Xiaomi smartphones offer users flexible interface settings, including the ability to choose the navigation style. By default, most devices activate gestures, but not everyone likes them — someone is used to the classic three buttons, and someone is more comfortable with the navigation bar. In this article, we will analyze all the available options, including hidden features for advanced users.
Changing the type of navigation affects not only the appearance of the bottom panel, but also the ease of control. For example, gestures save space on the screen, but require addiction, and classic buttons are intuitive, but take up additional pixels. It is also important to consider the version of the MIUI shell - in different firmware settings menu may differ.
If you’ve recently switched from Android to Xiaomi, or just want to optimize your phone experience, this guide will help you choose and customize the ideal option.We’ll look at standard ways through the menu, as well as alternative methods for root-righted or custom firmware devices.
Standard ways to change navigation in MIUI
Most Xiaomi users can change the navigation buttons directly in the system settings, without needing additional software or technical knowledge, just follow a simple instruction. It is important to note that depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the location of menu items may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
To open navigation settings, go to Settings → Display → Full-screen Mode. Here you will see three main options: (1) Gestures (full-screen), (2) Navigation buttons (classic three buttons), (3) Navigation lane (minimalistic slider). Let's take a closer look at each.
- 👆 Gestures (full screen): Swipe your finger up from the bottom edge to return to the home screen, swipe and delay for multitasking, swipe the side to back up. Suitable for modern smartphones with frameless screens.
- ⚙️ Navigation buttons: Three classic buttons - "Back", "Home", "Recent" - convenient for those who are accustomed to traditional control on Android.
- ─ Navigation strip: A thin bar at the bottom of the screen that responds to swipes.The trade-off between gestures and buttons - saves space but retains haptic feedback.
When you select the option, the system will offer short learning (you can skip it). Changes are applied instantly, but sometimes you need to restart the device if the navigation is not working correctly. For example, on POCO F5 with MIUI 14, after changing gestures to the buttons, animations can slow down - this is solved by restarting the interface.
How to enable hidden navigation bar (for power users)
Some versions of MIUI (e.g. 12.5 or 13) have a hidden option that allows you to activate the navigation bar with additional features, this option combines gesture elements and buttons: the bar responds to swipes, but displays visual prompts (dots or short lines).
To enable this mode, you need to:
- Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version).
- Back to the settings → Additional → for developers.
- Find the navigation bar type and select the bar with the hints.
This method does not work on all devices. For example, on Xiaomi 12T with MIUI 14, this option may not be available, but it is present on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ with MIUI 13.0.6. If there is no point, then your model does not support it.
What if the navigation lane does not respond to swipes?
Customization of gesture sensitivity and buttons
Even after choosing the type of navigation, it can be fine-tuned to your preferences, such as swipe sensitivity for gestures, and click vibration for buttons, which are hidden in the optional menus and often ignored by users.
To adjust the sensitivity of gestures:
- Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Set up gestures.
- You can adjust it here: 🔄 Swipe speed to return back (fast/slow). 🛑 Activation zone (left/right edge of screen). 🔊 Vibration upon activation of gesture.
For classic navigation buttons, the following options are available:
- 🎯 Order of buttons: you can swap the places "Back" and "Recent" (relevant for left-handed people).
- 📱 Hiding buttons in full-screen applications (e.g., games or video).
- 🔋 Lighting buttons in the dark time of the day.
Set the average swipe sensitivity |
Activate vibration for tactile feedback |
Set up a back-to-right zone (for right-handers)|
Disable the prompts after training-->
Problems and errors when changing navigation
Sometimes, when you change the type of navigation, you get bugs: buttons don't respond, gestures work over and over, or the bottom panel goes missing, most often due to conflicts in the system or incorrect settings, and let's look at typical problems and their solutions.
The most common mistake is to disappear the navigation bar after the mode switch, and this is due to a failure in the SystemUI service.
- Reset the device.
- If reboot didn’t help, reset Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Reset application settings.
- In extreme cases, reset the interface settings: Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Reset MIUI settings.
Another common problem is that gestures conflict with apps, especially games or social media (such as TikTok or PUBG Mobile).
- 🎮 Turn off gestures for a specific application: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Full screen mode and add problem app to exceptions.
- 🔄 Switch to classic buttons for games, and for the rest of the interface use gestures.
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If after changing the navigation, the screen began to react slowly to swipes, try to turn off animations in the developer settings (turn off "Window animation", "Change animation" and "Duration of animation").
Alternative methods: third-party launchers and ADB
If standard MIUI settings don’t suit you, you can go further and use third-party tools, such as launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher that allow you to customize the navigation bar, and ADB commands give you access to hidden system functions.
With ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can force any type of navigation, even if it is not displayed in the menu.
- Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times → Developer Settings → USB Debugging).
- Open the command line on PC and type: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1 This command includes full-screen gestures (value) 0 It will bring back the classic buttons).
For the use of third-party launchers:
- 📱 Install a launcher from Google Play (for example, Nova Launcher).
- 🔧 In the launcher settings, find the Navigation Panel or Gestures section.
- 🎨 Choose the style of the panel (transparent, color, with icons) and set up actions for swipes.
Warning: ADB commands can disrupt system stability if entered incorrectly.
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The side launchers don't replace system navigation entirely, they just overlay their interface on top of the standard one.
Navigation Types Comparison: Which to Choose?
So what's the best navigation option for Xiaomi? It depends on your habits and your smartphone model. Below is a comparison table to help you decide.
| Type of navigation | Pluses | Cons | Better suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gestures (full screen) | Maximum screen area, modern look, fast action. | It requires training, there may be conflicts with applications. | New models (Xiaomi 14, POCO F6), users who appreciate minimalism. |
| Classic 3 buttons | Intuitively clear, stable operation, tactile feedback. | It takes up space on the screen, an outdated look. | Users who are switching from old Android devices are left-handed. |
| Navigation lane | The compromise between gestures and buttons saves space. | Less visual than buttons; not all models support. | Redmi Note series, users looking for balance. |
| A tip stripe | Visual cues for gestures, flexible setting. | The hidden function does not work on all firmware. | Advanced users, lovers of customization. |
On Xiaomi 13 Ultra with HyperOS, gestures work smoother than on Redmi 10 with MIUI 12.5, due to the optimization of animations in the new shell. If your smartphone supports HyperOS, we recommend updating - there is the most responsive navigation.
Frequent questions and answers
🔹 Can you bring back the old navigation buttons to Xiaomi with HyperOS?
🔹 Why did the gestures disappear after the update?
🔹 How to make navigation buttons transparent?
🔹 Can I assign my actions to swipes on the navigation lane?
🔹 Why not? POCO X3 Navigation buttons don’t disappear in games?
If your question is not covered in the article, check the relevance of firmware: many bugs with navigation are fixed in the latest versions of MIUI or HyperOS. For details, always specify the device model and shell version - this will help to more accurately diagnose the problem.
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Before experimenting with navigation, back up your settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to quickly restore your health if something goes wrong.