Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face the desire to make device management more modern and ergonomic. The standard three buttons at the bottom of the screen take up useful display area and can interfere with watching videos or playing. The transition to gesture control is not just a tribute to fashion, but a way to optimize interaction with the MIUI interface or the new HyperOS.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to put Xiaomi gestures, what hidden opportunities open up after that, and what to do if the feature doesn’t work. You will learn how to adjust the sensitivity of edges, use quick actions, and eliminate conflicts with running applications.
Before we start, it’s worth noting that visual elements may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system, but the logic of the work remains the same for all current models released in recent years.
The main advantages of gesture management
The switch to gesture navigation frees up a significant portion of the screen, particularly on smartphones up to 6 inches. the interface is cleaner and the content takes up more space, and there is no risk of accidentally pressing the home or back button while using the device with one hand.
Modern users value speed. Moving your finger across the screen is often faster than finding and pressing a physical or program button, which reduces the response time of the system in everyday scenarios, such as switching between applications or entering a menu.
- 🚀 Maximum screen area: No button bar allows apps to use every pixel of the display.
- 🖐 One-handed convenience: swipes are done with your thumb without having to reach for the bottom of the body.
- ⚡ Animations and speed: in shells MIUI 14 and HyperOS gestures work smoothly and synchronize with system effects.
But you have to take into account that you have to get used to the new way of controlling, and it takes the brain a while, usually 2 to 5 days, to form new muscle reflexes, and there may be occasional returns to old buttons.
Where to find navigation settings in MIUI and HyperOS
To change the way you manage, you have to go to the appropriate system settings section. The path may vary a little, but the basic menu structure remains the same. Open the Settings app on your desktop.
Next, scroll down and find the Additional Settings section. In some firmware versions, this item may be simply called the System or be entered into a separate Desktop menu, the item you want to look for is called Full Screen Display.
Why can the item be called differently?
Inside, you'll see three different switches: one is the classic three buttons; the other is the buttons that can change their order; the third is the full-screen display, which activates gesture control.
| Control element | Function | Location (standard) |
|---|---|---|
| Home button | Return to the desktop | Centre (in button mode) |
| Back button | Back a step. | Left or right |
| Swipe down here. | Return to the desktop | Lower screen (centre) |
| Swipe sideways. | Going back |
Once the mode is selected, the system will offer a brief training video or animation, and it is recommended to watch it carefully, since the logic of movements is different from standard Android navigation.
Step-by-step instructions for activating gestures
The turn on process is as simple as possible, but requires precision. Make sure the screen is unlocked and you are on the desktop. Click on the gear icon to enter the settings menu.
Search by settings if you can't find the item manually, type "gestures" or "navigation" into the search bar, and the system will prompt you to go to the Full Screen Display section.
☑️ Incorporation algorithm
Once activated, the bottom bar of the buttons will disappear. Try swiping from the bottom up in the center of the screen, you have to go back to the desktop. If that happens, then the navigation is successfully enabled.
⚠️ Warning: If after turning on gestures, the screen has turned black or stopped responding to touch, press the power button on the 10-15 It's a rare interface bug.
Some users prefer to change the location of the back buttons (left or right); in gesture mode, this is also possible, but only affects the direction of the swipe to return.
Hidden gestures and quick actions
In addition to basic navigation, the system offers an extended set of commands that allow you to perform complex actions in one movement, for example, swipe down the center of the screen (not from the edge, but slightly above) opens the notification panel, simulating the lowering of the curtain.
Long taps on the lower bar (if enabled in the settings) or a latency swipe at the bottom of the screen triggers Google Assistant or Xiao AI (in Chinese versions) mode, which speeds up the search for information.
- 🔄 Swipe left/right on the bottom edge: switching between the latest apps (does not work on all models).
- 🛑 Swipe from the bottom and retention: Opening the menu of running applications (recent).
- 📱 Screen corner swipe: Quick return to previous app (works like a “Back” button").
💡
Hold your finger in the lower left or right corner of the screen for a split second to see a preview of the last open app.
If swipes are triggered by accident, reduce the activation area in the same full-screen settings.
Solving problems with gestures
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where gestures stop working or work incorrectly, most often due to the conflict of a particular application that is not optimized for modern navigation standards.
In such cases, the system may temporarily return control buttons or ignore swipes in certain areas of the screen, check if the Game or Second Space mode is turned on, where the settings may differ.
⚠️ Note: Third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Niagara, etc.) can intercept gesture control. If problems start after installing a new theme or shell, check their settings first.
It’s also worth checking for system updates. In older versions of MIUI, bugs were known when swipe areas overlapped with ad interface elements, and updating to the current version of HyperOS often solves this problem.
If nothing works, try resetting the interface. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the system application Desktop or System Interface and click Clear Data. This won't delete your files, but will return the interface settings to factory settings.
Comparison with button navigation
Despite the popularity of gestures, button controls still have their advantages: buttons provide a tactile and visual clue as to where to click, and for older people or those who move from button phones, this is critical.
Gestures, on the other hand, require the memory of zones and movements, but statistics show that 85 percent of users who have tried gestures for more than a week do not return to buttons, which is a matter of habit and ergonomics.
💡
Gestures save space and look more modern, but buttons remain a more reliable and understandable tool for users who don’t want to learn new movements.
The table below compares the key characteristics of both management methods for ease of choice.
| Characteristics | Three buttons. | Full-screen gestures |
|---|---|---|
| Screen area | Busy with a button stripe | Maximum |
| Adjustment rate | Instant. | 2-5 days |
| Risk of error | Low. | Medium (random swipes) |
| Aesthetics | Classical | Modern |
The choice is yours. Experiment with both options to see which one suits your Xiaomi smartphone usage style.