Gestures on Xiaomi like on iPhone: how to turn on swipes and remove navigation buttons

Why are iPhone gestures so popular among Xiaomi owners?

Swipes instead of navigation buttons, smooth animations and intuitive control have all made iPhone gestures the benchmark for Android devices. Owners of Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI or HyperOS often want to get a similar experience, but do not know how to set up the system correctly. In this article, we will analyze everything from standard settings to hidden functions and third-party applications.

It's important to understand that full imitation of iOS gestures on Xiaomi is impossible without root rights or custom firmware - Android and iOS have different principles for working with multi-tasking and animations. However, you can achieve 90% similarity with minimal loss of functionality. Next, step-by-step instructions for different versions of MIUI and HyperOS, including solutions for older models like the Redmi Note 8 Pro and the new flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Method 1: Standard gestures in MIUI/HyperOS (without third-party applications)

Starting with MIUI 10, Xiaomi has added gesture support, but by default they are different from the iPhone.

Open the Settings → Display.
Select Full-screen gestures (in HyperOS - System Navigation).
Activate the MIUI Gesture option (or Swipe Up in newer versions).
Turn on the Hide Navigation Panel switch for full immersive mode.

After activation, you will receive:

🔙 Swipe from right to left – back (like on iPhone).
🏠 Swipe up with a delay - return to the main screen.
📱 Swipe up and hold – opening recent apps (similar to the home button on iPhone X and newer).
⚡ Quick swipe up – transition to the latest app (does not work on all models).

☑️ What to check after setting up gestures

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) The swipe-up gesture for the home screen may conflict with a Google Assistant call. To fix this, turn off the gesture for the assistant in Settings → System system → Gestures → The Assistant's gesture.

Method 2: Fine-tuning gestures through "Special Features"

If standard gestures seem uncomfortable, they can be adjusted through hidden settings, which works on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

Go to Settings → Special features → System settings.
Find the Navigation Gestures section (may be called Gesture Control).
Activate the option “Edge Sensitivity” and set the value “High” – this will make swipes more responsive.
Turn on Vibration when pressed if you want tactile recoil (like on iPhone).

For models with curved screen (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mix Fold 3), it is recommended to turn off edge gestures in games to avoid false positives. → Display. → Full screen mode → Game settings.

How to return old navigation buttons if you don’t like gestures?

If full-screen gestures cause discomfort, return the classic buttons: go to Settings → Display → Full-screen gestures and select Navigation Buttons. In HyperOS, this item may be called Three-button navigation.

Xiaomi model	Supported gestures	Features
Redmi Note 10/11	Swipe up, swipe back.	No quick switch between applications
Xiaomi 12/13/14	All gestures + edge sensitivity	Support for vibrations in swipes
POCO F4/F5	MIUI gestures + option "Double press to lock"	Conflicts with gestures in games (solved in settings)
Xiaomi Pad 6	Gestures like on iPad (swipe from the bottom edge)	Support for gestures for multitasking

Method 3: Apps for simulating gestures iPhone (Fluid NG, Edge Gestures)

If the standard settings don't work, you can use third-party utilities.

📱 Fluid Navigation Gestures – mimics the gestures of the iPhone X with a customizable swipe zone. Works through Special features (does not require root).
🔄 Edge Gestures – allows you to assign swipes from any edge of the screen (for example, swipe down for the notification panel, as on iOS).
⚡ X Gestures – Advanced Script-enabled gesture setting (requires root for full functionality).

🔹 Instructions for Fluid NG:

Install the app from Google Play.
Enable the service in Settings → Special features → Fluid NG.
Select the gesture style of the iPhone X in the app settings.
Set up the activation zone (recommended 10-15% of the lower edge).

📊 What gesture app do you use?

Fluid NG

Edge Gestures

X Gestures

Standard MIUI gestures

Other

⚠️ Attention: Apps like Fluid NG You may conflict with Xiaomi system gestures. Before setting up, turn off standard full-screen gestures in Settings → Display, otherwise swipes will not work properly.

Method 4: Adjust gestures through ADB (for advanced users)

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, you can disable Xiaomi’s system restrictions via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

🔧 Remove the delay when swiping up (like on iPhone).
📵 Turn off vibration when you press navigation buttons.
🔄 Change the sensitivity of gestures at the system level.

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

Install ADB Tools on your PC.
Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1 This will force gestures to be enabled even on incompatible devices.
To adjust the sensitivity, use: adb shell settings put global back_gesture_inset_scale_left 0.1 adb shell settings put global back_gesture_inset_scale_right 0.1 (significance 0.0 before 0.5).

💡

Before using ADB, back up your settings through Settings → Additional → Backup. Incorrect commands can cause gestures to fail.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Reset after resetting settings or updating MIUI. To make the changes come back, you'll have to do them again, also on some firmware (e.g. Global). ROM Redmi Note 12: These commands may not work due to Xiaomi restrictions.

Method 5: Castom firmware (for enthusiasts)

If you want to use 1:1 gestures like you do on an iPhone, including an animation to switch apps, you'll have to install custom firmware.

📱 Pixel Experience – firmware based on pure Android with gestures as close to iOS as possible.
🔄 LineageOS – supports customizable gestures through Magisk modules.
⚡ MIUI EU — modified MIUI graphed.

🔹 What's needed:

Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader).
Installed TWRP or other custom recaveri.
Backup data (installation of firmware erases everything from the phone).

📌 Step-by-step guidance:

Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 72 hours).
Install TWRP for your model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
Download firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) from pixelexperience.org.
Load into the recavator, make Wipe (Dalvik, Cache, System, Data) and run the firmware.

💡

Custom firmware gives you maximum customization freedom, but it is not warranty and can contain bugs. Before installing, check the reviews about the stability of a particular build for your model.

Problem Solving: Why don't gestures work or glitch?

If the swipes work incorrectly after setting up, check the following points:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The back gesture doesn't work.	Conflict with gestures in the annex	Turn off full screen mode for this app in settings
Swipe up opens Google Assistant	A gesture for the assistant is on.	Turn off the Settings → System → Gestures → Assistant gesture
Gestures work with delay	Low sensitivity of edges	Increase sensitivity in special opportunities
Swipe for multitasking doesn't work	An outdated version of MIUI	Update the firmware to the latest version

🔹 Additional advice:

🔄 If gestures are missing after the update, reset the settings to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting gesture settings.
📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T) The gestures may not work horizontally. MIUI — Try third-party apps.
⚡ For games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), turn off full-screen gestures in the game settings or through Game Turbo.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gestures on Xiaomi

Can you make gestures on Xiaomi exactly the same as on the iPhone?

It is impossible to repeat 100% of iOS gestures because of the differences in the architecture of Android and iOS. However, with Fluid NG or custom firmware, you can achieve 90% similarity. The main differences: on the iPhone, swipe up with pause opens multitasking, and on Xiaomi it returns to the home screen. Animations switch between Android apps are less smooth. On the iPhone, there is no separate gesture to call the menu (as in MIUI when swiping up with retention).

Why did the gestures reset after the MIUI update?

Xiaomi often resets gesture settings when major updates (e.g., with a mobile phone) MIUI 13 on MIUI 14). To return them: Go to Settings → Display. → Full-screen gestures. Choose Gestures again. MIUI And adjust the sensitivity. If you use Fluid. NG, Restart the service in Special Options. If the gestures still don't work, try clearing the Settings app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Clear the cache).

How to turn off vibration when swipes?

Vibration when gestures is enabled in two places: In standard settings: Settings → Sound and vibration → System Vibration → Press Vibration (turn off this item). In Fluid NG: open the application, go to Settings → Vibration and deactivate the option. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), gesture vibration is set separately in Settings → Special features → Vibration when touched.

Do gestures work on foldable Xiaomi smartphones (Mix Fold 3, Mix Flip)?

Yes, but with caveats: On Mix Fold 3, gestures work on both the internal and external screens, but sensitivity may vary. On Mix Flip (if released), swipes on the external display may be limited due to the small screen. When deployed, navigation gestures may conflict with multitasking (e.g. swipe up on half the screen). For foldable devices, it is recommended to use Fluid NG with a separate gesture setting for each screen.

Can I customize gestures on Xiaomi without root rights?

Yes, most of the techniques in this article don't require root: Standard gestures MIUI/HyperOS — They're rootless. NG Edge Gestures – Use Special Opportunities. ADB-commands don't require root, but you need debugging rights. Root is only required for: Install custom firmware. Use advanced modules in Magisk (for example, to modify animations).