Gestures on Xiaomi: How to Configure, Disable and Use Hidden Features

Modern Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, Poco and Mi line) offer a flexible gesture control system that can completely replace traditional navigation buttons. However, many users are either unaware of all the features or face problems when setting up. This article will help you understand all the nuances: from basic activation to hidden chips that will speed up the work with the phone on the Internet. 30-40%. We will not only look at standard functions. MIUI 14/15, But also little-known tricks for models with AMOLED-screens and high refresh rate.

Feature of gesture control on Xiaomi is a deep integration with the shell MIUI. Unlike the “naked” Android, there are unique gestures available for fast application launch, multitasking management and even hidden combinations for developers.+ You can set up a double-touch gesture on the back to activate the camera, a feature that 80 percent of owners don’t even know about. In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions with pictures, comparison tables for different models and answers to frequent questions that are not covered in the official documentation.

1.What gestures are supported on Xiaomi in 2026

Shell MIUI 14/15 It offers three main types of gesture controls, which differ in the way they work and the devices they support. 10A POCO M5) Some of the features may be limited due to hardware features:

• 👆 Classic gestures MIUI — Swipes from the bottom up for return, home and app switching, work on all devices with the MIUI 10+.
• 🖐️ Side edge gestures - left/right swipes for back navigation (similar to the back button) available on 120Hz models+ display.
• 🔄 Full-screen gestures – Hiding the navigation bar using swipes anywhere on the bottom of the screen. MIUI 12+.
• 📱 Rear gestures – double/triple touch to launch apps (available on flagships with Xiaomi 12 and newer).
• 🎮 Game gestures – special combinations for Game Turbo mode, activated in game settings.

The most advanced system implemented in Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K60 Pro, where dynamic gestures are supported, and their sensitivity is adapted to the refresh rate of the screen. For example, at 144 Hz, a homecoming swipe is triggered faster than 60 Hz. This reduces delays, but can cause false positives on older models.

2.How to enable gestures on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Activating gesture controls takes less than a minute, but many users get lost in the menu MIUI Because of the frequent interface updates, here's a general-purpose manual that's suitable for MIUI 14/15 (If you have an older version, some items may be called differently.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Connect the phone to charge (recommended when first switched on)

Close all background applications for correct gestures

Make a backup copy of settings (optional)

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To enable gestures:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select Full-screen mode (on some models - System navigation).
3. Slip on full-screen gestures (or gesture navigation in the MIUI 13 and below).
4. Choose one of the options: 🔘 Swipe up - the classic version from the bottom panel. 🔘 MIUI Full-screen gestures – swipes anywhere on the screen. 🔘 Navigation buttons – rollback to traditional buttons (if gestures are not satisfied).

Ready.

Once activated, the system will offer a brief training. On models with curved screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mix Fold 3), the sensitivity of gestures at the edges automatically increases by 15% to compensate for distortion from bending. If swipes are triggered too easily or, conversely, require effort, this is adjusted in additional parameters (more on this below).

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If the notification panel is missing after turning on the gestures, swipe down from the top edge of the screen twice - this is a temporary bug. MIUI 15 that is fixed by the reboot.

3. Fine gesture tuning: sensitivity, speed, exceptions

Basic gesture settings often don't take into account the individual preferences of users, MIUI It allows you to fine-tune the behavior of the system. Here are the key parameters that you need to adjust:

Special attention should be paid to setting exceptions. Many applications (such as games or banking programs) block system gestures to avoid random swipes.

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Gestures → Exceptions for full-screen gestures.
2. Select the application from the list (for example, PUBG Mobile or Sberbank Online).
3. Activate the Allow gestures switch in this application or, vice versa, disable them.

4. Hidden gestures on Xiaomi you didn't know about

In addition to the standard swipes, the MIUI There are some unique gestures hidden that make it much easier to interact with your phone, and most of them are undocumented, but they're used by experienced users:

• 📸 Quick camera start – double press the power button (works even on a locked screen). On the Xiaomi 13 Pro, you can set up a triple press to launch video.
• 🔍 Screen search – swipe down the home screen opens search by apps and settings (similar to Spotlight on iPhone).
• 📱 Screenshot gesture - three touches on the screen with three fingers (included in Settings) → Additionally. → Screenshot).
• 🔄 Quick app switching – swipe right on the bottom panel holding your finger (showns the last 5 apps).
• 🎵 Music control – double tap on the lock screen changes track (configured in Settings) → Lock screen).
• 🔋 Power saving mode – holding the power button + Increased volume (on some models).

On flagship models (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3), the "Show Desktop" gesture is available, a swipe down the home screen with retention. This hides all widgets and leaves only app icons, which is convenient for quick search. LTPO-With screens (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), a double-touch gesture on the display in standby mode shows the time and notifications without fully activating the screen – this saves up to 12% of battery power per day.

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Double-touch gesture on the back panel (on supported models) can be configured to launch any application or action through the Settings menu → Additionally. → Back panel gestures → Set-up of action.

5. Solving gesture issues on Xiaomi

Even when properly set up, gestures can not work properly, most often due to application conflicts, firmware errors or hardware limitations.

⚠️ Note: If the gestures stopped working after the update MIUI, Try resetting your gesture settings to the standard. → Annexes → Application management → Settings (three points) → Reset application settings. It won't delete your data, but it will return all system settings to factory settings.

• ❌ Gestures don’t work in games – add the game to exceptions (see Section 3) or turn off full-screen mode.
• ❌ Swipe back works again - increase sensitivity in the settings or check if the case interferes with the case.
• ❌ Navigation panel missing after gestures are turned on – restart your phone or go back to the navigation buttons and back.
• ❌ Gestures lag at 120Hz - disable adaptive refresh rate in Settings → Display. → Frequency of update.
• ❌ Back gestures don’t work – make sure the feature is supported by your model (the list is in the table above).

If the problem persists, check firmware integrity.

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to System Check.
3. Press Integrity Check and wait for the result.

On Xiaomi with custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience), gestures can conflict with Magisk modules, in which case disabling navigation-related modules (e.g. Fluid Navigation Gestures) will help.

6.Gests on Xiaomi vs Other Brands: Comparisons with Samsung and iPhone

Xiaomi’s gesture control system is often compared to Apple’s and Samsung’s. MIUI It has unique features that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Below is a comparative table of key differences:

Xiaomi's biggest advantage is flexibility. MIUI You can assign different actions for swipes on the left and right at the bottom of the screen, whereas on the iPhone, gestures are symmetrical. On the other hand, Samsung has better optimized the gestures in games thanks to close integration with Game Launcher. If you move from the iPhone, note that on Xiaomi, you can use the same device:

• 🔹 The “Back” gesture requires a swipe from the edge, not from anywhere (as on iOS).
• 🔹 Home screen opens with a swipe up with a delay (on iPhone – instantly).
• 🔹 There is no gesture to quickly return to the previous app (like swiping the bottom panel on the iPhone).

7.Gesturals for Advanced Users: ADB and hidden teams

For those who want to get the most out of the scoring, MIUI There are hidden functions available through ADB These tricks require caution, but they allow you to customize the behavior of the system to specific tasks:

• 🛠️ Change the speed of gesture animation – reduces delays when switching between applications.
• 🔧 Add custom gestures – for example, swipe diagonally to run Google Assistant.
• 📊 Disable restrictions for third-party launchers – allows you to use gestures with Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.
• 🔄 Set up gestures for multitasking – for example, swipe up with retention for split screen.

To change the speed of animation through ADB:

adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0.5


adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0.5




adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0.5

These commands will halve all the animations in the system, making gestures more responsive. To return to standard values, replace 0.5 with 1.0.

⚠️ Note: Change of system parameters through ADB This can cause the phone to work unstable.Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset on some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50i) after modifications ADB Reboot is required, otherwise the gestures may not work properly.

To add custom gestures, you will need the Xposed module or the Magisk module Fluid Navigation Gestures. MIUI 15 Some modules may conflict with HyperOS security, so check compatibility on the forum before installing XDA Developers.

8.The future of gesture management on Xiaomi: what to expect in the MIUI 16

According to the leaks from the closed beta tests, MIUI 16 (expected in late 2026) gesture control will become even more advanced.Among key innovations:

• 🤖 AI gesture prediction – the system will analyze your actions and adjust the sensitivity in real time.
• 🎮 Game gestures 2.0 – the ability to assign swipe combinations to macros in games (for example, automatic aiming in shooters).
• 📱 Gestures for folding phones – special swipes for Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 that will work differently in the unfolded and folded state.
• 🔒 Secure gestures – swipes for quick access to hidden folders or banking applications with fingerprint confirmation.

It is also expected that the new models (Xiaomi 15, Redmi) will be used. K70) It will also support ultrasonic gestures, which are handsets that are not touching the screen (similar to the Google Pixel 4, but with improved accuracy), and will require a special chip, so it is unlikely to be available on budget devices.

If you want to try out the innovations before the official release, you can join the beta test program. MIUI:

1. Go to the site. miui.com/beta (open in a new tab).
2. Sign in through your Mi Account.
3. Choose your phone model and apply.
4. Wait for approval (usually) 1-3 day-day).

Note that beta versions can contain errors, especially in gestures. MIUI 15 was a bug that caused a homecoming swipe to swipe back 20% of the time.

Frequently asked questions