How to Remove the Buttons on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: A Complete Navigation Guide

Modern smartphone users are increasingly abandoning the classic control of the three virtual keys at the bottom of the screen, moving to more intuitive gestures. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 model may also want to free up useful display space by making the interface cleaner and more modern.

The process of disabling the buttons in the MIUI shell does not require superuser rights or complex manipulation of system files. All the necessary tools are already built into the Android operating system and are available through the standard settings menu, which allows any device owner to change the way they interact with the gadget in a couple of clicks, significantly improving the convenience of daily use.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to hide navigation elements, including the transition to gesture control and fine-tuning the hidden stripe. You will learn how to adapt the smartphone to your style of use and what additional opportunities are opened after turning off the classic Home, Back and Menu buttons.

Benefits of switching to gesture management

Removing static buttons at the bottom of the screen is not just a fashion homage, but a real improvement in ergonomics. Full-screen gestures allow you to control the device with one hand using swipes from the edges of the display, which is especially true for the 6.53-inch diagonal that the Redmi Note 9 features. This frees up the bottom of the screen, making navigation faster and smoother.

Also, the disappearance of buttons visually increases usable area: When watching videos or reading books, the bottom area is no longer occupied by black or white squares. The system becomes more responsive, as swipes are processed faster than waiting for animation to press a virtual key.

Many users note that after switching to gestures, they stop accidentally hitting buttons while playing or working in applications. This reduces the number of false positives and makes interaction with the interface more predictable. MIUI offers flexible sensitivity settings that allow you to adapt the control to your individual preferences.

⚠️ Attention: It may take several days for the first gesture to get used to your muscle memory. Don't rush back the buttons if you experience discomfort in the first hours.

It’s also worth mentioning compatibility: Most modern applications are optimized for swipe management, but some older programs may not display content at the bottom of the screen correctly, in which case the system automatically adds indents or suggests temporary use of buttons.

Standard way to disable buttons through settings

The easiest and safest way to change navigation is built into the standard smartphone menu, so you don't have to install third-party software or connect the device to your computer.

First, you have to go to the system settings section, and this is the master switch that's responsible for the type of navigation, and the algorithm is very simple, and it takes only a minute, even for inexperienced users.

Once full-screen mode is activated, the three buttons will disappear, replaced by a thin bar at the bottom or completely disappeared. If you choose the bar option, you can use it as an indicator or hide it for maximum immersion, and the system will offer a training video showing the basic gestures.

It is important to note that some versions of the firmware may have slightly different paths, such as global versions of MIUI, where the item may be called System Navigation, and Chinese versions may call it Quanping, and the logic of the action remains the same: search for a partition associated with the screen or navigation.

Setting sensitivity and hidden band

Once you remove the buttons, the system will suggest adjusting the new navigation settings, which is a critical step because it is crucial to the comfort of use, and the hidden bar (or gesture indicator) may be too visible or, conversely, barely visible.

The navigation menu often has the option "Hide the hint" available, and if you turn it on, the thin line at the bottom of the screen will disappear completely, which makes the interface as clean as possible, but requires great gesture knowledge, and for beginners, it's better to leave the indicator visible at least for the first time.

Swipe sensitivity is also subject to adjustment, and if gestures are not triggered the first time or are activated too easily, change this setting, and optimally adjusting them will prevent random returns to the menu during games or photos.

Remember, you can change the position of the indicator, and in some design themes or launchers, you can shift the lane to the left or right if the standard center position seems uncomfortable, a rare but useful feature for people with motor skills.

Comparison of navigation types in MIUI

To make a final decision, it is useful to compare the available control options. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 implemented three main modes, each of which has its own characteristics and target audience.

As you can see from the table, gesture control wins in most respects, especially in terms of ergonomics and visual space, but for users switching from push-button phones or older Android models, button mode may remain more familiar.

Visible bandwidth is the middle ground, and it provides a visual guide to where to swipe from, but it takes up minimal space, and it's the best choice for those who are just starting to learn a new navigation system.

Solving problems with the disappearance of buttons

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the buttons disappeared on their own, or, conversely, do not want to hide after changing the settings, this can be caused by a malfunction in the system process SystemUI or conflicting themes of design.

If the buttons don't go away after you switch to gesture mode, try rebooting the device, which often solves the problem of the hung interface, and it's also worth checking if the One Hand or Extended Screen mode is activated, which can block changes.

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting the navigation settings, the buttons continue to behave incorrectly, check for system updates. MIUI

In rare cases, the culprit is a third-party launcher. If you've installed alternative shells, try temporarily returning the standard launcher and checking navigation. Third-party software can intercept control of system elements.

Also, the problem may be that system files are damaged after a failed update, in which case resetting to factory settings will help, but make sure to back up important data before you do so.

Alternative methods and third-party applications

For those who don't have standard MIUI capabilities, there are third-party solutions, and applications like Navigation Bar or Fluid Navigation Gestures allow you to create a fully customized control panel.

These programs allow you to change the size, transparency and behavior of buttons, add new features, such as controlling the brightness of a swipe or running applications over a double tap, but their installation requires special permissions through the ADB or the special features menu.

adb shell pm grant com.fluid.navigationbar android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Using third-party software can lead to increased battery consumption, as such applications are constantly hanging in the background and tracking user actions, and they can conflict with system security updates.

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Use the Game mode in the Security app to automatically hide the navigation bar while you run your gaming apps. This will prevent random menu exits.

However, for most users, Xiaomi’s built-in tools are more than enough: they are stable, optimized for hardware devices and do not require complex adjustments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The flexibility of the interface is one of the main advantages of the MIUI shell, allowing each user to adapt the Redmi Note 9 to their unique style of use.