Why users want to hide the bottom buttons on Xiaomi and whether it is safe to do so
The bottom navigation bar with the Back, Home and Recent buttons is a standard element of the MIUI interface, but not everyone likes it. Some find it outdated (especially after switching to gesture control in Android 10+), some people find it intrusive when watching videos or games, and some just want to free up additional pixels of the screen. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to remove the bottom buttons on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones – from standard settings to hidden functions and third-party utilities.
It's important to understand that you can't completely remove system buttons without root rights, they're sewn into MIUI firmware. However, they can be hidden, replaced with gestures or minimized visually. We've tested all methods on current versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS for new models) and only selected those that work in 2026. If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some steps may differ.
Before you start, check the version of your shell: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you avoid errors when choosing a method.
Method 1: Replace buttons with gesture control (official method)
The easiest and safest way is to activate gestures instead of the classic buttons.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and newer (including HyperOS), does not require root rights and does not violate the warranty. Gestures take up less space on the screen and look more modern.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Display.
- 👆 Slick down and select Full-screen Mode (or Navigation Type in newer versions).
- 🔄 Choose the Gesture option MIUI Or Android Gestures (depending on the model).
- 🔧 If necessary, adjust the sensitivity of gestures in the section Additional settings.
After the changes are applied, the bottom panel will disappear, and the control will be carried out by swipes from the bottom edge of the screen.
- 🔙 Back up -- swipe from right to left.
- 🏠 Home - swipe up from the center.
- 📄 Recent - Swipe up and hold (or diagonal swipe depending on settings).
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after switching to gestures, the home button indicator in games may disappear. To return it, turn on Settings → Special facilities → System navigation → Show the Home button in games.
Method 2: Hiding buttons through developer settings
If you don't like gestures, but you want to reduce the visual presence of buttons, you can use the developer mode, which doesn't remove the buttons completely, but makes them translucent or removes the backlight.
Steps:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
- Find the option Minimize the navigation bar (or Force full-screen display in English).
- Choose Hide Navigation Panel or Transparent Panel.
Developer mode activated
Backup of important data is made
Battery charge > 50%
Verified compatibility with the version MIUI-->
This method does not work on all devices – for example, on Xiaomi 12T and POCO F4, the option may not be available. Also note that in some applications (for example, in banking), buttons may reappear due to security restrictions.
💡 Useful tip: If you need to return the buttons temporarily after hiding them (for example, to configure another device using Mi Share), swipe twice on the bottom edge of the screen - the panel will appear for 3 seconds.
Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for experienced users)
For those who are willing to go further, there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge.It allows you to completely disable the navigation button display, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.The advantage of this method is that it works on most Xiaomi models, including Redmi. 9A and POCO M4 Pro.
Instructions:
- Install. ADB-PC drivers.
- Enable USB debugging in the developer settings on your phone.
- Connect the smartphone to the computer and enter in the command line:
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*To return the buttons back, use the command:
adb shell settings put global policy_control null| Xiaomi model | Support ADB-method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro | ✅ Yes. | It runs on MIUI 14 and HyperOS. |
| Redmi Note 12 | ✅ Yes. | It may need to be rebooted. |
| POCO X5 Pro | ✅ Yes. | Sometimes the buttons come back after the update. |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite | ⚠️ Partially. | The buttons are hidden, but there is a black bar. |
⚠️ Attention: After application ADB-commands some system dialogs (e.g., requesting permissions for applications) may not open correctly. To avoid this, add exceptions for critical applications through Settings before executing the command. → Annexes → Special access → Display over other apps.
Method 4: Applications for hiding buttons (without root rights)
If the previous methods don't work, you can use third-party applications, which don't remove the system-level buttons, but visually hide them by overlaying a black bar or a transparent overlay.
- 🔲 Nacho Notch – hides buttons and notch in the screen, works on the screen MIUI 12-15.
- 📱 Full Screen Gestures – Emulates gestures and hides the navigation bar.
- 🖥️ Hide Navigation Bar is a simple tool with transparency settings.
Example of settings in Nacho Notch:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- Please allow Display over other apps.
- Enable the Hide Navigation Bar option.
- Set up exceptions for apps where buttons should stay (such as Mi Home or Google Pay).
💡 Useful tip: Some applications (such as TikTok or TikTok) PUBG Mobile) can conflict with overlays. To avoid bugs, add them to the exception list in the button hiding app settings.
What to do if the buttons are completely gone?
Method 5: Root Methods (for advanced users only)
If you're ready to root, there are additional options for customizing the bottom panel, such as removing buttons completely, changing their location, or replacing them with custom icons, but this method voids the warranty and can lead to unstable system operation.
Popular tools for rooted devices:
- 🛠️ Magisk Module "Hide Nav Bar" - completely removes the navigation bar.
- 🎨 Xposed Framework + GravityBox – allows you to fine-tune the appearance of the buttons.
- 📏 Substratum Themes – Changes button icons to custom buttons.
Instructions for Magisk:
- Install Magisk Manager and get root access.
- Download the Hide Nav Bar module from the Magisk repository.
- Install the module and restart the device.
- If necessary, edit the file /system/build.prop by adding the line qemu.hw.mainkeys=1.
⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Root methods can cause problems with Mi Account and Xiaomi Cloud services. Before using, create a full backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you hide or disable the bottom buttons, users often encounter bugs, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The buttons are returned after the reboot. | ADB-The command or application does not save the settings | Repeat the flag command --user 0 Or add it to the autoload via Tasker. |
| Gestures don't work in games | Conflict with full-screen game mode | Enable the option to Show Virtual buttons in the game settings |
| Black bar instead of buttons | Incorrect Transparency settings | Reset settings to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode |
| The keyboard won't open. | Conflict with the application overlay | Add a keyboard (such as Gboard) to exceptions |
If none of the methods worked, check:
- 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version (sometimes bugs are patched).
- 📱 Reset the settings to factory (pre-saving data!).
- 💬 Contact Xiaomi Support via Settings → Reviews - specify the device model and version MIUI.
💡
Before experimenting with the navigation bar, always check the method’s compatibility with your Xiaomi model and MIUI version. Some methods (such as ADB) may not work smoothly on firmware betas.