How to put gestures on Xiomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have long moved away from the concept of physical buttons under the screen, offering intuitive swipe management instead. However, immediately after buying or resetting, many users are faced with a classic navigation system of three virtual buttons. This is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to free up useful screen space, especially on models with elongated displays.

The process of switching to gesture control may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS, as well as on the regional firmware. In some cases, a standard menu may not be enough and you will need to activate hidden functions through an engineering menu or special applications. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, including those that allow you to get full control over navigation without unnecessary interface elements.

Switching to a new control circuit is addictive, but it makes it much faster to work with the device in the long run. You will learn not only to turn on basic swipes, but also to adjust the sensitivity, and also to hide the system bar at the bottom of the screen for maximum immersion in content.

Basic activation through system settings

The easiest and safest way to change navigation is to use the operating system’s regular settings menu, which works on 99% of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, regardless of the year of release, and the algorithm is logical and does not require superuser rights or third-party software installation.

To start, you need to open the main settings menu of your smartphone, find the section that is responsible for the appearance and behavior of the interface, depending on the firmware version, it can be called simply “Settings” or grouped into the category “Additional”.

Then you select the navigation item, and you can choose between two options: classic buttons or gesture control, and if you choose the second option, you will see a short animation showing exactly how swipes will work to go back and go to the desktop.

Once you've confirmed your choice, the interface will change instantly, the three buttons at the bottom of the screen will disappear, giving way to the thin bar or disappearing completely if you choose to hide it, and it's important to try to make a few basic movements right away to make sure that the new circuit works for you.

It’s worth noting that some global firmware versions may have slightly different paths, such as MIUI 14 and later, which often use the following sequence: Settings → Desktop → Navigation in the system. If you don’t find the right item right away, search by settings by typing the word “navigation” or “gestures.”

Set up full screen mode and hide stripes

Many users want to not only turn on gestures, but also get rid of the annoying horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen, which often overlaps interface elements in apps or interferes with watching videos. At Xiaomi, this feature is called “Hide gesture hint”.

To activate this mode, you'll need to go back to the navigation menu where you selected the control type, and next to the Full Screen Gestures mode you selected, there's a gear or a separate switch, and that's what makes the indicator visible.

However, there are nuances: On some models, such as the Redmi Note series or Xiaomi Mi, this option can be hidden by default, in which case the system relies on the user to use swipes blindly, relying on muscle memory, which makes the interface cleaner, but takes time to adapt.

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If the bar is not hidden in the standard way, try to turn on the Full Screen mode for specific applications in the display settings. This will forcefully remove any system elements on top of the content.

It's important to understand the difference between hiding a bar and completely turning off navigation. The strip is just a visual landmark. Even if it's not there, the swipe area is still active at the bottom of the screen, and you can still swipe from the bottom up to the desktop or the menu of running apps.

For those who like minimalism, the stripe's disappearance is key. The screen looks more solid, especially on devices with a high-performance design. AMOLED-matrices, where the black color of the indicator merges with the frame, but in light topics its absence significantly improves the perception of content.

Hidden gestures and engineering menu

Xiaomi smartphone owners often look for ways to access advanced functionality that is hidden from the average user. There is a method of activating so-called “hidden gestures” through an engineering menu that allows you to add additional features, such as controlling the brightness of a status bar swipe or a double tap to wake up when off.

To access these settings, you use a special code. You need to open the Phone app and dial the combination ##64663##. CIT-Menu (Customer Interactive Test) for hardware components diagnostics.

Inside this menu, you have to be very careful. Incorrectly configuring test parameters can lead to incorrect touch screen or sensors. We are interested in the section related to versions or settings of the UI, but in new versions of MIUI, direct access to gestures from here is often closed.

⚠️ Attention: Entering the engineering menu is for service engineers. Changing the settings in the Single Item Test sections without understanding their purpose can lead to software failure.

A safer analogue for activating extended gestures is the use of ADB-And then you put your smartphone in a computer with a computer that's been running. USB-In debugging, you can enter a command that forcibly turns on hidden navigation flags. For example, a command to hide the navigation lane at the system level can look like a change in the global parameter through settings put global. hide_nav_bar 1.

Using ADB gives you more control, but requires a computer and basic command line knowledge. For most users, standard settings are enough, but enthusiasts often use this method to customize the interface beyond standard features.

Navigation in MIUI 14 and HyperOS: the difference

With the release of the HyperOS shell, which replaced MIUI, Xiaomi reworked the logic of the system. Although the basic principles remained the same, the visual design and layout of the elements changed, the smoothness of gesture animations became higher, which is especially noticeable on devices with Snapdragon processors of recent generations.

The new shell has improved the work with “islands” and cutouts in the screen. Gestures now better adapt to the presence of the front camera, without overlapping important controls in applications. Also changed the logic of the multitasking menu: swipe up and hold now opens not just a list of windows, but a widget bar with search and widgets.

Users who upgraded with MIUI 12 or 13 may notice that the back gesture area has become more sensitive. In HyperOS, the system smarter detects user intent, distinguishing between a random touch of the edge of the screen and a confident swipe.

Another important difference is ecosystem integration: In HyperOS, gestures can work synchronously with Xiaomi Pad tablets, allowing you to drag and drop windows between devices if they are on the same network, requiring Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both devices.

Third-party launchers for gesture customization

If standard features don’t suit you, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are apps that completely replace the desktop and often offer their own, more flexible navigation systems. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher.

Installing this launcher not only changes the look of the icons, but also assigns gestures, such as double-tapping on the desktop can turn off the screen, and swiping with two fingers can run your favorite app, which gives a level of personalization that is not available in stock firmware.

However, compatibility is worth considering: on newer versions of Android (12, 13, 14), the security system limits the capabilities of third-party launchers, they may not be able to fully intercept the system navigation gestures (return, home), as this is controlled at the OS level.

However, for customizing gestures inside the desktop (swipes by icons, folders, empty space), launchers are perfect. You can configure complex scenarios: swipe up the WhatsApp icon opens the camera at once, not the chat.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, the system may repeatedly ask for permission to replace the standard launcher and warn of possible instability.This is normal Android protection.

The use of launchers is especially relevant for older Xiaomi models that no longer receive system updates, which allows you to breathe new life into them and add features that have appeared in the latest versions of MIUI.

Problem Solving: Gestures Are Not Working or Glitting

Sometimes, after switching on gesture control, users encounter problems: swipes don’t work, the phone reacts with a delay, or a “back” gesture conflicts with control within applications (for example, in games or a gallery), most often solved by simply restarting the device.

If the reboot didn't help, check to see if the Gloves Mode or the screen sensitivity is turned on.These features, designed for specific conditions, can make the touchscreen too sensitive, leading to false positives when trying to swipe.

It could also be a conflict with a newly installed application that has access to special capabilities (Accessibility), which can intercept touches on the screen, try temporarily disabling all applications with access rights to special features and check the gestures.

In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the system application “Settings” or “System UI” helps. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find system components and select “Clear Cache.” Don’t confuse it with “Clean Data” as this can reset your personalizations.

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If gestures are running late, try reducing the refresh rate of the screen from 120Hz to 60Hz in the display settings.This often solves touch scan problems on budget models.

Hot keys and combinations for quick navigation

In addition to basic swipes, Xiaomi has a number of hidden or little-known combinations that speed navigation, and knowing these nuances allows you to control the phone with one hand without having to constantly poke around the screen.

For example, a long tap on the navigation bar (if enabled) can instantly trigger a Google voice assistant or XiaoAI. A swipe to the right on the same bar often switches input languages or opens the emoji bar, depending on the keyboard settings.

Also worth mentioning is the lock gestures, the double tap on/off screen, a feature that is often forgotten to activate. → It's a lock screen, and it eliminates the need to look for a power button.

For those who use large smartphones (Max or Note Ultra), one-handed control mode is convenient. A triple tap on the navigation bar (or home button in classic mode) shifts the screen image downwards, making the top part accessible to the thumb.

Mastering gestures on Xiaomi is a skill that greatly improves smartphone efficiency. By spending a few minutes tuning and adapting, you’ll get a cleaner interface and speed up your day-to-day tasks.