The appearance of an intrusive black or white bar at the bottom of the display on Xiaomi smartphones often takes users by surprise.This interface element can be a standard three-button navigation bar that has changed to a thin bar-indicator after the system update.
Understanding the nature of this element is critical because the methods of eliminating it are radically different, and if for some it is just a matter of aesthetics and desire to use full-screen gestures, for others it is an attempt to fix a software glitch. Owners of Redmi Note, Poco and flagship Mi models often face changes in the logic of the MIUI interface and the new HyperOS.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at all possible causes of a lower lane and provide step-by-step algorithms for how to switch between navigation types, hide system indicators in applications, and what to do if a lane is a sign of a malfunction.
Identification of the lower band type on the interface
Before you start settings, you need to clearly define what element you are dealing with. There are two main types of navigation in the Xiaomi ecosystem that can be visually perceived as "bandwidths." The first option is a classic control panel containing three static or dynamic buttons: "Back", "Home" and "Application Menu".
The second option, which has become the standard in modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, is a thin horizontal line that serves as an indicator of gesture control. Swipe up from this line returns to the desktop, swipe to the side closes applications, which is the element most often tried to remove users, wanting to get a clean image without unnecessary details.
There is also a rare third scenario where the stripe is an artifact — a residual image or software bug that is not related to navigation — in which case it may be incorrectly colored, blinking or overlapping content in games, and if you accurately determine the type of element, you can choose the correct method of solving the problem.
⚠️ Note: If the lower band is bright (red, green, blue) and does not disappear after the reboot, this may indicate physical damage to the matrix or plume of the display.
It is important to note that in some system applications, the bandwidth can be hidden automatically, and in third-party applications it can remain visible, and this behavior is governed by individual compatibility parameters, which we will discuss in the relevant sections of the article.
Switching from button navigation to gestures
If you have three classic buttons on your screen and you want to replace them with a minimalist bar or completely hide control, you will need to change the system navigation method, which takes less than a minute and does not require superuser rights.
To start, open the main settings menu for your device. Find the section that handles screen and system navigation. Depending on the firmware version, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same for all current smartphones of the brand.
Follow the following algorithm of actions:
- 📱 Go to the Settings menu of your smartphone.
- 🔍 Find and select Desktop or Additional Settings (depending on version) MIUI).
- ⚙️ Click on the System Navigation section.
- ✅ Select the option Full-screen control (gestures).
Once full-screen mode is activated, the three buttons will disappear, giving way to a thin bar. If your goal is to completely remove this bar, leaving the screen completely clean, then this cannot be done with standard system tools, since the indicator is a mandatory element of the gesture interface. However, there are ways to hide it in certain applications, as discussed below.
It's worth noting that the switch to gestures frees up useful space on the sides of the screen, which is especially true for devices with narrow frames, which makes one-handed control more comfortable and ergonomic.
Hiding the gesture indicator in apps and games
Many users are wondering how to remove the bar at the bottom of the Xiaomi screen while watching videos or playing games. The complete disappearance of the navigation element in third-party applications often depends on optimizing the application itself to modern Android standards.
But there's a feature in the MIUI shell that enforces the navigation, which allows you to remove the bar even in programs that don't support full-screen mode by default, and this is especially useful for older games or specific software where the bar overlaps important interface elements.
To activate this function, follow the following steps:
- 🎮 Open Settings and go to the Desktop section.
- 📱 Select Hide the Notch and the Bang (or similar, related to full-screen applications).
- ➕ Click on the plus icon or app add button.
- 📂 Find the right game or program in the list and activate the switch.
Once you add an app to this list, when it starts, the navigation bar will automatically disappear. Please note that to exit such an application, you may need to use a swipe from the bottom edge of the screen or the Home button, since there will be no visual indicator.
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If after adding the application to the hide list, the interface “got”, try to change the aspect ratio in the screen settings for a particular application.
In some cases, you need to restart the application to apply the changes. If the band is left, check if the application is running in split-screen mode, since in this mode the navigation is always visible.
Setting up band behaviour and sensitivity
Even after switching to gestures, the strip can behave unpredictably or interfere with certain use cases, allowing it to fine-tune its behavior so that interaction with the device becomes more intuitive.
First of all, you should pay attention to the sensitivity of swipes. If the band reacts too slowly or, conversely, is caused by accidental touches, this can be fixed in the settings. There is also the possibility to change the direction of the swipe to return, which is important for users who are accustomed to the logic of iOS or older versions of Android.
Consider the main parameters available for settings in the Full-screen control menu:
| Parameter | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Swipe animation | Visual effect when carrying a finger | Included (for beauty) |
| Sensitivity of edges | Reaction to touch at the edge of the screen | Medium or High. |
| Swipe for a return | Direction of the "Back" gesture | Left and right |
| Vibrant response | Tactile reaction to touching the strip | If you wish, |
Turning on the vibrator helps you feel the edge of the work area better, which reduces the number of accidental presses, but on devices with a worn battery, this feature is better turned off to save charge.
☑️ Checking the navigation settings
Remember, changing the direction of the Back swipe takes a little bit of time to get used to. The brain remembers muscle memory, and a sudden change of logic can cause temporary discomfort when using a smartphone.
Removing Artifacts and Programmatic Failures
The situation where the lower band is not a navigation element, but a visual defect, requires a different approach: it can be “sticking” of pixels, a residual image (burn-in), or a failure of the graphics driver.
The first step in diagnostics should always be a software reboot, which cleans the RAM and restarts the system processes that render the interface, and if the band disappeared after turning it on, the problem was a one-time problem that didn't require any intervention.
If the problem persists, try the following methods:
- 🔄 Reset the display settings via the engineering test menu (code ##6484##) if you have the option to do so in your model.
- 📉 Reduce the brightness of the screen and turn off the autobrightness on 10-15 minutes to check if this is a temporary sticking of subpixels.
- 🛡️ Run the device in Safe Mode. If the bandwidth is gone in this mode, then it's the third-party app's fault, most likely the launcher or widget.
⚠️ Note: Do not use apps to “treat” broken pixels with extremely rapid color changes. OLED-screens for more than 15 minutes – this can lead to overheating of the matrix.
If you see the bandwidth even in the download menu (Mi logo) or in Recovery mode, the probability of hardware failure is 99%.
What is a broken pixel test?
The Impact of System Updates and Android Version
Often changes in the display of the navigation bar occur after an operating system update, switching from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13/14 or implementing HyperOS makes adjustments to the visual style and behavior of the system elements.
Developers can change the transparency, height, or logo of the navigation lane, and sometimes after a major update, the navigation settings are reset to the factory settings, and the user has to re-choose between buttons and gestures, which is the standard behavior of the system, designed to ensure stability after data migration.
It is important to keep an eye on the versions of applications, especially system launchers. Updating the com.android.systemui or miui home component via Google Play or GetApps can instantly change the appearance of the bottom bar. If the band looks incorrect after such an update, try clearing the cache of this application.
In some firmware regions (Global, China, EEA), navigation logic may differ, for example, in Chinese versions, band cover features have previously appeared, which are delayed in global firmware.
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If a band problem appears immediately after a system update, wait 24-48 hours – background optimization and indexing often resolve visual bugs on their own.
Do not ignore reports of updates, as they often contain security patches and fixes for graphical errors that affect the operation of the interface.
Hardware causes and display repairs
When the software is exhausted and the band on the screen is left, you have to talk about physical damage, which can be the result of a hit, a fall, moisture, or just a production failure of the matrix.
Characteristic signs of hardware breakdown include: the constancy of the strip (it is always visible, even when the screen is turned off, but illuminated), a change in the color of the strip when the housing is heated, or the presence of vertical lines coming from this strip.
In such cases, the following options are possible:
- 🔧 Contact an authorized Xiaomi service center for diagnostics.
- 💸 Replace the entire display module, as in modern smartphones, the matrix and glass are often soldered into a single unit.
- 🌡️ Temporarily warm the bottom of the screen (an extremely risky method) if the cause is a departed plume, but this is only a temporary measure.
The cost of replacing the display can be as high as 60-70% of the cost of the device, so it may not be cost-effective for older models, in which case users often put up with a defect or use dark themes to make the strip less noticeable.
⚠️ WARNING: Self-disassembly of Xiaomi smartphone to replace the display plume is almost guaranteed to lead to loss of warranty and high risk of damage to other components, such as battery or motherboard.
If the device is warranty-free, any sign of a hardware defect in the display is grounds for a free module replacement. Don't try to hide the defect software before contacting the service, engineers will quickly identify the real cause.