How to remove buttons from the screen Xiaomi Redmi 8: a complete guide with pictures and videos

The Xiaomi Redmi 8 is still a popular budget smartphone, but its three-button navigation bar (Back, Home, Recent) takes up precious space on the screen.

We'll look at all the current ways to hide buttons, from standard MIUI settings to advanced methods using ADB. Importantly, not all options work on custom firmware or after system updates. Before you change, back up your data to prevent information loss when you crash.

Note: the instructions are checked on Redmi 8 with MIUI 12.5-14 firmware (Android 9-11). On newer versions, the interface may differ, but the logic of the actions remains the same.

1. Method: gestures instead of buttons in standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to activate full-screen gestures through the settings menu, which does not require super-user or PC access, but is not available on all firmware versions.

How to turn on:

  1. Open the Settings → Display.
  2. Select Full Screen Mode (or Navigation Bar in older versions of MIUI).
  3. Slip on the option Full-screen gestures.
  4. Follow the on-screen tips to master new gestures: 👆 Up from the bottom edge - return to the main screen. 👆👆 Up and Holding – A List of Recent Apps. 👈 Swipe from right to left - back to back.

If Full Screen Mode is not on the menu, then your version of MIUI does not support it, in which case move on to the next way.

📊 How do you normally control your smartphone?
Classic buttons
MIUI gestures
Gestures from third-party launchers
ADB-team
I don't know.

⚠️ Warning: Some firmware may miss the home button indicator (the point at the bottom of the screen) after activating gestures. To return it, restart the device or turn on the option to Show navigation bandwidth in additional display settings.

2. Method: Hiding buttons via ADB (without root)

If standard settings don’t offer full-screen gestures, you can force the navigation bar to turn off using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works on most versions of MIUI but requires connecting the smartphone to a computer.

What you need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
  • 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).li>
  • 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.
  • 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official Google website).

Step-by-step:

  1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.

USB-debugging

  • Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
  • Activate the debugging switch over USB.
  • Connect Redmi 8 to your computer and confirm your trust in the device on your smartphone screen.
  • Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with adb.exe.
  • Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
  • Use the command to hide the navigation bar: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1
  • Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

If you don’t have an option, try an alternative route:

  • 🔍 In the developer menu, find Minimize the navigation bar.
  • 🔄 Activate it and restart the launcher (long press on the home button» → Reset).

💡

If after hiding the buttons, access to the notification panel is lost, swipe your finger from the upper right corner of the screen down - this is a universal gesture for MIUI.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful button hiding, there may be problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The buttons are gone, but the gestures are not working.

  • 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes the system needs to re-initialize gestures.
  • 🛠️ Check if the installed launcher conflicts with the system settings.
  • 📱 If you've used ADB, repeat the command with the parameter 0 instead 1, Then activate again: adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 0 adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

Problem 2: In some applications, the buttons appear again.

  • 🎮 This is normal behavior for games and video players where system gestures can interfere with control.
  • 🔧 To forcefully hide the panel, use the command: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=com.package.name (replace com.package.name with com.package.name) ID problem-solution).

Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the buttons returned.

  • 🔄 Xiaomi sometimes resets gesture settings when major updates.Repeat the concealment procedure (via ADB or setting).
  • 📋 Before updating, back up your current settings through Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

💡

If none of the methods worked, check out the MIUI version: full-screen gestures may not be supported on firmware older than 12.0.3, and only installing custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) with gesture support will help.

Can I return the buttons after hiding?
Yes, all changes are reversible: If you use standard settings MIUI — Go back to Settings → Display. → Full screen mode and select Navigation buttons. ADB, Adb shell settings put global settings force_fsg_nav_bar 0 For launchers – return the standard shell in the default application settings.
Will gestures work in games?
In most games, system gestures are automatically turned off to avoid disrupting gameplay. Instead, a temporary navigation bar appears. To avoid this: Use in-game gestures (e.g. swipes in PUBG Mobile). Activate immersive viewing mode in the game settings (if any). For Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, set up a transparent panel via the engineering menu (code #36446337#).
Why does the swipe to return the buttons not work after hiding the buttons?
This is a well-known problem with some versions of MIUI. Solutions: Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) and set up gestures in it. Activate one-handed mode in the display settings — it adds a virtual Back button. Use the Fluid Navigation Gestures app (requires ADB or root). If nothing works, return the buttons and wait for the firmware update.
Can I hide the buttons without a computer?
Yes, but the choice of methods is limited: 📱 Standard settings MIUI (if gestures are available). 🛠️ Third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair). 🔧 Apps for customizing gestures (like Nacho Notch), but they require ADB You can't execute commands without a PC. ADB or edit build.prop.
Does hiding buttons affect productivity?
No, removing the navigation bar doesn't load the processor or consume an extra battery: ⚡ Reduce the number of random clicks (especially in games). 🔋 Extend battery life by reducing the number of screen redraws. 👁️ Reduce eye fatigue with more useful space, the only downside is possible gesture bugs on unstable firmware.