How to change gestures on Xiaomi: setting up navigation

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer users a wide range of options for personalizing the interface, and gesture management plays a key role here. Many device owners face the need to change standard system behavior to make using the gadget more convenient and faster. Navigation gestures allow you to forget about physical or on-screen buttons, freeing up useful display space for content.

In this article, we will discuss how to change gestures to Xiaomi to adapt the phone to your style of use. You will learn about the hidden MIUI settings, which are not always obvious when you first get acquainted with the shell.

So developers are constantly introducing new motion recognition algorithms, so the relevance of information on how to set up gestures remains high. We're going to look not only at basic button and swipe switching, but also at more advanced scenarios like one-handed control and setting up special areas of the screen, and understanding these mechanisms will allow you to have full control of your smartphone.

Main types of navigation in the MIUI shell

Before you start making changes, you need to clearly understand what control options the system offers. By default, Xiaomi smartphones can activate classic screen buttons or modern swipes, the choice between them depends on your personal preferences and habits developed over the years using Android.

The gesture navigation system, which has been introduced in the newer versions of Android and MIUI, involves swiping control from the edges of the screen, which removes the button bottom panel, making the interface cleaner and more minimalist, while classic buttons remain popular among those who value tactile returns and visual certainty.

It's worth noting that switching to a new type of control takes some time to get used to, and the brain needs to rewire muscle memory, especially if you've been using the Home or Back button for years, but after adapting, most users notice that the interface is more efficient.

• 📱 Buttons: Three virtual keys at the bottom of the screen for return, home screen and app menus.
• 👋 Gestures: Managing swipes from the edges of the display without visible controls.
• ⚙️ Hybrid: The ability to adjust the sensitivity and direction of swipes in advanced settings.

⚠️ Note: When switching navigation type, the system can automatically change the location of interface elements, which will temporarily affect usability.

How to switch from buttons to gestures

The process of changing the navigation type in MIUI is quite simple, but the path to the desired menu may vary depending on the firmware version. First, you will need to open the main settings menu of your device, which can be done through the gear icon or a top-down swipe to access the control panel.

Next, you need to find the partition that's responsible for the appearance and system navigation, and most current versions of the shell, this item is called "Screen" or "Additional", and this is where the key parameters that allow you to change the way you interact with your smartphone are hidden.

When you select "Navigation System," you'll be given two options: "Buttons" and "Gests." If you select the second option, you'll immediately see the bottom panel disappear. Now, to go back, you'll need to swipe from the left or right edge of the screen, and to access the desktop, you'll need to swipe from the bottom up the center.

If you can't find the right item, search by settings, typing in "navigation" or "gestures." This is the fastest way to get to the desired menu without long wandering.

Setting up sensitivity and gesture area

One of the common problems when switching to swipe management is not responsive enough or, conversely, too frequent random positives. Xiaomi provides the ability to fine-tune the sensitivity of the edges of the screen, this is especially true for models with curved displays, where the finger is harder to get into the desired area.

To change the settings, go to the gesture settings menu and look for "Gestural settings" or "Sensitivity." Here you can zoom in to make the response area wider, which will help those who often use protective glasses with thick edges or covers covering part of the display.

There is also the option to change the direction of the swipe for returns. By default, the MIUI swipe for returns works on both sides, but some users prefer to fix it on only one side to avoid conflicts in games or applications.

Remember that overly sensitive can cause the phone to respond to occasional palm touches when holding the device. Find a balance where gestures work confidently but do not interfere with normal use.

One-Hand Management: Hidden Opportunities

Modern Xiaomi smartphones often have large diagonals, making it difficult to reach the top of the interface with the thumb of one hand. To solve this problem, engineers have introduced a special mode that is activated by a certain gesture.

You can activate one-handed mode by quickly swiping your finger down along the bottom of the screen (where the navigation bar or button is located), instantly shrinking and shifting to the bottom corner, allowing you to comfortably reach any icons, and re-activating the image will return to normal size.

This feature is particularly useful in transport or when the second hand is busy, and it doesn't just zoom in on the image, it shifts the entire workspace, keeping the proportions and readability of the text, and it's not just a cosmetic effect, it's a full-fledged ergonomics tool.

• 🖐️ Activation: Swipe down from the bottom edge of the screen.
• 📉 Deactivation: Repeated swipe or touching an empty area.
• ⚙️ Settings: Included in the "Additional" section" ->"One-handed mode".

⚠️ Note: If the one-hand mode is not activated, make sure that the navigation type "Full-screen gestures" is selected in the settings, as with the buttons, this swipe can be reserved to call the menu.

Users who often work on the go will appreciate the ability to quickly access the top of the screen without intercepting the smartphone with both hands, which reduces the risk of falling down the device and increases overall comfort of use.

Additional gestures in the system and applications

In addition to basic navigation, MIUI has many other gestures that speed up access to features, such as double tapping on the screen to turn it on or off, which works even when the display is locked, allowing you to quickly check the time or notifications.

The gallery and the browser also have specific movements: finger-squaring to zoom in, swiping with three fingers to create a screenshot, and the last gesture can be configured in the "Advanced" -> "Screenshots" section, which is much faster than clamping physical volume and power buttons.

In many applications, swipe down updates content, and swipe right can mean back inside the application itself, and understanding the logic of system gestures helps you intuitively manage any new program.

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Use a swipe three fingers down to create a screenshot – this is the fastest way to save information from the screen without using physical buttons.

Some users can also activate gesture control when turned off, such as drawing the letter "V" to turn on the flashlight, which turns the smartphone into a truly smart device that responds to the slightest movement.

The Solution: Why Signs Don't Work

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the customized gestures stop responding or work incorrectly, most often due to a conflict with running applications or a temporary system failure, the first step should always be to simply restart the device.

If the reboot didn’t work, check to see if the In-pocket mode is on or if the protective film doesn’t block the proximity sensors, and if you use third-party launchers that intercept navigation control, you may also have problems.

In rare cases, you need to reset your navigation to factory values, and you can do this in the same menu where you chose the control type, and you'll have to reset your movements, but this often solves the problem of sticking your gestures.

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The correct gesture setting on Xiaomi is a balance between user habits and system capabilities that is achieved experimentally.

So in conclusion, learning all the nuances of gesture control makes interacting with your smartphone a pleasure, and don't be afraid to experiment with settings to find the perfect one for you.