How to put a strip at the bottom of the screen on Xiaomi: 5 ways for MIUI and Android

Introduction: Why you need a bottom panel on Xiaomi and what it gives

The bottom bar on Xiaomi’s smartphone screen is not just a design element, but a functional navigation bar that replaces the traditional Back, Home and Recent buttons. In the latest versions of MIUI (12 to 14), it can look like a thin gray line, transparent backlight, or even completely hide when scrolling. But what if the Suddenly panel disappeared after the update or it simply wasn’t there in the first place?

In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to return or configure the bottom bar on any Xiaomi device – from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. You'll learn how to turn it on through standard settings, activate it with gestures (if the panel is hidden), and what to do if none of the methods worked. AMOLED-screens where the panel can be "hidden" due to the Always-On Display function.

Important: the instructions are valid for MIUI 12/13/14 based on Android 11-14. If you have an older firmware version (e.g. MIUI 11), some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.

Method 1: Enable through standard MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe method is to activate the panel through the settings menu, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi 9/10/11 series, Poco X3/X4/X5 and Mi 11/12/13.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select Full-screen display (on some models – Navigation buttons).
4. Slip it on the navigation style.
5. Select the Navigation Button option (or the Gesture Bar with buttons for hybrid mode).
6. Confirm the changes and restart the device (optional, but recommended).

If you don’t have a full-screen display on your menu, try an alternative path:

Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Navigation buttons

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure that the developer mode is enabled (if you plan to use ADB)

Turn off VPN – it can block access to some settings

Make a backup copy of the data in case of failure-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mix 4 or Black Shark 5), the panel may be hidden by default due to the use of gesture navigation.

Method 2: Activation through gesture control

With MIUI 12, Xiaomi is pushing for a gesture navigation that replaces the classic bar, so if you accidentally switch on gestures or they were activated by default, the bottom bar may seem "disappeared."

1. Open Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
2. Choose Gesture navigation (if it is already active).
3. Scroll down and turn on the option to Show the navigation bar (or gesture hints).
4. Adjust the sensitivity of gestures if the panel appears unstable.

On the Poco F3/F4/F5 and some Redmi K-series, there is an option called the Transparent Bar, which makes the strip almost invisible but functional. To see it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Classic buttons (3 buttons at the bottom)

Gesture navigation (swipes)

Hybrid mode (gestures + hints)

I don't care.-->

If after these manipulations the panel did not appear, the reason may be:

• 🔄 Firmware failure - try updating MIUI last-minute.
• 🎨 The dark subject is on AMOLED-screens panel can merge with the background.
• 🔧 Developer Settings – Some options turn off system elements.

Method 3: Using the Developer Mode

If standard methods don't work, you can try to turn on the panel through the developer's settings, which is suitable for power users and requires caution.

First, activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer!").
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → Developer settings.

Now look for options related to navigation:

• 🔍 force_fullscreen_navigation — Turn off this option if it is active.
• 🔍 show_touches — Turn on to display touches (will help diagnose the problem).
• 🔍 override_force_dark — Turn off if the panel is not visible on a dark background.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in developer mode can lead to unstable system operation. Do not change other settings unless you know their purpose. disable_hw_overlays It can cause graphic artifacts.

Method 4: Resetting the display settings

If the bottom panel disappeared after updating or changing the theme, resetting the display settings will help, which does not affect personal data, but will return all screen parameters to factory.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Scroll down and select Reset Display Settings (or Restore Default Settings).
3. Confirm the action.
4. Reset the device.

After rebooting, check if the panel appears. If not, try manually turning it on through Settings → Display → Full-screen display as described in Method 1.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mix Fold or Xiaomi Pad 6), the bottom panel may work differently due to the unique aspect ratio of the screen.

Method 5: Manually add panels via ADB (for advanced)

If all previous methods fail, the last chance is manually activating the panel via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Preparation:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → go back to Additional Settings → Developer Settings → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Now, execute the commands:

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1


adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

After you've done the commands, restart the device. If the panel doesn't show up, try an alternative command:

adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural

Important: On some Xiaomi models (like the Poco F1 or Mi A-series with pure Android), these commands may not work due to the features of the firmware.

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Before working with ADB, back up your data via Mi Cloud or locally. A command error can cause the system interface to crash.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after successful setup, the bottom panel may not work properly. Consider the typical problems and ways to fix them:

• 🖥️ The panel appears and disappears: check the settings of Always-On Display → Display. → AOD) — They may conflict with navigation display.
• 🎨 The panel is not visible against a dark background: turn off Dark Theme or turn on Contour buttons in the navigation settings.
• 🔄 The panel does not respond to the press: reset settings (Settings) → System system → Reset settings, select Reset application settings).
• 🔧 After the update, the panel became different: this is a feature of the new version. MIUI — Get used to the new design or roll back the firmware.

If none of the methods worked, the reason could be:

• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction – damage to the display module or plume (relevant after falls or repairs).
• 🦠 Viral software – some applications block system elements. Check the phone with antivirus (for example, Mi Security).
• 📱 Castom firmware - informal assemblies MIUI can remove or modify the navigation bar.

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If the panel doesn’t appear after all the manipulations, try temporarily installing a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) – it can restore the display of system elements.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions