Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to maximize the usable screen area by removing unnecessary interface elements. The standard three buttons at the bottom of the display ("Back", "Home", "Menu") take up space and sometimes interfere with viewing in games or while watching videos. The Redmi Note 9 model, despite its popularity, by default offers classic navigation that many users want to change.
Modern MIUI shells provide flexible tools to customize control, so you can not only switch to gesture control, but also completely hide the bottom bar-hint, making the screen limitless, which requires several sequential actions in the system settings, and in some cases, activation of hidden functions.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change navigation, we will look at the standard methods that are safe for the device, and also touch on advanced settings for power users. Your smartphone interface will become cleaner and more functional after reading this manual.
Benefits of switching to gesture management
Moving from buttons to gestures is not just a fashion homage, it's a real improvement in ergonomics. On 6.53-inch screens like the Redmi Note 9, every millimeter counts. By removing static elements, you're freeing up space for content, which is especially noticeable in horizontal mode.
And gesture control also allows you to switch between apps faster, and instead of reaching for a specific button, you swipe intuitively, which reduces the load on your thumb and speeds up the overall operating system.
It's important to note that visual cleanliness is good for media perception. When you watch a movie or flip through a social media feed, there's nothing distracting you from the picture. The bottom of the screen is left free to display controls in apps.
Basic navigation settings through the system menu
The first and easiest step is to switch modes in standard settings, and MIUI allows you to choose the type of navigation without having to install third-party software, which is safe and reversible at any time.
To start, you need to go to the system settings section. Usually the path is: Settings → Screen → Navigation on the screen. Depending on the firmware version, the path may vary slightly, but the keyword remains the same: “Navigation”.
In the menu that opens, you'll see two main options: "Buttons" and "Fullscreen control." When you pick the second item, you activate gestures. The system immediately offers a training video showing the basic movements of the finger.
- 📱 The swipe from the bottom up in the center of the screen replaces the home button».
- ⬅️ A swipe from the left or right edge of the screen inside replaces the “Back” button».
- 📑 Swipe from bottom to top with a delay opens the menu of recent apps.
Once this mode is activated, the lower bar with the buttons will disappear, giving way to a subtle hint at the bottom of the screen, which is the bar that often annoys users who want complete immersiveness, but simply switching the mode is not enough to remove it completely.
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If you're used to buttons but want more space, try changing the order of the buttons in the settings, which won't hide them, but will make it easier for your left or right hand to control.
How to completely remove the lower bar-hint
Many users stop at the previous stage, but the thin bar at the bottom still remains, which is an indicator that gestures are active, and to hide it, you need to perform one additional action that is not obvious at first glance.
In the same menu where you chose the navigation type, there is a Hide Hint switch, which can only be activated when you select Full Screen Control, and enabling this option makes the bottom area absolutely clean.
But there's a caveat: after hiding the hint, some users forget how to get back to the home screen. To keep things simple, remember that the swipe from the bottom down in the center works even without a visual indicator. The Redmi Note 9 touchscreen responds to touches all over the surface.
⚠️ Note: After hiding the navigation bar in some games, it can be difficult to call the system menu. In such cases, a quick swipe from the lowest corner of the screen usually helps activate the control panel.
If you accidentally hid a band and forgot how to return the settings, don't panic. Just swipe from the bottom edge of the screen up and hold your finger for a second, and that will open up the multitasking menu, where you can get into the settings.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
Using debugging mode for advanced settings
For those who don't have the standard methods, there's a developer mode, a hidden part of the system that's designed to test applications, but it's a useful feature for ordinary users, and it takes care to turn it on.
To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About the phone. Find the line "Version." MIUI» And press it fast. 7-10 The system will tell you that you have become a developer, and then a new section "Additional" or "Extended settings" will appear in the main settings menu».
Inside the developer menu, we're interested in the item that relates to the minimum width or density of the DPI. By changing these values, you can visually resize the interface elements, including the navigation area, but this can lead to incorrect font display.
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*A more secure method through USB debugging (ADB) allows you to forcefully hide the navigation bar at the system level, which will require a computer and installed Xiaomi drivers.
- 💻 Connect your smartphone to your PC via the original cable.
- 🔌 In the developer menu, include “Debugging by” USB».
- ⌨️ Enter the command into the console ADB computer-based.
Using ADB commands gives you maximum control, but requires technical literacy. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to limit yourself to standard MIUI settings. Errors in the code can lead to the need to reset settings.
What if the ADB commands lost the interface?
Comparison of Navigation Management Methods
The way you control it depends on your habits and your tasks, some prefer the classic button reliability, some prefer the speed of gestures. Let's compare the basic options available on the Redmi Note 9.
Buttons provide tactile and visual clarity. You always see where to press. Gestures require muscle memory, but free up space. Completely concealing elements is a compromise between aesthetics and ease of access.
| Parameter | Buttons | Strip gestures | Gestures without stripes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupied area | Tall. | Minimum | Zero. |
| Speed of development | Instant. | 1-2 days | 3-5 days |
| Comfort in games | Low. | Average. | High. |
| Risk of error | Low. | Medium. | Tall (at first) |
As you can see from the chart, completely concealing navigation provides the most visual comfort, but it is addictive. If you play shooters or strategy often, this option will be the most profitable for immersion in the process.
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The optimal balance for most users is to use gestures with a visible bare hint, which preserves aesthetics and gives a visual landmark.
Possible problems and solutions
When you change your system settings, you may have conflicts with individual applications, some programs that have been developed for a long time do not know how to work properly with full-screen mode, in which case the interface can "hit" the system area.
If you notice that a particular application has lost control buttons or text has become unreadable, try temporarily returning standard buttons. Also in the screen settings there is a feature called Screen Extension, which enforces full-screen mode for older applications.
Sometimes, after updating the firmware, the navigation settings may reset, which is the normal behavior of the security system, you will need to re-activate the selected mode, check the settings after each major MIUI update.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party launchers to hide buttons unless you are sure of their safety.They may request excessive permissions and slow down your smartphone.
If the sensor stops responding to swipes at the bottom of the screen after hiding the band, calibrate the sensor. To do this, select the touchscreen test on the engineering menu (code # #64663##) and follow the instructions.