Gesture Management on Xiaomi: How to enable, configure and optimize

Modern Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI They offer several navigation options: classic buttons, full-screen gestures and a combined mode. Not only does gesture control make the interface visually cleaner, it also speeds up interaction with the device — just one swipe is enough to go back or open a list of recent applications. Where to find this section in the menu, how to calibrate sensitivity, or why gestures don’t work properly after the update.

In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of activation and fine-tuning gestures on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — From basic steps to solving common problems, we'll focus on variations between versions. MIUI 12, 13 and 14, and the specifics of the models AMOLED-If you're just moving from button navigation or want to optimize your current settings, here's the answers to all the questions.

What types of gestures support Xiaomi smartphones

Shell MIUI It offers three basic types of gesture navigation, each of which is suitable for different use cases, depending on the user's habits, smartphone model and firmware version:

• 📱 Full-screen gestures MIUI — Swipes from the bottom of the screen replace all three navigation buttons. MIUI 10 and newer.
• ⬅️ Android Gestures (Google) - an alternative option with logic similar to "pure" Android. MIUI 12.5+.
• 🔄 Combined mode - a combination of a back gesture with virtual home and recent buttons. Rarely used, but useful for adaptation.

The most popular is the first option – full-screen gestures. MIUI. It makes the most of the screen area and offers intuitive movements: swipe up and hold for multitasking, swipe left/right to go back, fast swipe up for return to the home screen.

It is important to consider that on models with a cutout for the front camera (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) the swipe zone for returning back may narrow to avoid accidental activation. MIUI 14 this zone can be configured manually - we will talk about this in the relevant section.

Step-by-step: how to turn on gestures on Xiaomi

Activation of gesture control takes no more than a minute, but the path to settings may vary depending on the version. MIUI. Below is a universal algorithm that will work for most devices, including Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 and the like. POCO F5.

To enable gestures, perform the following actions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section. → In addition (in) MIUI 14 Ways Can Be Settings → System system → Gestures).
3. Select Full Screen Display or Navigation Type (name depends on firmware version).
4. Activate Full-screen gestures or gestures MIUI. The system will suggest choosing a style - we recommend starting with the Standard.
5. Confirm the changes and wait for the interface to restart (some models require a restart of Launche).

After activation, virtual buttons will disappear on the screen, and at the bottom a thin white bar will appear - an indicator of the swipe zone. If the strip interferes, it can be hidden in the theme settings (section Making. → Additionally).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 and below, once gestures are enabled, you may not be able to access the Quick Swipe settings down from the top edge. → Notifications → Notification panel and activate the Swipe down option for quick settings.

Fine tuning of sensitivity and swipe zones

By default, gestures in MIUI They're set to medium sensitivity, but it's not always convenient. For example, on large screens (6.7" or more), swiping back can be too easy, and on compact devices (Xiaomi 12 Mini) it can be too much effort. Fortunately, the system allows you to adjust these parameters.

To adjust the sensitivity:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Additionally. → Full-screen display.
2. Select Sign Settings (or Sensitivity in the MIUI 13/14).

For models with curved screens (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra), activate the option to Ignore edge touches to avoid false positives.

On devices with MIUI 14, a unique feature called Adaptive Gestures has been introduced that automatically adjusts sensitivity to context: in games, the swipe area narrows, and in messengers it expands for easy navigation. To enable it, go to Settings. → Special facilities → Gestures → Adaptive regime.

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If you have swipes that work again after you set up your gestures, try calibrating the touch screen. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press the kernel 5 times. In the menu that opens, select the Sensor Test and follow the instructions.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after you set up properly, users can experience gesture problems, most often due to application conflicts, firmware errors, or hardware limitations, and consider typical scenarios and how to fix them.

1.Gesturals don't work after update MIUI

If after installing the new version of the firmware, the swipes stopped working:

• 🔄 Restart the device (hold power) + Volume up 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reset gesture settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → System settings → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🔧 Manually activate gestures through ADB (Adb shell settings put global settings force_fullscreen_gestures 1

2.The "back" gesture is triggered by accident

This problem is typical for devices with narrow frames (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite).

• 🔧 Reduce the sensitivity of the “Back” gesture to 40-50%.
• 🖥️ Activate the option to Ignore the edge touches.
• 🎮 In games, use floating navigation buttons (include in Game Turbo).

3. The swipe to call the "Recent" menu is not working

If the gesture up and hold doesn't open up multitasking:

• 🔄 Check if the No Background Process Restrictions mode is turned off (Settings) → Battery → Performance mode).
• 📱 Set the delay to Medium (300 ms).
• 🔧 Run Launche Reset: Adb shell pm clear com.mi.android.globallauncher

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) gestures may conflict with Scrolling with double-touch. If you notice that swipes only work after the second touch, turn off this option in Settings → Display. → Additionally.

Features of customizing gestures on different models Xiaomi

While the general logic of gesture activation is the same for all Xiaomi devices, some models have unique nuances, and this is due to hardware features such as the type of screen, the presence of sensors or the specifics of the firmware.

Devices with AMOLED-screen

On smartphones with AMOLED-displays (e.g., Xiaomi) 12T Pro or Redmi K50 Pro) gestures may conflict with Always-on Display (AOD). To avoid problems:

• 🌙 Turn it off. AOD in the settings of the screen or set the timer of its work.
• 🔧 B Settings → Display. → Always-on Display activate the Hide when gestures.
• 📱 If swipes don’t work on a locked screen, turn off Raise to wake up.

Models with high frequency of screen refresh

On devices with 120Hz or 144Hz (e.g. Xiaomi Black Shark 5 or X-rays) POCO F4 GT) You can have delays in the gestures, because it's about optimizing performance:

• 🎮 Enable High Touch Frequency Mode in Settings → Display. → Frequency of update.
• 🔧 Set a fixed screen refresh rate (e.g. 90Hz instead of Adaptive).
• 📱 Turn off battery optimization for Launche (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Launche → No restrictions).

Devices with infrared sensor

Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) 10T) An infrared sensor to control the technique may interfere with the "back" gesture, if you notice that the swipe only works on the second attempt:

• 🔧 Move the gesture area left or right in Sensitivity settings.
• 📱 Turn off the infrared port if you are not using it (Settings) → Connections → Infrared port).

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On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) the path to gesture settings may be different: Settings → System system → Gestures → System navigation: Show the navigation bar, which visually separates the gesture area and the content, is also available here.

How to Restore Classic Navigation Buttons

If gesture control seems inconvenient or you encounter bugs, you can return the traditional Back, Home and Recent buttons at any time, a reversible process that does not require resetting.

To get back to the button navigation:

1. Open Settings and go to the Display → Additionally (or the System) → Gestures in MIUI 14).
2. Select the navigation type or full screen display.
3. Activate the navigation button option (could be called three-button navigation).
4. Click Apply and wait for the interface update.

And then you'll see the familiar buttons at the bottom of the screen. MIUI 12.5+ You can also adjust their appearance:

• 🎨 Change the order of the buttons (for example, change the "back" and "recent" places).
• 🌈 Choose a color scheme (dark, light or adaptive).
• 🔄 Set up the press animation (turn on/off vibration).

⚠️ Warning: Some devices may lose the Double-Tap to Waking feature after returning to button navigation. To return it, go to Settings → Display. → Lockdown and protection → Additionally and re-activate the option.

Additional features: gestures in games and applications

In addition to system navigation, MIUI It offers advanced gestures for control in games, instant messengers and other applications, which are especially useful for gamers and active users of social networks.

Gestures in Games (Game Turbo)

Game Turbo allows you to create custom swipes for quick access to key actions:

• 🎮 Floating buttons – virtual back and home keys that do not interfere with gameplay.
• 🔧 Quick Actions – Swipe from the corner for screenshot, screen recording or menu call.
• 📱 Do Not Disturb – Automatically disable notifications when you start the game.

To adjust the game gestures:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Select the game from the list or add it manually.
3. Activate the option of floating windows and adjust gestures.

Gestures in messengers and browser

V MIUI 13/14 Support for contextual gestures for popular applications:

• 💬 In WhatsApp or Telegram: swipe left by message for response, right – for forwarding.
• 🌐 In Chrome or Mi Browser: swipe left/right of the edge of the screen to switch between tabs.
• 📷 In the Gallery: Double touch for zooming, swipe down for closing.

To activate these functions:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Gestures.
2. Select Context Gestures and turn on the switch for the desired applications.
3. Set up sensitivity and trigger zones.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gesture management on Xiaomi