Xiaomi’s current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones offer many customization options, allowing each user to customize the gadget to suit their needs. One of the most common challenges faced by new device owners or those who have moved from button phones is how to get rid of the classic navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen. By removing them, you free up useful display space for content and move to the more modern gesture management that has become the standard in the industry.
The process of disabling buttons does not require root rights or third-party launchers, as this feature is built into the system settings. However, the location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific modification of the Xiaomi shell. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps necessary to transition to gesture control, and also consider cases when buttons can appear spontaneously or stick due to software failures.
Before making changes, it’s worth noting that giving up buttons requires a short period of adjustment, especially for those who have used physical or on-screen keys for years. However, after adapting, many users note that navigating the system becomes much faster and more convenient, since the finger does not need to reach the bottom of the screen, but a simple swipe is enough. Let’s look at the basic methods of setting up and solving possible problems.
Transition to gesture management in system settings
Android
MIUI
In most cases, the path is: Settings → Desktop → Navigation on the screen. If your menu does not have Desktop, try searching for the “More” section or search the “More” section at the top of the settings menu by entering the “Navigation” query. Once you log into the corresponding menu, you will see two options: classic three buttons or gesture control.
When you choose the gesture option, the system automatically removes the bottom panel with the Home, Back and Menu buttons, and instead you have thin bars or you have a completely frameless screen that responds to swipes from the edges. This change takes effect instantly, and you don't need to reboot your device. However, if you switch to this mode for the first time, the system can offer a short training tour that you should not miss.
And remember, when you switch, you change the logic of the return in the app menu, instead of a square button or three stripes, you swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger in the center of the screen, and you swipe back from the left or right edge of the screen to the center, and you can understand that in a couple of hours of active use.
⚠️ Attention: Switching to gestures may change the sensitivity of the edges of the screen. If you use a protective glass with thick edges, swipes may not work the first time, and you will need to calibrate or remove the glass.
Sensitivity setting and hiding indicators
Once you remove the buttons, you can have translucent bars on the screen that tell you where to swipe. For many users, they are a visual noise that distracts from watching videos or games. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s settings provide the ability to completely hide these hints, making the screen completely clean.
To do this, go back to Settings → Desktop → Navigation on the screen, and you'll find a Hide Hints switch or similar option, and when you activate it, you'll remove the visual markers, but the gesture functionality will remain intact, which is especially true for smartphone owners with AMOLED matrices, where every extra pixel can affect the perception of depth in black.
Also available in this section is a customization of edge sensitivity, if swipes to return to the back are triggered too often or, conversely, require strong pressure, adjust the feeling slider, which will help to adapt the touchscreen to your individual tapping habits and protect against accidental activation.
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If you hide the indicators, at first keep in mind that swipe to return back to do exactly from the edge of the screen, and not from the center.
Importantly, completely hiding navigation features frees up to 20-30 pixels of usable area at the bottom of the display. For users who appreciate minimalism, this is a critical step. However, if you often forget how to get back to the menu, it is best to leave the prompts on for the adaptation period.
Removing the sticking of the virtual home button
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where even after switching to gestures or using buttons, a virtual button appears on the screen that does not disappear or sticks, often due to the Home feature for people with disabilities or a failure in the SystemUI system process.
First, check the special settings. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features. Find the section associated with the Home or Assistive Touch button. If it activates the On-Screen Button switch, it must be turned off. This feature is designed to make navigation easier, but often switched on by accident.
If the special features are clean and the button is still on the screen, try resetting the system interface settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, search the System Interface or System UI list and click Clear → Clear Everything. This will not delete your personal data, but reset the display settings of the interface elements.
In rare cases, sticking can be caused by a conflicting application that layers on top of the system (such as a voice recorder, memory cleanup or third-party launchers). To identify the culprit, try running the phone in Safe Mode. If the button disappears in Safe Mode, the problem lies in one of the applications you install.
⚠️ Warning: Cleaning up the system interface data can temporarily change the appearance of the notification panel or desktop.Don't worry, after rebooting or reconfiguring the theme will return to its original state.
Disable the Assistive Touch Floating Button
The floating button, often called the Assistive Touch or the Floating Button, is a translucent circle that moves across the screen and duplicates basic navigation functions, which many confuse with system buttons, but it is a separate tool that can also be turned off if you don't need one.
To disable this function, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the “Settings” of your Xiaomi smartphone.
- 🔍 Go to the section "Advanced settings" (or "Additional»).
- 🖱️ Select the "Assistive Touch" option).
- ❌ Transfer the switch to the "Off" position».
And then the round button disappears from the screen, and what's interesting is that you can not only turn off the function, but you can also adjust the behavior of the function, for example, you can set a single, double or long-press action, and you can also set a list of applications where the button will appear automatically.
If the button disappears but reappears after a while, check the app autoload list. Some programs, especially those related to file management or battery optimization, may have permission to display on top of other windows and reactivate this interface element.
☑️ Verification of sources of sticking
Navigation mode comparison: buttons vs. gestures
Choosing between buttons and gestures is a matter of habit, but each method has its own technical advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these differences will help you decide whether to remove buttons from your Xiaomi screen or leave the classic option.
| Characteristics | Three buttons (Classic) | Full-screen gestures | Two buttons (Hybrid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupied seat | ~40-50 pixels in height | 0 pixels (when concealed) | ~30 pixels in height |
| Speed of access | Medium (to aim) | High (swipe in any zone) | Tall. |
| Probability of error | Low. | Medium (random swipes) | Low. |
| Getting used to | Instantly. | It takes 2-3 days. | Fast. |
As the table shows, gestures are winning in ergonomics and screen space use, which is especially important for the large displays of today’s Xiaomi flagships.However, for users with large thumbs or those who often use the phone with one hand in gloves, classic buttons can remain a more reliable option.
There's also a two-button mode, where the app menu button is removed, and only back and home is left. To open the app list in this mode, you have to pull the home button up, which is a compromise solution that removes one button but retains tactile control.
Solving problems with the disappearance of buttons in applications
There are situations where the navigation buttons (or gesture zone) disappear only in certain applications, such as YouTube, Netflix or games. This is the normal behavior of the system, designed to immerse the user in the content. However, if the buttons do not return after leaving the application or swipe, this may indicate a failure.
First of all, make sure that the display settings do not activate Full Screen for a particular application forcefully. Go to Settings → Screen → Full Screen Mode (the path may differ in different versions of MIUI). This displays a list of applications for which you can force the navigation bar to be turned on or off.
If the problem is systemic and the panel doesn't appear anywhere, try restarting the SystemUI process through the developer menu or simply restarting the smartphone. In more complex cases where the buttons blink or behave chaoticly, it may be necessary to reset all settings to factory, but this is an extreme measure.
What if the buttons are missing after the update?
It’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb mode or specific profiles are enabled that can hide interface elements to minimize distractions. In some use cases (such as In-car mode), the interface is simplified and buttons can be hidden.
⚠️ Warning: If the navigation buttons are gone completely along with the ability to swipe (the screen does not respond to the bottom), there may be a problem in the touchscreen or plume, especially if the phone fell.