mode, and the quickest is to swipe down the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen (if gestures are enabled) or hold the Home button for a long time (if buttons are on), and the screen will slide down, allowing access to the top of the interface with your thumb.
You can configure the behavior of this function in the Settings → Additional settings → One-handed control section. The following options are available here:
- 📱 Size of the reduced screen: allows you to choose how much compressed the image will be (options available) 0.75x, 0.65x and 0.55x).
- 👆 Activation method: choice between swipe strip, button retention or double tap (for button mode).
- 🔄 Positioning: the ability to shift a reduced window to the left or right for ease of working with different fingers.
This feature is indispensable when sending messages while on the go or when the second hand is busy, and it doesn't just zoom in, it actually changes the interaction area, making available the top menu elements that would otherwise have to be intercepted by the device.
Why does one-handed control not work in games?
Setting up floating windows and sidebar
Multitasking is one of Xiaomi’s strengths. In addition to basic navigation, the sidebar is also important, allowing you to quickly switch between apps and open them in floating mode.
The sidebar is a narrow bar hidden at the edge of the screen, and when you swipe it opens up a menu of frequently used apps, which allows you to watch YouTube videos and chat to Telegram or take notes at the same time.
To set up this tool, go to Settings → Additional settings → Floating windows. Here you can:
- 📂 Add Apps: Select the programs that should be available in the sidebar for a quick start.
- 👁️ Panel position: Decide which side of the screen (left or right) will appear to the call marker.
- 🎨 Display style: Choose how the icons in the panel will look like – in the form of a list or grid.
Using floating windows greatly improves productivity, so you can run a calculator on top of your browser for calculations, or open the navigator on top of the messenger without closing the current correspondence.
| Function | Where to find out. | What do you need? |
|---|---|---|
| Gestures | Settings → Desktop | Managing swipes without buttons |
| One hand. | Supplemental settings → One-handed control | Shifting the screen to access with your finger |
| Sidebar. | Supplemental settings → Floating windows | Quickly launch apps on top of others |
| Hiding buttons | Settings → Navigation | Freeing up space on the display |
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Competent setting of the sidebar and floating windows turns the smartphone into a powerful tool for multitasking, saving time to switch between tasks.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may face a number of typical management change problems, most often related to sensor malfunction after an upgrade or third-party launcher conflict.
If your gestures are no longer responsive or are delayed, the first thing to do is check whether the In-Pack mode is on or the protective film is not covering the edges of the screen, and it is also worth rebooting the device to reset temporary errors in the SystemUI system process.
In rare cases, after updating the firmware, navigation settings may become standard. In such a situation, you need to re-trace the Settings path → Desktop → Navigation and choose your preferred option. If the problem persists, try clearing the Settings cache.
⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair) can completely change the logic of management, ignoring the system settings of Xiaomi gestures.
Another common complaint is that you accidentally open the multitasking menu instead of going back, because you swipe too fast or slow, and you need to move it clearly, so that you swipe back short and sharp from the edge, and for the menu, it has to be longer with a pause in the center.