Smartphone owners often face the desire to change the standard behavior of the interface for greater comfort. Especially relevant is the question of how to remove full-screen mode on Xiaomi, since factory settings do not always correspond to individual preferences of users. Some are accustomed to classic control buttons, others want to hide the screen notch (bang) or fix problems with scaling in applications.
MIUI and its new version of HyperOS provide flexible tools to customize content display. However, the settings menu is scattered across sections, which can confuse the inexperienced user. In this article, we will break down all the ways to manage full-screen mode, disable unnecessary interface elements and adjust the navigation in the way that is convenient for you.
Difference Between Full Screen Mode and Navigation
Before making changes, it is important to understand the terminology used in Xiaomi’s system. Often users confuse “full-screen mode” (when an app stretches to the full screen, ignoring the camera cutout) and “gesture control” (no physical or screen buttons at the bottom), these concepts are regulated in different sections of the settings.
Full-screen mode in the context of applications is responsible for how content is displayed relative to the front camera. If you have a device with a cutout, the system can hide the top of the screen in a black stripe or, conversely, go to the area of the camera, and navigation determines how you switch between windows and return back.
The confusion is that older versions of the firmware may have had these settings nearby. Current MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS builds have a split logic. Disabling one doesn't always affect the other, so you have to act consistently, checking the result after each step.
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The full-screen application mode and navigation method are two independent options that are configured in different menus of the system.
Setting up the display of the screen cutout (Brush)
One of the most common reasons for wanting to change screen settings is the annoying black bar at the top of the display, or, conversely, the need to hide the cutout itself under the camera. In Redmi and POCO smartphones with a hole in the screen or a drop-shaped cutout, the system allows you to choose one of three display options.
To change this, you have to go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the general logic is maintained. You have to find the section responsible for the notification line and the status bar. That's where the switch that changes the top frame view is hidden.
- 📱 Enlarged cutout – the top of the screen is painted black, hiding the camera and speaker, creating a visual frame.
- 🔍 Reduced cutout – the system tries to minimize the black area by streaming around the camera, which is useful for video.
- ⚙️ By default – standard system behavior, which can change depending on the running application.
Changing this setting is instantly applicable to all applications that do not have their own hard zoom settings, which is especially useful if some programs have the interface bumping into the camera, overriding important controls.
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If the black bar on the top seems too wide, try switching to the “Reduced Notch” option in the special features settings.
Disabling gesture navigation and returning to buttons
Many users who say "remove full screen" mean that swipe control is not used in favor of the classic buttons. Full screen navigation (gestures) frees up space at the bottom of the screen, but it's addictive. If you're uncomfortable reaching for the edges or accidentally swiping in the wrong place, it's best to return the buttons.
To do this, go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and find Navigate by gestures. In the menu that opens, you will see two options: Buttons and Gestures. When you select the first option, you will return the usual bar with three buttons: Back, Home and App Menu.
Here you can configure additional button parameters:
- 🔄 Order of buttons – swap the back and menu buttons if you are used to the logic of iOS or old Android.
- ⏱️ Hiding the panel – turn on the function of hiding buttons when inactivity, so that they do not interfere with watching the video, but appear when touching.
- 🖱️ Vibration – set up a tactile response when you click on virtual buttons for better control.
⚠️ Attention: When you switch to buttons, the bottom of the screen in apps may turn black, as the system will reserve space for the navigation bar.
In some cases, especially after a firmware update, settings may reset. If you have selected buttons but they didn't appear, check if Full Screen mode is activated in special features, which can forcefully hide controls.
Special features and forced full screen
Hidden deep in Android’s settings is a feature that allows you to force the interface to stretch to the full screen, ignoring cutouts and status bars.This section is called “Special Features” and is primarily for people with disabilities, but is often used to fine-tune the interface.
To access these settings, go to Settings → Additional → Special Features. Here you are interested in the View or Full Screen Apps tab. This menu lists all installed programs. You can selectively turn on or off full screen mode for each application separately.
This solution is ideal for older games or programs that aren’t optimized for Xiaomi’s current screen proportions. If you notice that your favorite app has black bars on its sides, find it on this list and activate forced stretching.
Why can’t some applications scale up?
Solving scaling problems in games and applications
Sometimes standard settings are not enough, and the user is faced with artifacts: the keyboard blocks the input field, and the game interface is trimmed, in such cases, resetting the display settings or using game accelerators built into MIUI helps.
There's a separate tool for games, Game Turbo, and by swiping through it, you can swipe in the corner to call a menu where you can set "Touch Response," "Tap Protection," and, importantly, display modes, and you can force the aspect ratio.
If the problem has affected system elements (such as keyboards), try the following:
- Clear the keyboard cache through the application settings.
- Temporarily turn off full screen mode for the keyboard in the special features section.
- Check for updates for the problem app in Google Play or GetApps.
☑️ Diagnostics of screen problems
Table: Comparison of screen control methods
To organize the information and choose the right method, pay attention to the comparison table below, which will help you understand what tool you need to use in your situation.
| Parameter | Gestures (Full screen) | Buttons | Special opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location. | Around the edges of the screen | Downstairs. | Depends on the app. |
| Useful area | Maximum | Reduced by panel | Maximum |
| Difficulty in mastering | Tall. | Low. | Medium |
| Impact on the cutout | Partial | No. | Complete. |
Using gestures gives you maximum space for content, but it requires getting used to it. Buttons are more reliable and clear for those who are moving from older smartphone models. Features settings give you spot control over specific applications.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even following the instructions, users may experience unexpected behaviors, such as buttons that may not appear after they are turned on, or the screen will continue to go out at the top, often because the settings have not been fully applied or conflict with the theme of the design.
If you have installed a third-party theme from Themes, it may have its own navigation bar settings that override the system, in which case try to temporarily return the standard theme to "Classic" and check if the situation has changed.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party launchers (desktop shells) can completely ignore Xiaomi's navigation system settings. If you're using Nova Launcher or analogues, look for button settings inside the launcher app itself.
Also worth mentioning is the bug, when after updating the firmware, the touchscreen calibration in the sign areas is lost. If the swipes have stopped responding or work over and over, calibration through the engineering menu or simply resetting the settings to the factory (with a pre-backup).