The interface of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS from Xiaomi offers users a huge number of options for customization, but sometimes the standard layout of elements may not seem the most convenient. Many smartphone owners are faced with a situation where the usual notification panel and quick settings caused by a top-down swipe seem too small or, conversely, interferes with, and some confuse it with a hidden control panel that can appear at the bottom of the screen in certain use scenarios. Understanding how system navigation works and where the settings of these elements are hidden is the key to comfortable operation of the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how the interface works, why there can be confusion with the bottom curtain, and what real tools are available to change the behavior of the notification panel. You will learn how to move the control center, change the style of displaying buttons or completely redesign navigation to your needs, using built-in system functions without the need to obtain root rights or install complex third-party software.
It’s worth noting right away that the “bottom curtain” concept often refers to two different things: either it’s a control panel that the user accidentally moved to the bottom of the screen (a feature popular in older versions of Android or other brands), or it’s a specific behavior of navigation buttons and gestures that creates the illusion of additional controls appearing at the bottom.
Interface Anatomy: Top and Lower Control Panels
In modern versions of the Android operating system, which runs Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, there is a clear separation between the notification panel and the control center. By default, a swipe from top to bottom opens the list of missed events, messages and running applications, while a swipe from the bottom up or top down on the other side (depending on the settings) opens the control center with brightness, volume sliders and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth switches.
Users who came from other devices or older firmware versions may be looking for the option to call this panel from the bottom of the screen, since in classic Android, the Quick Settings Panel was often combined with notifications and called with a single movement. In the MIUI shell, these elements are often spaced apart, which raises the question: can you make all control in one zone, and can this zone be moved down?
⚠️ Warning: It is not possible to remove the system notification panel completely, as it is a critical control element of the operating system, but you can change the way it is called, the appearance and the location of the controls so that they do not interfere or are in a more convenient zone.
It is important to understand the difference between software settings and physical features of the screen. If you see a black bar or panel appearing at the bottom of the display all the time, this can be a sign of one-handed control mode on or activated navigation mode, which requires a separate setting in the system menu.
Setting up the control center: moving and styles
The main tool for working with curtains on Xiaomi smartphones is in the settings section dedicated to the control center. This is where you decide whether your brightness sliders and network switches will be located with notifications or separately. To access these options, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Notifications and Status bar (or just Notifications depending on the version of MIUI) and find the Control Center tab.
In this section, you'll find a switch that lets you choose the style of the control center. The old style combines notifications and quick settings into a single bar called by a top-down swipe, which may be more common for many users. The new style introduced in the latest versions of the shell visually separates these zones, making the interface more like iOS, and often it is this new style that raises questions about "where the bottom curtain" as controls can be perceived as a separate block.
- 📱 Classical style: combines all elements into one tape, making it easier to access with one finger.
- ✨ New Style: Separates notifications and settings, allowing you to move the control center to a separate area (often available by swipe from the upper right corner).
- 🎨 Visualization: In the new style, buttons become larger and easier to press, but take up more space on the screen.
Changing this setting instantly applies a new kind of panel, and if your goal was to make the control more compact or to divide the flow of information, this settings section is the primary tool, and remember that the choice of style affects how the panel will look when you swipe across the screen, but does not change its fundamental location relative to the top of the device.
One-hand control and lower interface elements
Often, the "bottom curtain" is a panel that appears when one-handed control mode is activated, a feature specifically designed for large smartphones to move all interface elements into the bottom half of the screen, making them accessible to the thumb. When this mode is active, the top of the screen can darken or shrink, creating the illusion of a new workspace from the bottom.
To check if you have this mode on by accident, go to Settings → Additional → One-handed Mode. Here you can choose the activation method: swipe down the navigation bar, swipe from the corner of the screen or use a floating button. If the mode is active, triple pressing the Home button (or swipe, depending on the settings) will turn the interface into the lower corner or the lower half.
You can remove this “bottom curtain” simply by turning off the menu function or by doing the reverse (for example, swiping up from the bottom edge or tapping the free area of the screen if it is darkened), this is not a system error, but only a convenient ergonomics function that can be activated inadvertently when trying to quickly flip through the news feed.
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If the screen has shrunk and become small in the corner, just swipe from the edge of the screen to the center or tap the deployment arrow to return the full size of the display.
Navigation panel and hidden gestures
Another source of confusion is the navigation bar (three buttons at the bottom of the screen) or gesture bar. In some design themes or when using certain launchers, the navigation area can be visually expanded, creating the feeling of an additional panel. In addition, in gesture mode, the indicator bar at the bottom of the screen can respond to prolonged presses or specific swipes, causing an application switch menu or other system functions.
For those who want to clear the screen of any lower elements as much as possible, the option to hide the indicator bar is available. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Navigation on the screen. Choose the navigation type "Full screen mode" (gestures). Inside this menu, there is often a "Hide gestures" switch or similar that removes the thin bar at the bottom of the screen, making the interface completely frameless.
| Type of navigation | Description | The impact on the bottom of the screen |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons (3 buttons) | Classic buttons "Back", "Home", "Menu" | Takes up a fixed strip down there. |
| Buttons (2 buttons) | Simplified navigation | It takes up a smaller strip down. |
| Gestures (with a strip) | Swipes from the edges, a thin line visible | Thin bar indicator |
| Gestures (hidden) | Total absence of visible elements | The screen is completely clean. |
Turning off visible navigation elements is addictive, as you have to remember the location of the areas to return or exit the desktop, however, this gives you maximum area for content and completely removes any visual (jamming) at the bottom of the display.
Third-party launchers and customization
If standard system tools are not enough to implement your idea of “bottom curtain” or, conversely, its complete elimination, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Applications like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or specialized shells from Xiaomi allow you to create your own dock panels that can mimic the functionality of the curtain, but located at the bottom of the screen.
With widgets, you can create a panel with the most commonly used settings (lightlightlight, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and place it at the bottom of the desktop. It won't be a system curtain, but it can visually and functionally replace it for common activities. For advanced users, applications are available that allow you to create floating windows and panels anywhere on the screen.
⚠️ Note: Installing third-party launchers can change system behavior, animations, and some system gestures.Be sure the app is compatible with your version of Android and MIUI.
Using third-party control panel widgets is a compromise solution: You get the flexibility of hosting, but you lose native integration with the system, such as the ability to see the current battery level in real time without delay or respond instantly to system events.
Risks of using third-party panels
Specific cases: game modes and applications
Game Turbo: When you run games or heavy applications, a special toolbar can be activated, which is often called by a swipe from the corner or has its own controls popping up on top of the interface. Sometimes users perceive controls in games or overlays of recording the screen as system curtains.
To manage these elements, you need to go to the app Security → Game Turbo (or through game settings), where you can turn off the display of the floating window, prevent pop-up notifications during the game, and adjust the behavior of the sidebar, which will help remove unnecessary visual elements that can interfere with the immersion in the process or accidentally call during the game.
It's also worth checking the settings of specific applications. Some video players or browsers have their own interface controls that can appear from below, and in such cases, you should look for the settings inside the application itself in the "Interface" or "Player" section.
☑️ Checking game settings
Diagnostics of problems: bugs and sensor
In rare cases, the appearance of strange stripes, dimming or panels from the bottom can indicate a software failure or a problem with the touch layer (touchscreen). If the "curtain" appears on its own, without your actions, or if the lower part of the screen responds to touch incorrectly, it is worthwhile to conduct a diagnosis.
You can check the sensor through the engineering menu. Type in the phone book code ##6484## (code may differ for different models, sometimes #4636##). Select "Touchpad" or "Sensor" and follow the instructions to check the response of all areas of the screen. If the lower zone does not respond or, conversely, generates false touches (so-called "ghost touches"), this can be the reason for the appearance of interface artifacts.
You can try to fix a software failure by cleaning the system cache or resetting the interface settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find System UI and select Clear Cache. This will not delete your personal data, but reset the display settings of the panels to factory ones.
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If the problem with the appearance of unnecessary panels persists after resetting the interface settings and checking in safe mode, the probability of a physical malfunction of the touchscreen or display plume is high.