How to set up buttons on the screen of the Xiaomi smartphone: gestures, navigation bar and hidden functions

The screen buttons on Xiaomi smartphones are not just navigation elements, but a flexible tool that can be adapted to your needs. Many users do not even realize that the standard three-button bar (Back, Home, Recent) can be replaced with gestures, change their order, hide or completely remove from the screen. Meanwhile, the correct setting of virtual buttons can greatly simplify interaction with the device, save space on the display and even extend the life of physical keys (if any).

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to work with screen buttons on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — From basic settings to hidden features that are not mentioned in the official instructions, you will learn how to turn on gestures instead of buttons, change their appearance, return standard navigation after the update. MIUI, And also what to do if the Suddenly buttons are missing from the screen. AMOLED-screens where navigation bandwidth settings affect power consumption.

It doesn’t matter if you’re using Xiaomi’s flagship. 14 Ultra or budget Redmi Note 12 — The instructions in this article are suitable for most devices on the MIUI 12/13/14 And HyperOS. The key is not to be afraid to experiment, because all changes are reversible!

1. Standard screen buttons on Xiaomi: what they mean and how to enable them

By default, Xiaomi smartphones use the classic three-button navigation familiar from early Android versions, which are located at the bottom of the screen and perform the following functions:

• 🔙 Back: returns to the previous screen or closes the app/menu. On some models, a long press opens the list of recent apps.
• 🏠 Home - returns to the home screen (launcher), double tap can open the voice assistant Google Assistant or Xiao AI (depending on the region).
• 📄 Recent – shows a list of the latest running apps for quick switching.

If for some reason these buttons disappeared from your screen (for example, after updating or resetting settings), you can return them in a few steps:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select the navigation lane (or System Navigation in new versions) MIUI).
3. Activate the button option (could be called Three buttons or Classical navigation).
4. If necessary, restart the device to make the changes effective.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or POCO F4) The same menu also offers the option of Order of the Buttons, which allows you to swap them, which is convenient for left-handed people or those who are used to a different arrangement (like on iPhone or Samsung).

2. Gestures instead of buttons: how to set up and what are

Xiaomi offers two types of gesture navigation: standard gestures MIUI Android gestures (starting with Android 10) and how to turn them on.

Gestures MIUI (full-screen)

This is a branded Xiaomi product that completely removes the navigation bar, freeing up extra space on the screen.

• 👆 Swipe up from the bottom edge – returns to the main screen (analogue of the Home button»).
• 👆👆 Swipe Up and Hold – Opens up a list of recent apps.
• 👈 Swipe from right to left - action "Back».

To include:

Settings → Display → Navigation lanes → Full-screen gestures

Note: on some models (e.g. Redmi) K50) In this mode, the Back feature may not work in some applications (for example, YouTube or Chrome), in which case you will have to go back to the classic buttons or use Android gestures.

Android Gestures (systemic)

These gestures are more versatile and similar to those used in pure Android (like the Pixel), and their main difference is that there is a thin strip at the bottom of the screen that visually separates the gesture area.

• 👆 Short swipe up - returns to the main screen.
• 👆👆 Long swipe up - opens recent apps.
• 👈 Swipe from the edge of the screen - action "Back».

Activated by:

Settings → Display → Navigation strips → Android gestures

This option has the advantage of being better compatible with apps, but some users complain that the thin bar at the bottom of the screen is distracting, whether it’s by installing a black theme or hiding the bar through the developer’s Settings (discussed below).

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If gestures are not working smoothly, try calibrating the touch screen: go to Settings → The phone. → All specifications, then 5 times click on the version MIUI, To open the developer menu, find the Sensor Calibration option.

3. How to change the appearance of screen buttons

V MIUI There are hidden settings that allow you to customize the navigation lane, change the color, change the transparency, change the shape of the buttons:

Color change and transparency

By default, the navigation bar is black (or white in a light theme), but it can be made translucent or adjusted to the color of the wallpaper.

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Navigation lane → Additional settings.
2. Select the color of the navigation bar.
3. Activate the option Automatic color (adjust to wallpaper) or select the color manually.

Nana AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) are recommended to install black color – this will reduce power consumption, as the pixels are simply turned off.

Hiding the navigation lane

If you use Android gestures, you can remove the thin stripe at the bottom of the screen completely.

1. Turn on Developer Mode (5 times click on Version) MIUI In Settings → The phone).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to Hide the navigation bar (or Force full-screen display) and activate it.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) after hiding the band, gestures may not work correctly. Before changing, back up your settings!

Changes in the shape and size of buttons

With third-party apps like NavStar or Fluid Navigation Gestures, you can completely redesign buttons to be round, square, add animations, or even replace them with your own icons. ADB-team.

4.Problems with screen buttons and their solutions

Sometimes the navigation buttons stop working, go missing, or behave inappropriately, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If the buttons disappeared after installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be the lack of drivers for touch gestures.

• 🔧 Installation of an additional Magisk module (for example, MIUI Extra Settings).
• 🔄 Return to standard firmware via Fastboot.
• 📱 Using a third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) with your own gestures.

⚠️ Note: On devices with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14) some ADB-The button setting commands may not work. Before experimenting, check the compatibility on the forums. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

5. Hidden features of screen buttons on Xiaomi

Few people know, but the standard navigation buttons on Xiaomi can be used for more than just their intended purpose.

• 🔄 Double-click on Home – quickly shuts down all applications (similar to the “Close Everything” gesture in recent years) and not all models, but you can turn on through Settings. → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures.
• 📱 Long-click on "Recent" - on some firmware opens the split screen menu (Split Screen.
• 🔇 Back button swipe – in some applications (e.g. Gallery) allows you to quickly switch between items.
• 🔍 Triple click on Home – can run Google or Xiao searches AI (adjusting to the settings → Annexes → By default).

Another useful feature is blocking random clicks, and if you frequently hit navigation buttons while playing games or watching videos, you can turn on the Immersive Mode mode, which hides the navigation bar when you view content.

Settings → Display → Navigation lane → Hide automatically

On models with 120 Hz screen (for example, Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) gestures can work smoother if the developer settings include the option Force peak refresh rate. This will force the system to always use the maximum refresh rate of the screen, which will positively affect the responsiveness of the screen.

Make sure the swipe up returns to the main screen|

Check the “Back” action in the applications|

Open recent applications with a long swipe|

Try gestures in horizontal mode (in games/video)-->

6.Setting buttons on the lock screen

Xiaomi’s lock screen also has controls that can be customized, and by default, the flashlight and camera buttons are displayed, but they can be replaced or removed altogether.

To change the buttons:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Choose shortcuts (or quick action in new versions).
3. Click on the button icon (such as a flashlight) and select another action from the list: Google Assistant, Screen Recording, QR-scanner.

If you don't need buttons on the lock screen, you can turn them off completely by activating Hide shortcuts in the same menu, which will increase the display area of the wallpaper and remove unnecessary elements.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) also display a notification bar on the lock screen, which can be removed by disabling the option to Show the notification bar on the lock screen in the security settings.

7.Alternative navigation methods: third-party launchers and applications

If standard facilities MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party solutions:

• 📱 Nova Launcher – allows you to configure your own gestures (for example, swipe up to open the application) and completely replace the navigation bar.
• 🔄 Fluid Navigation Gestures – adds customizable gestures with animations, works without root.
• 🎨 NavStar – changes the design of navigation buttons, adds additional features (for example, long press to launch applications).
• 🔧 Tasker – for advanced users, allows you to create complex navigation scenarios with triggers.

When using third-party launchers or navigation apps, consider the following nuances:

• Some functions may conflict with MIUI, hanging.
• For full operation, it may be necessary to disable battery optimization for the application.
• On new versions of Android (13)+) Some of the options may be limited by Google’s policies.

If you want to return standard navigation, you just need to disable the third-party app and restart the device. All changes are reversible.

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Party launchers and navigation apps can improve the experience, but sometimes conflict with system features. MIUI. Before installing, check the reviews for your model.

FAQ: Frequent questions about buttons on Xiaomi's screen