How to change the control on the Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Changing the navigation type is the first thing experienced users do after buying a new smartphone. The standard Android system on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS offers flexible tools for personalization, allowing you to adapt the interface to your own habits. Many owners of Xiaomi devices, moving from other brands or older models, often looking for a way to return the usual three buttons at the bottom of the screen or, conversely, master modern swipe management.

The process of changing the navigation settings takes only a few seconds, but it dramatically changes the ergonomics of using the gadget. Depending on the diagonal of the screen and the size of your hands, one way can be much more convenient than the other. In this article, we will discuss all the options available in detail, including hidden opportunities for advanced users and methods of calibrating if the sensor has started to work improperly.

Main types of navigation in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s modern shells offer two fundamentally different approaches to interface interaction. The first is the classic three-button navigation that has been used in Android for years, which includes the Back, Home and App Menu buttons, which are considered the most reliable method, since physical or on-screen buttons have clear boundaries and understandable logic, which reduces the number of random clicks.

The second option is gesture control, which became the industry standard after the release of Android 10. In this mode, the lower bar of the screen replaces buttons, and navigation is carried out with swipes: a short movement from the bottom up to return to the desktop, a long swipe to open recent applications and movement from the edge of the screen to go back. Full-screen control allows you to use the useful area of the display as efficiently as possible, which is especially important on smartphones with a cutout or hole under the camera.

The choice between these systems often depends on personal preferences and device model. On large flagships such as the Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 14, gestures can be more convenient because you can’t reach the bottom corners with one hand. However, on compact models of the Redmi Note series, many users still prefer tangible buttons for quick access.

How to Switch to buttons or gestures

To change the way you navigate, you'll need access to system settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all current devices. First, unlock your smartphone and find the Settings icon on the home screen or in the notification curtain.

You can then go to the section that displays the interface elements. In most versions of MIUI, the path is as follows: Settings → Additional → Full-screen mode. In some regions or global firmware, this item may be immediately in the main settings menu or in the Desktop section. If you use HyperOS, the path can be changed to Settings → Desktop → System Navigation.

In the menu that opens, you'll see two main options: One is the buttons that activate the classic bar at the bottom; the other is gestures that hide buttons and enable swipe control. When choosing buttons, you often have an additional order setting: you can choose which side the back button will be placed on (left or right), which is critical for left-handed or right-handed people.

⚠️ Warning: Once switched to gestures, the back button may disappear from some apps if they are not optimized.

Setting up a floating window and additional buttons

In addition to standard methods, Xiaomi offers an alternative way of navigation, the floating window, which creates a translucent button on the screen that duplicates basic navigation functions, and is especially useful when using a smartphone with one hand on large devices, where reaching the bottom edge of the screen is physically difficult.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Additional → Full-screen Mode and select the option Floating window. The button that appears on the screen can be moved to any convenient area. A short tap returns it to the desktop, a long one opens the menu of recent applications, and touching the side zones of the button simulates a return.

This mode is often underestimated, considering it a relic of the past, but for users with limited mobility of fingers or when using protective glasses with thick edges, the floating button becomes a salvation. It does not overlap the content of applications and automatically hides when playing video in full-screen mode, so as not to interfere with the view.

Touchscreen reset and calibration

Sometimes users are looking for a way to “change control” when faced with a touch screen malfunction. If the phone does not respond to touch, registers false presses or “ghost taps”, the problem may lie not in the settings of the software, but in the need for calibration. Before carrying the device to the service, it is worth trying a software reset.

Xiaomi's engineering menu has a powerful tool for testing and calibrating the display. To get there, open the Phone app and type in the code ##6484##. CIT-In the list of tests, find the Touchpanel or Version (depending on the model), where you can swipe your finger along the drawn lines to check the response.

If standard calibration methods don't work, you can use the command via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to reset the input settings, but that requires a connection to a computer. A safer method is to use third-party apps from Google Play, such as Touchscreen Calibration, which force the sensor drivers to reclaim. However, if the screen is physically damaged or the plume has moved away, the software methods will be useless.

Below are tabled sensor issues and possible solutions:

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If the calibration and resetting of the settings did not help, and the phone fell or got wet - a hardware problem, a replacement touchscreen is required.

Controlling a smartphone from a computer

For advanced users, developers or those with damaged touchscreens, remote control is a topical issue. Xiaomi supports the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) protocol, which allows you to fully control your phone from a PC. This can be a temporary solution to save data or adjust the device if the sensor is partially working.

To get started, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number seven times (MIUI Version). After the message “You became a developer”, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers and turn on Debugging over USB.

Connect your phone to your computer through high-quality USB-Xiaomi drivers should be installed on the PC USB Driver and platform SDK Platform-Tools. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, confirm it. You can now control your phone by typing commands. For example, you can use a command to simulate the click of the home button.

adb shell input keyevent 3

There are also graphical shells, such as Scrcpy or Vysor, that broadcast the phone screen to the monitor and allow you to control the mouse and keyboard, which makes it much easier to type or navigate if your finger is not listening well or the screen is filled with fat/water.

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB-Introduce incorrect commands, such as adb shell rm -rf, can lead to the deletion of system files and the breakdown of the operating system.

Frequent Questions and Challenges (FAQ)

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If you often accidentally touch the bottom of the screen, turn on Pocket Mode in the lock settings – this will prevent false navigation in your pocket.