The interfaces of modern Xiaomi smartphones, whether MIUI 14 or the latest HyperOS, are built around intuitive control, where swipes play a key role. Users often confuse basic navigation with advanced features, such as additional gestures in the Security app or hidden features of special features. Understanding the differences between standard flipping and system commands allows you to turn using a smartphone into the most efficient process.
Many device owners are faced with a situation where the usual finger movements stop working or require too much pressing, this can be due to software failures and improper screen calibration. In this article, we will discuss how to activate all possible types of swipes, adjust their sensitivity and use hidden combinations for quick access to functions.
The point to be made is that Xiaomi's gesture control system is constantly being updated, and what worked a year ago may have a different algorithm today, and we'll look at current customization methods that ensure smooth interfaces and no delays in switching between apps.
Activation and adjustment of basic gesture navigation
Settings → Desktop → System Navigation
Here, the user chooses between the classic buttons and gesture controls. When you choose the second option, the buttons disappear, and the control is carried out by swipes from the edges of the screen. It is important to note that in the same menu, you can set the hidden button, which appears when you swipe from the bottom up and delay, simulating the home button.
Some users prefer a combined approach, leaving buttons but adding additional swipes. The navigation menu often features the option “Swipe by menu button”, allowing you to quickly close applications or call a voice assistant, a hidden feature that many ignore, although it saves time.
⚠️ Warning: After switching to gestures, the usual long-term press on the Home button to call Google Assistant will stop working.
And we should also mention the animation speed settings, which are on the developer menu, but they have a direct impact on how you see swipes, and reducing the animation scale from 1.0 to 0.5 makes the system respond to your movements instantaneously, creating the illusion of a more powerful processor.
Special features: one-handed swipes and fast commands
Settings → Additional settings → Special features
One-handed control allows you to compress the screen to the size of a small island that can be moved by swipes, especially for owners of models with a diagonal of more than 6.5 inches, such as the Xiaomi 14 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro+.
- 👆 One-handed mode: Reduces the screen workspace for easy thumb access.
- 🖱️ Mouse and touchpad: Allows you to control the cursor using a Bluetooth mouse, emulating swipes.
- 🗣️ Voice control: Launching voice command actions that replace physical touches.
The section on Quick Commands deserves special attention, where you can program complex scripts to one swipe or tap, for example, double tapping on a switched-off screen to turn on a flashlight or swiping with three fingers to create a screenshot and then sending it to the messenger.
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Use the Touch Lock feature on the same menu if you carry your phone in your pocket, and it ignores random swipes with fabric, preventing false positives.
Touch sensitivity settings are also in this section, and if your screen reacts too slowly or makes false positives, the sensitivity slider will help calibrate the capacitive layer to your individual characteristics and the protective glass.
Hidden gestures in the Security app and the multitasking menu
For example, in the Cleanup section, swiping left on a running app card allows it to be instantly excluded from the cleaning process or, conversely, forced to close. A long swipe down in the main menu of the application often causes hidden engineering menus or extended battery usage statistics.
| Action. | Swipe zone | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Swipe left | Application card | Exclusion from cleaning |
| Swipe right | List of viruses | Addendum to exceptions |
| Double tap. | Memory indicator | Starting a deep cleaning |
| Swipe down. | Main screen screen | Updating the virus database |
In the multitasking menu (screen running apps), swipes also have their own logic. Swipe up the application card closes it. Swipe down (if the appropriate option is enabled in the settings of recent tasks) can block the application, preventing it from unloading from RAM.
⚠️ Attention: Blocking apps via swipe in the multitasking menu is not a reliable way to protect sensitive data.Use Second Space or Hiding Apps for real security.
Experiments with the Security interface show that swipes on the widgets on the desktop created by this application can also carry a functional load, for example, swiping on the Battery widget immediately opens a detailed graph of energy consumption, avoiding unnecessary transitions.
Swipe settings for screenshots and screen recording
To activate, go to Settings → Additional settings → Screenshot. Here you can select the "Three fingers" method. If you swipe three fingers from top to bottom of the screen, you instantly create a picture. Long-term retention of three fingers will trigger the screen recording mode.
☑️ Setting up screenshots
The same menu also has a screenshot panel setting, and when you create a picture, you have a thumbnail in the corner, and you can swipe it left or right, and you can quickly edit or share the image without opening the gallery.
It is important to note that on some models with curved screens (for example, the Mi Curved series), the sensitivity of the swipe with three fingers can be reduced to avoid false positives, in which case it is recommended to use a button in the notification curtain or assign a gesture to the quick access button.
Problems with responsiveness: calibration and repair of the touch screen
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The built-in engineering test allows you to check the accuracy of the response. Dial the code ##6484## on your phone to enter the CIT engineering menu. Select Touchpanel or Touchscreen. You will be asked to draw lines along the circuits, and the system will show you where the signal is lost.
- 📉 Dead Zones: Screen areas that do not respond to touch.
- ⚡ Phantom touches: The screen reacts where you don't touch.
- 📉 Drift: The cursor or highlight shifts to the side without your involvement.
Often, the problem is solved by simply calibrating or removing the protective glass if it is too thick or damaged. In rare cases, resetting to factory settings helps, but this is an extreme measure. If the engineering test shows red zones in the touch screen test, you will need to replace the module.
What to do if the touchscreen does not work at all?
Remember that static electricity and low temperature can also temporarily worsen swipes, and if the problem only occurs in the cold or after using synthetic clothing, the iron is probably fine.
Advanced settings for developers and debugging
MIUI version
OS version
In the developer menu (Advanced Settings → Developer) the items related to the size of the pointer and the trigger threshold are of interest. However, be careful: changing parameters like "Minimum Size" can make the interface unusable.
A useful feature is "Touch Show." It visualizes every touch in a white circle. It helps you understand whether the screen reads your swipe intermittently or smoothly, and it's a great tool for diagnosing cursor shake.
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The developer menu is a powerful tool, but changing the animation settings and font size can cause the system to run in an unstable way.
You can also find a response rate setting here: Increasing the frequency of the touchscreen survey (if supported by the driver) makes swipes sharper, but can negatively affect battery autonomy, increasing its consumption by up to 10-15%.