Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an unexpected interface element, an additional control panel that appears at the bottom of the screen. This element, which users affectionately or irritatedly call “curtain”, can overlap content, interfere with control in games or simply annoy with its presence. Understanding what exactly caused it to appear is the first step to solving the problem, because the nature of this element can be completely different.
In some cases, it's a standard navigation bar, in others it's a sidebar or even a third-party application. The MIUI interface and its modern version of HyperOS have a huge number of hidden settings that can be activated accidentally when you update the system or unwaryly press, and we'll look at all possible scenarios for the emergence of lower controls and provide clear algorithms for disabling them.
Don't panic if you find extra buttons or a translucent area at the bottom of the display. It's not a virus or a sign of a touchscreen breakdown. It's more often a software feature that can be easily deactivated through the standard settings menu. Let's take a look at the main causes and ways to fix them to get your smartphone back to its normal and clean look.
Disabling the classic navigation bar
The most common reason for the curtain to appear at the bottom is the activated three-button control mode. Unlike full-screen gesture control, this method leaves a permanent bar on the screen with the back, home and me buttons. To check this setting, you need to go to your device's system settings.
Take the Settings → Settings → System Navigation path, and you'll see two main options here: If you select Buttons, you'll always see a black or translucent bar at the bottom of the screen, and you'll need to switch to Full Screen Control to remove it.
- 📱 Open the "Settings" menu on the main screen.
- ⚙️ Go to the "Additional Settings" or "Extended Settings" section".
- 🖱️ Select System Navigation (or Navigation by gesture").
- ✅ Activate the option "Full screen" instead of "Buttons".
When you switch to gestures, the lower bar will disappear, and you will be able to swipe from the edges of the screen, not only does this remove visual noise, but it also frees up useful display space for watching videos and games. If you're used to buttons but want to hide them in certain applications, check the settings of the specific software, because some programs can hide navigation by force.
Removal of the Sidebar (Toolbars)
Often, what users mean by "curtain" is a translucent bar that appears on the side or bottom when you start a game or video, a Sidebar feature designed to quickly access applications and tools, and can pop up automatically when you swipe from the edge of the screen, creating the feeling of an extra interface element.
To remove this item, look for Settings → Special Features → Sidebar in the settings. In some versions of the firmware, the path may be different: Settings → Screen. Inside this menu, you need to find the Show Sidebar switch and deactivate it. It is also worth checking the settings for specific categories of applications, such as Video or Games.
⚠️ Disabling the sidebar will deprive you of the ability to quickly open the calculator, voice recorder or translator while using other applications without leaving them.
If the standard shutdown didn't work, you may have activated an extended version of the game bar. Go to the Security app, select Game Turbo. In the settings of this mode (cog in the corner), there's also a point responsible for displaying the toolbar. Make sure that there's no tick on the forced display.
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If the sidebar is gone, but you occasionally need quick access to apps, try adding the shortcut widget to your desktop – this is an alternative and less intrusive way.
Floating window settings and multitasking
Newer versions of MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS have floating windows that can stick to the bottom of the screen, mimicking notification curtains or mini-players, often with video players or instant messengers running in miniature mode, which can interfere with typing or overlap important interface elements.
To control this process, you need to go to Settings → Additional settings → Floating windows. You can adjust the behavior of windows and prevent them from automatically folding into the bottom area, and you should also pay attention to the settings of a particular application that behaves in this way.
Sometimes the curtain is the preview area of running apps, which goes from the bottom when you swipe up and hold your finger, and it's part of the multitasking system, and you can't change its behavior completely, but you can turn off the memory extension, which sometimes causes lags when you open this panel.
- 🚫 Close all unnecessary apps through the multitasking menu.
- 📹 Check if the video player is running in the background (Picture-in-Picture).
- 🔄 Reboot the device to reset temporary interface errors.
- ⚙️ Update the problem app via Google Play or GetApps.
If the floating window came up after the system update, it could be a temporary memory optimization bug, in which case it helps to clear the system cache or wait for a small patch from the developers. Don't rush to reset the settings to the factory, try first just to restart the smartphone.
What to do if the floating window does not close?
Elimination of advertising blocks and Mi Video widgets
Special attention should be paid to the situation when the bottom of the panel appears with recommendations, news or buttons for video management, often the result of the system application Mi Video or built-in browser, which has its own bottom navigation bar, such a "curtain" can appear even on the desktop, if the corresponding widget is activated.
To get rid of intrusive content-related elements, go to the app settings that are suspicious. For example, for Mi Video: open the app, click on the profile or menu, select Settings → Features, and turn off "Recommendations" or "Online Video".
It's also worth checking your desktop settings. Click the empty area on the screen, select Settings → More. Make sure the "Widget Ribbon" or "Wandpaper Carousel" options are turned off if you don't need them, as they can add lower switching bars.
| Type of element | Where to turn off | Risk of removal |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation buttons | Settings → System navigation | Low (getting used to gestures) |
| Sidebar. | Settings → Special Opportunities | Medium (loss of fast tools) |
| Floating window | Settings → Floating windows | Low (appendix will close) |
| Mi Video recommendations | Mi Video app → Settings | Low (content only) |
Ads are often disguised as system elements. If you see a “Close” button or a cross on the bottom panel, this is exactly an advertisement or recommendation block, in which case disabling personalized advertising in the Settings section → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data (or through the “Security” app) will help.
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Most of the bottom panels on Xiaomi are either navigation or multitasking, and are turned off in standard system settings without the need to install third-party software.
Third-party launchers and optimizer applications
If standard methods don’t work, there’s a high probability that the curtain is installed by a third-party application, which could be a new launcher, a memory cleaner app that hangs its widget from the bottom, or even a malicious ad module that got into the system along with a free game.
Think about whether you’ve recently installed applications like “Clean Master,” “Battery Saver,” or unusual themes, which often require permission to display on top of other windows. To check this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Special Features (or Special Access) → Display on top of other applications.
In the list that opens, find suspicious programs that you don’t remember or shouldn’t have such rights (such as a calculator or flashlight).
- 🔍 Go to the application settings and sort them by installation date.
- 🗑️ Remove newly installed programs that raise doubts.
- 🛡️ Scan the device with built-in antivirus through the application "Security".
- 🚫 Disable unknown applications from accessing special features.
Pay special attention to launchers. If you have been running Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or other shells, their settings may conflict with the system. Try temporarily switching to the standard launcher System Launcher through the settings (Settings → Desktop) to see if the problem will disappear.
⚠️ If the bottom bar only appears in certain applications (for example, only in the browser or only in YouTube), the problem lies in the settings of the application itself, not in the Android system.
Touch screen diagnostics and hardware problems
In rare cases, the curtain can be an artifact of a display or touchscreen malfunction. If the bottom of the screen reacts to touch in a chaotic manner, opens the menu itself, or creates a ghost touch effect, it may look like the work of some hidden panel.
Use the built-in engineering mode to diagnose. Dial ##6484## (for most Xiaomi models) and select "Touchpanel" or "Sensor" to test for drawing lines. If the lines at the bottom of the screen are interrupted or drawn by themselves, repair is required.
It could also be a poor-quality protective glass or film that presses on the edges of the screen, creating false presses in the lower zone. Remove the protection and see if the problem persists. If the curtain is gone, just replace the protective coating.
☑️ Diagnostics of hardware problems
If software techniques and deprotection didn’t work and the phantom curtain keeps appearing, you may need to calibrate the sensor or replace the display module at the service center, but 95% of the time, the problem is solved by software setting up the navigation or removing the malicious application.