How to remove switching between applications on Xiaomi: 5 proven methods

Why users want to turn off the switching of applications on Xiaomi

A gesture or button for quick switching between applications (Recent Apps) is a standard MIUI feature that is found on all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark smartphones. However, many users experience random triggers of this gesture, especially when using swipes in games or applications. For example, in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, careless finger movement can be thrown out of the game at the most critical moment.

Another common problem is the conflict with custom launchers (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), where the standard MIUI gesture interferes with the alternative gestures. Finally, some simply prefer a minimalist interface without unnecessary controls. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to disable application switching, from standard settings to hidden commands for power users.

Important: The methods vary depending on the version of MIUI (13, 14, 15) and the device model. If your smartphone runs on Android 12+ with a MIUI 14/15 shell, some menu items may be called differently - we will specify alternative paths.

Method 1: Disable gestures via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest way is to use the built-in gesture settings. It is suitable for most devices on MIUI 12-15, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 and others.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select Full-screen Display (in some versions – Gesture Control).
3. Slip by Navigation Type and select Navigation Buttons (if you use gestures, switch temporarily to buttons).
4. Return to the Full Screen Display and select Additional Gesture Settings (or Gesture Settings).
5. Find the app switching gesture option and turn it off.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4 GT or Black Shark 5) this item may not be available.

Method 2: Using ADB to disable gestures (without root)

If there is no option in the settings to disable the gesture, you can use ADB-This method works on all Xiaomi devices with an unlocked bootloader (does not require root), but requires a connection to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the command:

adb shell settings put global swipe_up_to_switch_apps_enabled 0

To return the gesture, use:

adb shell settings put global swipe_up_to_switch_apps_enabled 1

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI To avoid this, create automatic command execution via Tasker or MacroDroid.

Method 3: Disable via the Settings Editor (requires root)

For users with root rights, such as Magisk, a more flexible way is available to edit system files, which is guaranteed to work on all versions of MIUI, including HyperOS.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/usr/keylayout/ and find the Generic.kl file (or qwerty.kl for some models).
3. Open the file in the text editor and find the line:

key 187   APP_SWITCH

Replace her with:

#key 187   APP_SWITCH

1. Save the file, restart the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop ( looped download!

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use third-party utilities, for example, the Fluid Navigation Gestures app (available on Google Play) allows you to redefinition standard MIUI gestures to custom ones.

How to set up:

• 📱 Install Fluid. NG Google Play.
• 🔧 Grant permission for Special Features (in the application settings).
• 🎯 In the Gestures section, select Redefined swipe gesture up and assign it the action to Do Nothing.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.

Alternative annexes:

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If gestures are not working properly after installing a third-party application, clear the system cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Clear the cache.

Method 5: Disable the “Recent” button in the navigation bar

If you use navigation buttons (rather than gestures), you can simply remove the recent apps button from the bar, which won’t disable the feature completely, but will make it less accessible.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen display → Navigation buttons.
2. Select Two buttons (instead of three) in this mode, the Recent button will be hidden, but it can be triggered by holding the Home button for a long time.
3. To completely disable, use ADB (method 2) or root (method 3).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) In two button mode, access to Google Assistant may disappear when holding the Home button.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after you turn off the gesture, users are faced with nuances.

1.Gestus returns after MIUI update

This is because of the reset of user settings.

• 🔄 Repeat the steps from Method 2 (ADB) post-refresh.
• 📱 Use MacroDroid to automatically apply the command after the reboot.

2. Custom launcher conflict

If you use a Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, a standard MIUI gesture can block the launcher gestures.

• ⚙️ In the launcher settings, disable the option Use system gestures.
• 🔧 Apply Method 4 (Third Party Applications) to Override Gestures.

3.The gesture works in some applications

Some apps (like YouTube or TikTok) ignore the system gesture settings.

• 🛠️ Use it. ADB forced-off:

adb shell settings put secure swipe_up_to_switch_apps_disabled 1

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If none of the methods worked, check if your device has Anti-Rollback installed, which will require unlocking the bootloader.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions