How to disable swipe from the bottom up on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Many Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone users are experiencing a change in the interface when they upgrade to newer versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, and instead of the classic Home, Back and Menu buttons, a thin strip at the bottom of the screen requires swipe control, which is uncomfortable for those who have been used to mechanical or on-screen buttons for years, and random taps often lead to unexpected actions.

Fortunately, the developers have left the option of returning the good old navigation style or fully adapting the new one to their needs. ADB-In this article, we will discuss in detail how to remove the swipe from the bottom up, hide the annoying bar-indicator or completely switch to button control.

Before you make any changes, you need to understand that turning off gesture control is not just a cosmetic edit, but a change in the logic of interaction with the operating system. We will look at all the available scenarios, from completely abandoning gestures in favor of buttons to fine-tuning the sensitivity of the edges of the screen, which is especially true for devices with curved displays.

Difference Between Navigation and Gestures

The interface of modern Xiaomi smartphones is based on two main navigation systems: the first is the classic three buttons located at the bottom of the display. They occupy a certain space on the screen, but provide maximum accuracy of hits and visual clarity of actions. The second system is full-screen gestures that free up the useful area of the matrix, removing unnecessary elements of the interface.

When you switch to gestures, the bottom of the screen becomes a zone for hidden commands. Swipe up from the center returns to the desktop, a latency swipe opens the multitasking menu, and swipes from the side edges replace the back button. For many users, this approach seems more modern and ergonomic, but it has its drawbacks.

• 📱 Gestures allow you to use the full screen without losing space on the buttons.
• 🚫 Accidental touches of the bottom of the screen often lead to an erroneous exit from applications.
• 🔄 Transition animations when using swipes look smoother than others.
• 👵 Older people or users who have switched from button phones, it is more difficult to get used to the lack of visual landmarks.

The choice between these two methods is a matter of taste and habit. However, if you decide that swipes don't suit you, the system makes it easy to roll back changes. It's important to note that different versions of firmware (Global, China, EEA) may have slightly different menu items, but the logic remains the same across all devices of the brand.

How to Turn Off Gestures and Return the Buttons

The most radical and effective way to get rid of swipes is to completely switch the navigation method in the system settings, which instantly returns the usual control buttons to the screen, and to perform this operation, you will need access to the Settings section, which is usually represented by the gear icon.

Go to the settings menu and find the partition that controls how the system looks and works. Depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, it can be called "Advanced", "System" or "Screen." We're interested in the Navigation subsection. This is where the switch that changes the logic of the bottom of the display is hidden.

Settings → Screen → Navigation on the system

In the menu that opens, you'll see two main options: "Buttons" and "Gesters." Select the option of the Button. The system immediately applies the changes, and the bar-indicator disappears, giving way to three static controls. If the location of the buttons does not suit you (for example, the "Back" button is on the right and you are used to the left), you can change their order here.

After switching, it is recommended to restart the device to make sure that the new parameters are correctly applied in all applications, including games and heavy programs. Sometimes the interface cache can save the old settings, and a simple reboot solves the problem of “floating” elements.

Configuring the hidden indicator strip

Even with button mode activated, some Xiaomi models may still have a barely noticeable bar at the bottom of the screen, a so-called hint indicator that helps beginners learn gestures, and if your goal is to get the screen as clean as possible without unnecessary lines, this feature should be disabled separately.

In the same navigation menu where you chose the type of control, look for additional switches, and there might be a item called Hide a hint or Show a Strip, and if you take the tick off that, you'll make the bottom of the screen absolutely clean, which is especially important for those who like minimalism.

It's worth considering that on devices with a screen cutout or a hole under the camera (punch-hole), system elements can behave differently. In some cases, the strip can appear temporarily when certain applications are launched, this is normal system behavior that can not be turned off without deep modification of the firmware.

⚠️ Warning: Hiding all navigation elements completely can cause you to forget how to trigger the multitasking menu. Leave at least a minimal visual hint if you wear a smartphone with gloves on.

And this section also often provides edge sensitivity settings, so if swipes go off too often or if the phone ignores them, the sensitivity slider can help you find a middle ground, which is critical for owners of thick edged protective glass.

Managing side swipes and disabling them

One of the main reasons users want to remove swipes is that side gestur swipes conflict with application interfaces, for example, in games or readers, swiping from the edge of the screen to back up can interfere with page scrolling or character control.

In the MIUI shell, there is a feature called "Cancel Click Block" or customize individual applications. You can add a game or program to the exception list where the "Back" gesture will be disabled. To do this, go to Settings → Additional → Game Mode (or Game Turbo).

You can adjust the behavior of the side zones here, and it often helps to change the direction of the swipe to return, so instead of swiping from either end, you can swipe from the left or just the right, and that reduces the number of error positives by half.

Another nuance concerns applications that are not optimized for full-screen modes. In such cases, the system can automatically enable button emulation or, conversely, block swipes. Check the settings of a particular application in the Applications section → All Apps → [Application needed] → Full Screen.

Sensitivity problems and false positives

A frequent complaint of Xiaomi owners is that swipes are falsely triggered when the phone is in your pocket or bag. The screen lights up, and random movement of the fabric is perceived as a swipe up command, opening unnecessary menus or apps. This is not only annoying, but also wastes battery power.

To minimize this risk, the system has a Mode in the pocket function. Make sure it is activated in Settings → Lock screen. However, if the problem is in the sensitivity of the lower zone, calibrating the screen or using a black-framed protective glass (2.5D or 3D), which physically limits the touch area, will help.

If a bottom-up swipe is too easy to use when you're just browsing through your social media feed, try changing the angle or force of the tap in the accessibility settings. Sometimes it helps to disable the One-Hand Management feature, which also uses swipes to reduce the screen's workspace.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use magnetic cables or magnetic latch cases if you have problems with false swipes.The magnetic field can distort the operation of the digitizer at the bottom of the screen.

In some cases, the problem is a software failure. Cleaning the cache of the System UI system application can help. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find System Interface → Clear the cache. This will not delete your data, but it will reset temporary interface files.

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Use the dark theme and theAlways-On Display with caution. OLED-Xiaomi screens static navigation strip in bright performance can lead to pixel burnout over time.

Specific configuration for different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s shell interface is constantly changing, and what worked on MIUI 12 may be elsewhere on HyperOS. Owners of older devices (MIUI 10-11) may need to activate advanced settings through the engineering menu, although this is no longer necessary in modern versions.

On the newest HyperOS, logic has become more linear. Customization path → Additional settings → Navigation is standard. However, on Chinese firmware versions (CN ROM), some items may be called differently, such as "Full screen display" instead of "Navigation."

If you can't find the right switch, search by settings, type the word "Navigation" or "Swipe" into the search box, and the system will suggest you go to the desired section, which is the fastest way to find a lost option in a multi-level menu.

• 🔍 Use search in settings for quick access.
• 🌏 Look for the Chinese "Full screen display".
• 🔄 After updating the firmware navigation settings can be reset on default.
• 📱 On Xiaomi Pad tablets, the settings interface may be different from the phone version.

For devices with very large screens (Max series or tablets), the swipe area can be wider, and in such cases it is especially important to properly configure the excluded areas to be comfortable with management.

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The most reliable way to remove the swipe is to switch to the button mode in the system settings, and to fine-tune use the sensitivity menu.