How to set up gesture management on Xiaomi: from basic to hidden features

Xiaomi’s gesture control is not just an alternative to classic navigation buttons, but a full-fledged tool to speed up the work with the device. With the release of MIUI 12 and more, the gesture system has become more flexible, but many users still do not use its potential 100%. In this article, we will discuss not only how to turn on gestures on Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi’s flagship models, but also reveal hidden combinations that are not described in the official documentation.

It's important to understand that gestures in MIUI are divided into two types: system (replace the back, home, recent) and optional (swipes for quick action in applications). The first work at the shell level, the second often depend on the specific software. We will focus on system settings, but also touch universal tricks that will save you up to 30% of your time with daily use of your smartphone.

If you've moved from an iPhone or other Android device, the usual gestures may work differently. For example, a swipe from the bottom up on Xiaomi defaults to open recent apps rather than returning to the home screen — which often confuses beginners. Next, you'll learn how to reconfigure behavior to suit your needs.

Types of gestures on Xiaomi: what are and how are different

There are three basic gesture control modes available in MIUI, and they're easy to confuse.

• 📱 Classic buttons -- three virtual buttons at the bottom of the screen (Back, Home, Recent) -- are conservative, but take up useful screen space.
• 👆 Gestures MIUI (default) — swipes at the bottom of the screen replace all three buttons, the most popular option, but it requires addiction.
• 🔄 Full Screen Gestures – as close as possible to iOS, where the swipe from the bottom up returns to the main screen, and retention opens Recent.

The difference between the second and third options is critical, for example, in Full Screen Gestures, swiping from right to left on the lower edge of the screen performs a “back” action, whereas in standard MIUI gestures, you need to swipe from the left or right edge of the screen inward, which affects the convenience of games or apps with side menus (for example, Instagram or TikTok).

Another nuance: some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5) have a fourth mode, "One-Knob Gestures," which combines a small dot at the bottom of the screen (like the old Meizu) with partial swipe support, which is useful if you drop your phone often and fear false positives.

How to turn on and configure gestures on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

It takes less than a minute to switch to gestures, but many users get lost in settings.

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select Full-screen mode (on some firmwares it may be called Navigation Panel or System Management).
3. Slip by Navigation Type and select one of three gesture options (see section above).
4. For fine-tuning, click Additional gesture settings (not available on all models).

If you don't have Full Screen, your firmware is outdated. Update MIUI to 12.5+ via Settings → About Phone → System Update. On POCO with POCO Launcher shell, the path may be different: Settings → System → Gestures.

Once the gestures are activated, it is recommended to immediately turn off the vibration when swiping, as it quickly drains the battery and irritates when used intensively.

1. Back to Settings → Sound and vibration.
2. Select System Vibration.
3. Turn off the Vibration switch when navigating.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro or Redmi K50 Ultra (Foot-in-the-box) Long-term finger retention at the bottom of the screen can lead to burn-in effects (pixel burnout).To avoid this, use Full Screen Gestures mode and avoid static retention.

Hidden gestures in MIUI: what your Xiaomi can do, but doesn’t tell you

In addition to basic swipes, MIUI has more than 10 additional gestures that speed up everyday tasks.

A double tap on the back is especially useful, so you can adjust it.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Gestures and Movements (or Settings → System → Gestures).
2. Choose Double-Tap Screen or Touch the Back.
3. Set the action: Start the camera, turn on the flashlight, open Google Assistant, etc.

On the POCO F4 GT and other gaming smartphones, this gesture can be linked to the launch of the Game Turbo, which will speed up the opening of games by 20-30%. Also note the swipe gesture down the lock screen: it allows you to check notifications without entering a password, but this creates a risk of data leakage if the phone is lost.

Xiaomi’s Gesture Problems: Why They Don’t Work and How to Fix Them

Gestures can be glitchy for a number of reasons, from firmware bugs to shell conflicts, and here are typical scenarios and solutions:

• 🔄 Gestures work with delay → Turn off animation in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times according to version, then select the animation window: 0.5x).
• 🚫 Back Swipe doesn't work in games → Enable Transparent Navigation in Settings → Display. → Full screen mode.
• 📱 Gestures disappear after update → Reset settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙) → Resetting settings.
• 🔋 Vibration on swipes is not turned off → Clear the app's cache Settings in Settings → Annexes → All applications.

If the gestures stopped working after installing custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS), the problem is that there are no drivers for the touch screen, in which case only flashing on the official MIUI or firmware with support for GApps (for example, MIUI EU) will help.

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and other high-frequency (120/144 Hz) models, gestures can be delayed due to power optimisation.

1. Activate Performance Mode in Settings → Battery → Power Modes.
2. Turn off Adaptive refresh rate in Settings → Display.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a sensor in the display (for example, Xiaomi Mix 4 or Redmi) K60 Pro) Prolonged use of gestures in Full Screen Gestures mode can overheat the bottom of the screen. If the phone gets hot when swiping, switch to classic buttons or reduce the brightness of the screen.

Gestures in games and applications: how not to conflict with the system

Many games (e.g. PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) and apps (e.g. TikTok, YouTube) use their own gestures that may conflict with system gestures. For example, swipe from the edge of the screen in Genshin Impact opens the map, and in MIUI, the default is the "back" action.

Decisions:

• 🎮 For games: Turn on Game Mode in the Notification Curtain – this will turn off system gestures at the edges of the screen.
• 📱 For applications: Use Transparent Navigation (see previous section) or set exceptions in Settings → Annexes → Special rights → Use of full screen.
• ⚙️ For developers: Activate debugging by USB The command is: adb shell settings put global. force_fullscreen_gestures 1 This will force full-screen gestures in all apps (requires Android) SDK).

On the POCO X3 Pro and other devices with a high polling frequency (240 Hz), gesture conflicts are more common, in which case the sensor sensitivity can be reduced:

1. Install the Touchscreen Sensitivity app from Google Play.
2. Select a Low Sensitivity profile for games.
3. Reset the device.

💡

If the Back swipe is triggered by accident in the game, try using a virtual button in the game settings. For example, in PUBG Mobile, this is done through Settings → Main → Control Type → Add a Back button.

Xiaomi gesture comparisons with other brands: which is better?

Gestures on Xiaomi are often compared to counterparts on Samsung One UI, Oppo ColorOS and stock Android.

Xiaomi beats Samsung in the flexibility of the setting, but loses in stability: on the Galaxy S23 gestures work smoother, without delay. MIUI offers unique chips like double tap on the rear panel, which are not available to competitors. Stock Android (for example, on the Pixel 7) is minimal, but lacks additional gestures for convenience.

If you’re used to the iPhone, Xiaomi’s Full Screen Gestures mode will sound familiar, but there’s a caveat: on iOS, Multitasking opens the swipe from the bottom up with a pause, and on MIUI, you need to hold your finger longer (about 0.5 seconds), which can cause discomfort for the first couple of days.

💡

Xiaomi gestures are more customizable than competitors, but require fine-tuning to work perfectly. If you want stability, choose Full Screen Gestures mode and turn off the vibration.

The future of gestures on Xiaomi: what to expect in MIUI 15 and new models

According to leaks and patch notes of MIUI 15 test builds, future firmware versions will include:

• 🤖 AI gestures: The system will analyze your habits and suggest optimal combinations (e.g. swipe to run frequently used apps).
• 🎵 Gestures for media: swipe on the edge of the screen to adjust volume or rewind tracks.
• 🔒 Safe gestures: the ability to link unique swipes to unlock the device (analogue Face) ID, through the sensor).
• 🕹️ Game profiles: Automatic disabling system gestures when running games with support for Xiaomi Game Turbo.

New flagships (such as the expected Xiaomi 14 Ultra) could also feature an ultrasonic sensor that recognizes gestures up to 5cm from the screen, allowing you to control your phone without touching it — useful for kitchen recipes or presentations.

Already, MIUI 14 (beta) is testing Smart Gestures, which automatically adjusts swipe sensitivity to the current app, for example, in Chrome, swipe from right to left will flip tabs, and in the Gallery, switch photos, and is expected to be available to a wide range of users by the end of 2026.