Modern Xiaomi smartphones, as well as sub-brands Redmi and POCO, are equipped with screens with a high area-to-body ratio. However, the standard navigation bar with three buttons ("Back", "Home", "Menu") often takes up useful space, preventing immersion in content or games. Users often look for a way to hide the navigation buttons on Xiaomi to get the cleanest and most modern control.
The transition to gesture control not only frees up a few millimeters of usable display area, but also makes interaction with the MIUI or HyperOS interface more smooth and intuitive. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for disabling classic buttons, adjusting the hidden bar indicator and solving possible problems with displaying interface elements.
Why you should give up classic buttons
Traditional navigation, which has been common to many since Android 4.0, is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The main advantage of gesture control is ergonomics. You no longer have to reach the bottom of the screen to make a return or go to the home screen. It's enough of a light swipe, which is especially convenient when using a smartphone with one hand, which reduces the load on the thumb and minimizes the risk of the device falling.
In addition, full-screen gestures allow apps to use 100% of the available display area. In games, video players and when reading books, the absence of static buttons at the bottom creates a full immersion effect. Android 10, Android 11 and later are optimized for this type of interaction, providing faster and smoother animations of transitions between windows.
Another important aspect is protecting the screen from burnout (relevant to AMOLED matrices). Static interface elements, such as navigation buttons, can leave a mark on the matrix when displayed for a long time. Dynamic gesture control eliminates this risk, since the lower zone of the screen constantly changes depending on the content.
Enabling full-screen gestures through settings
The easiest and safest way to change the type of navigation is to use the built-in operating system tools, which does not require superuser rights (Root) and works on all current models, including the Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.
To start, open the main app menu and find the Settings icon. In the settings list that opens, you need to find the section that handles screen and system navigation. The path may vary slightly between versions of MIUI firmware, but the logic remains the same.
Follow the following algorithm of actions:
- 📱 Go to the Settings section → Additional (or "Advanced Settings»).
- 📱 Find the Full Screen Mode item.
- 📱 Select the option of Gesture Management.
- 📱 Confirm the action by familiarizing yourself with the training video or scheme.
Once you do this, the three buttons that you're used to will disappear, giving way to a thin bar at the bottom of the screen, and if you've chosen the wrong one, you can always go back and switch to Buttons, and the system remembers your choices and applies them instantly.
Sensitivity setting and hiding the indicator
Many users, when they switch to gestures, notice a thin bar at the bottom of the screen, which serves as a visual reminder that swipe up will bring you back to the desktop. However, for some, this line seems superfluous. Unfortunately, it cannot be completely removed by standard means, but you can make it less noticeable or change its behavior.
In full screen settings, the option to Hide the indicator or adjust its transparency in certain scenarios is often available. If this option is not available, the system automatically hides the strip in applications running in full screen mode (video, games), in normal use, it remains so that the user does not forget about the presence of gesture control.
You should also pay attention to the sensitivity of the edges of the screen, and if the swipes on the side to back off work poorly or, conversely, too often, this can be corrected:
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Full screen mode.
- ⚙️ Find the Sensitivity of the Edges.
- ⚙️ Select the value of “High” if you have a security glass pasted, or “Low” if swipes are performed too often.
Proper sensitivity settings are critical for comfortable use: Too low a trigger threshold can lead to accidental returns in side-navigation applications, and high a threshold can make controls “dumb” and unresponsive.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
Use of third-party applications for customization
If standard MIUI functionality isn't enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue, allowing you to create your own gesture sets, change the look of the indicator, or even add new features like tilt control, but it's worth remembering that third-party software can consume more power.
One popular solution is Fluid Navigation Gestures, which allows you to completely hide the system panel and replace it with your own, more flexible settings, you can set your swipe zones, change the length and color of the indicator, and adjust the reactions to double taps.
These applications often require special permissions through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or root permissions, without which functionality will be limited, for example, to hide the system bandwidth may require the execution of a command via a computer:
adb shell pm grant com.fluidnavigationgestures.android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSUsing third-party launchers and navigators gives you complete freedom, but it takes time to fine-tune it. If you want stability and predictability, it's better to stay within the regular system facilities.
Risks of using third-party navigators
Comparison of Navigation Management Methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table that shows the key differences between standard buttons, system gestures and advanced control methods.
| Parameter | Classic buttons | Systemic gestures | Third-party annexes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupied area | High (fixed) | Minimum (indicator only) | Customizable |
| Speed of operation | Instant. | Tall. | Depends on optimization |
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Minimum | Elevated |
| Difficulty setting up | Absent. | Low. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, system gestures are the middle ground: they provide a modern look and convenience without requiring complex manipulations or loading the processor. Buttons remain the lot of conservatives, and third-party applications are the lot of enthusiasts willing to spend time on fine tuning the interface.
Possible problems and solutions
When switching to a new type of navigation, users may face a number of difficulties, most often due to the incorrect operation of individual applications that have not been optimized for full-screen mode, in which case the interface may “hit” the indicator area or overlap with system elements.
⚠️ Warning: If an application (e.g. a banking app) stops working after you turn on gestures, try restarting the device. In rare cases, older versions of the software require resetting the interface settings through the engineering menu.
Another common problem is random swipes, and if you're often inadvertently going back or going out to your desktop, you might want to reduce the sensitivity of the edges, as described above, and also check if a high-sided protective glass or cover is interfering with swipes.
In some cases, after updating MIUI, the navigation settings may get lost. If you find that the buttons returned by themselves, just repeat the procedure for enabling full-screen mode.
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If swipes are not working properly, try removing the protective glass. Thick glass (more than 0.3 mm) can shield the touchscreen signal at the edges, making gesture control impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I remove the bar at the bottom of the screen without Root?
Does the inclusion of gestures affect the speed of the smartphone?
What to do if after updating the firmware missing gesture settings?
Do gestures work in games?
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The move to gesture control is a step towards a more modern and ergonomic smartphone usage that frees up useful screen space and speeds up one-touch navigation.