Xiaomi smartphone users often face a situation where the control interface seems overloaded with unnecessary elements. In particular, many are annoyed by the presence of a classic navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, consisting of three buttons: a triangle, a dot and a square. This panel takes up useful display space and visually ages the device, making it look like gadgets from a decade ago. Modern standards dictate the use of full-screen gestures that provide a smoother and more intuitive interaction with the operating system.
But you can't just remove these items, because they're part of the Android system. Instead of deleting, you need to switch navigation mode. In the MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, this process is as simple as possible for developers, but sometimes hidden in non-obvious menu sections. Switching to gestures not only frees up space for content, but also allows you to use hidden system features that are not available in the classic mode. In this article, we will detail all the ways to change navigation.
It's worth noting that the switching away from the buttons requires a little bit of habituation, and the brain has to shift from mechanically tapping to specific areas of the screen to swiping, and yet most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO owners don't go back to the old method of control after they switch to gestures. Let's look at the step-by-step algorithm for different versions of the firmware.
Difference Between Buttons and Gestures in MIUI
The classic navigation you want to remove is based on three virtual keys. The triangle is responsible for going back, the dot (or circle) is for going to the main screen, and the square opens the list of running applications. This management method has been the standard for many years, providing stability but losing in ergonomics. In gesture mode, the physical separation of zones disappears, and the entire bottom edge of the screen becomes the swipe active zone.
When you switch to gestures, the system redistributes functions. The swipe from the bottom edge up replaces the Home button, the swipe to the right or left of the side faces replaces the Back button, and the swipe up with a delay or a special gesture opens the multitasking menu. It's important to understand that when you activate the gestures, the system "curtain" with the buttons disappears completely, giving way to the thin bar at the bottom or disappearing altogether depending on the settings. This allows applications to use 100% of the matrix area.
Some users fear that gestures will conflict with actions inside apps, such as scrolling through tape. But Xiaomi's algorithms have learned to distinguish between contextual actions. If you're pointing from the edge, the system recognizes this as a navigation command. If you touch it in the center of the screen or it doesn't start at the edge, it's scrolling content. This intelligent processing minimizes the number of error positives.
Instructions: How to switch to gestures
The process of turning off navigation buttons takes less than a minute and does not require root rights or a computer connection. All the necessary settings are in the standard settings menu of your smartphone. To get started, unlock the device and find the Settings icon on your desktop. In new versions of the shell, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
You need to follow the path: Settings → Additional → Full-screen. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be simply called Navigation or located in the Special Features section, but most often it is placed in a separate submenu. Inside you will see two display options: Buttons and Gestures. Select the second option to activate modern control.
☑️ Navigation switching algorithm
Once you select Gestures, the changes take effect instantly, the buttons at the bottom of the screen disappear, and you see a thin horizontal bar, which is an indicator that shows that the mode is active. If you want to remove this bar for maximum immersion, the same menu often has a Hide Tips switch or similar. Now navigation is done exclusively by swipes, which makes the interface cleaner.
What to do if the menu does not open?
Switching sensitivity and swipe area
Once you've managed to remove the buttons and move to gestures, you may need to fine-tune them. Not all users have the same finger width or phone-holding habit. HyperOS and modern versions of MIUI allow you to adjust the area of the return gesture activation, which is especially true for owners of curved-screen models, where random touching of the edges can be frequent.
The gesture control menu often features "Side-return" or "Edge Sensitivity." You can choose between three options: narrow, medium, or wide. A narrow area is suitable for those who often work with app sidebars to avoid conflict. The wide area is convenient for users who hold the phone tightly and cannot reach the very edge of the screen with their thumb.
Also worth noting is the "Preventing Accidental Pressing" feature, which uses proximity sensors and machine learning algorithms to ignore palm touches when playing games or watching video in landscape mode, and if you notice that gestures are not working correctly in a horizontal position, try changing this setting or temporarily turning it off for inspection.
💡
For better gesture adaptation, try turning off the vibration when navigating, which will help you focus on visual feedback and the amplitude of your finger movements, which will speed up your muscle memory production.
Solving problems with the disappearance of buttons
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the buttons are gone, but the gestures don’t work, or the interface behaves strangely, which can be due to a system process failure of SystemUI or conflict with established themes. Third-party launchers and themes with deep interface modification often break the standard logic of the navigation bar.
If you have lost the ability to go back or to the desktop after switching to gesture mode, try the following steps: First, check if One Hand or Pocket Mode is on, which can block part of the screen; and second, try changing the theme to classic or no Theme to rule out software conflict.
In more complex cases, when the interface freezes, cleaning the cache of system applications helps. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the System UI (or System UI Launcher) list and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this can reset your desktop personalization. After this procedure, the phone is recommended to restart.
💡
If navigation problems occur after installing the update, do not rush to carry the phone to the service. 90% of the time, it helps to reset the interface settings or wait for a security patch for 1-2 weeks.
Comparison of navigation methods: table
To determine whether or not to remove the buttons, let's compare the two key controls, which will help you weigh the pros and cons before the final switch, and each user is different, and what is convenient for one can be annoying for the other.
| Parameter | Buttons (Triangle, Point, Square) | Gestures (Swipes) |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied screen area | Take a fixed strip from below. | Minimum strip or hidden |
| Speed of access | Requires an accurate hit on the button | Instant swipe launch from any point of the edge |
| ergonomics | Convenient for thumbs in vertical | Convenient for one hand control on large screens |
| Compatibility | It works in all applications without exceptions. | Possible conflicts in old games and applications |
As you can see from the table, gestures are winning in ergonomics and space use, which is critical for today's 6.5-inch and up smartphones. However, for users with very large hands or specific habits, classic buttons can remain a more predictable tool. The choice is always yours, and you can return to any of the modes at any time.
Specificity of navigation in games and applications
Special attention should be paid to the navigation behavior in gaming applications and reading programs. Gamers often complain about accidental exits from the game during sudden movements. In such cases, Xiaomi offers a "Game Turbo" mode or game mode that automatically blocks edge swipes of returns to prevent interruption of gameplay. Make sure that your game is added to the list of game mode applications.
In books-reading apps or browsers with side menus, swiping from the edge of the screen can conflict with opening the sidebar, which helps with the sensitivity setting mentioned above, and many apps also have their own navigation setting, where you can prioritize the actions of the application over the system gestures, which allows you to maintain functionality even if you remove the buttons.
⚠️ Note: In some banking or corporate applications with a high level of security, gestures may not work stable due to data protection policy. If you notice that the navigation in the application does not work, temporarily return buttons for specific operations.
Remember that in full screen, screenshots are swiped three fingers down or a combination of volume and power buttons, as there are no buttons on the screen. This may not be obvious for beginners who have abandoned the classic interface for the first time. Take five minutes to practice basic gestures so that in a critical situation you do not get confused.