Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with screens with an aspect ratio that is ideal for multimedia content and games. However, the standard system interface, including control buttons or navigation bars, often overlaps part of the playing field, distracts attention and prevents full immersion. This is especially annoying in shooters and strategies, where every pixel of the review is important. Users often wonder how to forcefully hide these elements without unnecessary actions during gameplay.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools to manage the display of system elements. In most cases, the problem is solved through the settings of the Security application itself or the Full Screen Mode system menu. However, there are nuances that depend on the version of Android and the specific device model that require a deeper approach. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from standard settings to hidden developer functions.
Ignoring these settings can lead to not only discomfort, but also random clicks, which in competitive games often means defeat. Understanding how SystemUI works in conjunction with the game accelerator will allow you to configure the device once and forget about the problem. We will look at options for managing gestures and classic buttons, and also touch on the topic of third-party launchers.
Standard settings of full-screen mode
The first and most logical step is to check the basic settings of the system. In Xiaomi smartphones, a separate system parameter is responsible for displaying the interface, which can be found in the screen settings section. This is where the priority is given to display applications to the full screen. If the application is not optimized for modern display proportions, the system can default to leave black bars or display control buttons.
To change this behavior, you need to go to the Settings menu → Screen → Full-screen mode. In the list that opens, find the game you want. By default, there may be a "Default" or "Buttons" switch. You need to manually select the option "Full screen" This action will force the image to stretch over the entire display area, hiding the bottom navigation bar.
In some versions of the firmware, this path may be slightly different, for example, in older MIUI builds, the item you want may be inside the Advanced Settings menu. If you can't find the right switch, search by settings by typing in "Full Screen." The system will redirect you to the desired section.
- 📱 Go to your smartphone settings.
- 🖥️ Select the Screen or Advanced Settings section.
- 🎮 Find the Full Screen Mode item.
- ✅ Activate the switchboard in front of the desired game.
⚠️ Warning: After you turn on full screen mode in some older games, the interface may stretch disproportionately. If you notice a distortion of the picture, return the setting to the default value».
Control through gestures and navigation strip
One of the main reasons buttons remain visible is the way they navigate. Modern versions of Android and Xiaomi shells have two main types of controls: classic three buttons and gesture navigation. For gamers, the latter option is preferred, as it frees up the usable screen area and allows you to hide the visual elements of the interface.
When you switch to gestures, the lower bar (the pill) can still be displayed. To remove it completely, you need to go to the gesture settings. Usually this option is called "Hide the gesture prompt" or "Hide the indicator." Once this function is activated, the lower bar will disappear, and swipe management will remain fully functional, which is especially useful in games where frequent access to the Home or Back menu is required.
It is important to note that in gesture mode, random touches of the edges of the screen can lead to unwanted actions. However, in Game Turbo game mode, the sensitivity of the edges is often automatically adjusted. If you use three-button navigation, you can only hide the buttons in the game through the previously described Full-screen mode, since they are part of the system interface.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
It’s worth mentioning that HyperOS’s cut-and-bang algorithm also affects navigation. If the screen settings select “Hide the cut-out,” the system can automatically activate the black bar at the bottom, mimicking old proportions. Make sure that Settings → Screen → Neckout & Brushes selects a “No Changes” or “Hide the cut-out” value for your game with the correct status bar display.
Setting up the Game Turbo accelerator
Xiaomi has introduced a powerful optimization tool, Game Turbo (formerly known as Game Center), which is not just a launcher for running games, but a comprehensive add-on that manages CPU resources and blocks distractions. One of the key features of the accelerator is the ability to hide notifications and navigation elements while playing.
To access your settings, run the game through the Security icon → Game Turbo or through the desktop shortcut. In the side menu of the game accelerator (called by swipe from the corner of the screen), find your profile settings. Here you can activate Do Not Disturb mode and prevent floating windows. While the Game Turbo does not remove system buttons directly, it creates an isolated environment where the game is prioritized, and system overlays behave differently.
In some versions of the firmware inside the Game Turbo, the navigation button lock feature can be called Edge Blocking or False Touch Protection, which ignores touching in areas where virtual buttons are located, preventing you from leaving the game during intense play.
| Function | Where to find out. | The effect in play |
|---|---|---|
| Full screen mode | Settings → Screen | Hiding buttons and status bar |
| Game Turbo | Security Annex | Optimizing and blocking notifications |
| Navigation with gestures | Settings → Additional | Remove the bottom panel completely |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Game Turbo/Stork | Blocking calls and messages |
Secret codes for diagnosis
Using Developer Mode for Advanced Users
For those who aren’t afraid to experiment, Android’s hidden settings can be accessed through the developer menu, a method that allows you to control the behavior of the system interface at a deeper level, but remember that setting the interface incorrectly can lead to unstable operation, so be careful.
To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on “MIUI Version” or “OS Version.” After the message “You became a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu. In the “Additional” or “Extended settings” section, a new “Developers” item will appear.
Inside the developer menu, we're interested in the section related to drawing or interface. Find the option "Force fullscreen apps" (Force fullscreen apps). Enabling this global setting will cause all applications, even those that are not optimized, to stretch to the full screen, ignoring the reserved areas for buttons.
⚠️ WARNING: Globally enabling full-screen mode through a developer can break the layout in social networks or banking applications.
You can also find settings related to window animations on the developer menu, which means that reducing the animation to 0.5x or turning it off completely makes the transitions between the game and the desktop instantaneous, which indirectly affects the perception of the interface, making it less intrusive.
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Take a screenshot of the Developer For settings before changing the settings, which will help you quickly get things back to normal if something goes wrong.
Third-party applications and launchers
If standard tools are not enough, third-party solutions come to the rescue. Google Play has a variety of apps that allow you to customize navigation. One popular trend is launchers with built-in button hiding or floating buttons that can be completely disabled in certain applications.
Applications like Navigation Bar or Fluid Navigation Gestures allow you to completely replace Xiaomi’s standard navigation bar with a custom one that can be customized so that it disappears in the horizontal mode (landscape), which is used in 99% of games, which gives you maximum control over the appearance of the interface.
Another option is to use specialized gaming launchers, which create a shell around the game, hiding all system elements, but such launchers can consume additional battery and RAM resources, which on budget models of Redmi or Poco can cause a drop in FPS.
- 📥 Download the verified navigation launcher from the Play Store.
- ⚙️ Give the application the necessary permissions to access the system.
- 🚫 In the launcher settings, select “Hide in landscape mode».
- 🎮 Start the game and check the result.
It is important to understand that installing third-party navigation bars requires disabling the standard MIUI navigation system. This can lead to conflicts, especially after updating the firmware.
Solving problems with automatic concealment
There are times when the settings are set right, but the buttons pop up, disappear, or don't hide at all, often with the cache of a SystemUI system application or a particular launcher, and resetting the display settings can solve the problem.
Try clearing the cache of the Security and Settings app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Find what you want, click Clear → Clear cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear all data, as this will reset your personal system settings.
If the problem persists, check for system updates. Early versions of MIUI for specific models (such as the Redmi Note 9 or Poco X3) had bugs that didn't recognize games as full-screen. Updating to the current version of HyperOS or the stable version of MIUI often contains fixes for such bugs.
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The most reliable way to remove buttons is a combination of gesture navigation and forced full screen for a particular application in system settings.