How to permanently remove the three buttons at the bottom of the screen Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have minimal bezels to allow you to enjoy content without visual interference. However, standard navigation with three buttons at the bottom of the display often takes up useful space and visually “weights up” the interface. Many users wonder how to get rid of this control to get a use experience similar to the flagship models of other brands.

Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide built-in tools for switching to gesture control.This not only frees up the bottom of the screen to make the picture more solid, but also speeds up the experience with the device as a whole. In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the ways to change navigation, including hiding the thin bar-indicator that often annoys users accustomed to minimalism.

Before you make changes, it's worth noting that switching to gestures requires getting used to it, but after a couple of days of use, you don't want to go back to the buttons. The setup process takes literally one minute and doesn't require obtaining Root rights or installing third-party software. Below we'll look at a step-by-step algorithm for current firmware versions.

Benefits of switching to gesture management

The classic Back, Home and Menu buttons have a number of benefits for the smartphone owner, most notably ergonomics: thumbs are less tired because you don’t have to reach the bottom of the display to perform basic operations. Swipes on the edges of the screen are faster and more intuitive, especially on large diagonals.

The second important aspect is visual cleanliness: removing buttons, you free up to 40-50 pixels of usable screen height; watching videos on social networks, reading news or working with documents, every millimeter counts; and also, the disappearance of static controls reduces the risk of accidental tapping when the phone is in your pocket or bag.

• 🚀 Speed: Gestures allow you to switch between applications faster and return to the desktop.
• 📱 Maximum area: The entire screen is used to display content, nothing overlays the image.
• 🎨 Aesthetics: the interface looks modern and corresponds to the design trends of mobile OS 2026-2026 year-end.

It's also worth mentioning that in the new versions of the shell, developers have optimized the algorithms for recognizing swipes, and if you've encountered delays or incorrect system response, now animations are smooth and the response is instantaneous, which makes using a smartphone more enjoyable and "premium".

Standard way to switch in settings

The easiest and safest way to change the type of navigation is built into the system menu of any current Xiaomi smartphone. You do not need to search for hidden codes or download questionable utilities. All the necessary switches are in the section responsible for the overall appearance of the system.

To start, unlock your device and find the Settings icon on your desktop. In the menu that opens, scroll down to Additional or search for Desktop, depending on your firmware version. Older versions of MIUI may have slightly different paths, but the logic remains the same: we need a system navigation section.

Find a point called System Navigation, and when you enter it, you'll see two basic options: "Buttons" and "Gesturals." Often the default is the first option. To remove three buttons, just tap a circle or switch opposite the "Gesturals" label. The screen will blink, and the usual buttons will disappear, giving way to the thin strip at the bottom.

Once you've chosen a new method, the system can offer a short tutorial tour, and don't ignore it if you're new to the topic, and it shows the basic movements: swipe from the bottom up to the desktop, swipe from the side to return, and swipe from the bottom to open the menu of running applications.

How to hide a thin strip-indicator

Many users, when they switch to gestures, find that instead of three buttons, there's a thin horizontal bar at the bottom, which tells them where to swipe, but it keeps people from enjoying the content. Fortunately, MIUI and HyperOS have the ability to remove this element, making navigation completely invisible.

So if you're in the same System Navigation menu where you chose the control type, you'll notice the additional settings below the switches, and there's a "Hide gesture" or "Hide the indicator," and if you activate that switch, you'll remove the visual marker from the screen, and then you'll be able to navigate blindly, from the muscles.

⚠️ Warning: After the bar is hidden, the navigation will not go away. Swipes work in the same lower zone of the screen (about the same as the one in the screen). 10-15% from the bottom of the display, even if you don't see visual confirmation, be careful when you first use it so you don't get confused.

If you don't find this option in the standard menu, it may be hidden in the advanced settings. Try to find the option additionally inside the navigation menu. In some regions (e.g. Global ROM), this feature may be called Hide gesture line. For Chinese firmware versions (CN ROM), the option of hiding the strip is always available.

When you strip away, you get the screen as clean as possible, but remember that without a visual guide, it's harder to tell if the phone is working or if the screen is dead, so some users prefer to leave a barely noticeable strip as an indicator of system activity.

Switching sensitivity and swipe zone

Once you've managed to remove the buttons, you may experience a situation where the gestures don't work properly, such as a Back swipe that might conflict with the app sidebar or not work in games, and the solution is to adjust the sensitivity correctly.

The navigation menu often features a slider called Animation Speed or Sensitivity, and by moving it around, you can make the system response sharper or smoother, and for game scenarios, it is recommended to increase sensitivity so that swipes are read instantly.

You also need to pay attention to the position of the return zone, and in some custom launchers or through the engineering menu, you can shift the active swipe area a little higher or lower, and this is especially true for people with small fingers who have difficulty reaching the very edge of the screen.

• 🎮 Game Mode: Turn on Game Turbo to block random swipes while playing.
• 🖐 One-handed: Activate One-Hand Mode in Settings to reduce screen area and facilitate access to top swipes.
• ⚙️ Debugging: If gestures are glitching, try restarting the device or clearing the cache of the system application "Settings".

Remember, it takes time to get used to new mechanics, your brain needs to change from pressing physical (or screen) buttons to finger movements, and give yourself 2-3 days, and you stop noticing the control process by focusing on tasks.

Using third-party launchers for navigation

If Xiaomi’s standard methods don’t suit you, or you want to get a unique button design before removing them completely, you can use third-party launchers. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or specialized Navigation Bar utilities allow you to fully customize the bottom panel.

With these programs, you can not only change the appearance of the buttons, but also add new features: control music, launch applications on double tap, change the transparency of the panel, but it is worth considering that third-party launchers can consume more battery resources.

For advanced users, there is a possibility of using ADB-commands to hide the navigation system bar at a deep level, and that requires you to connect to a computer and input a command:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

This command will forcefully hide all the navigation elements, but can make the phone uncomfortable to use, as going back would be extremely difficult without pre-configured alternative gestures.

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Tip: Before installing third-party launchers, back up important data. Some heavy shells may conflict with the MIUI system shell, causing reboots.

Return to the classic buttons

There are times when gesture experiments fail, or when the phone is handed over to an elderly relative who is more familiar with the good old three-button method, it's as easy to get it back as it is to put it away.

You will need to go back to Settings → Additional → System Navigation. Select Buttons. The screen will instantly display three familiar keys. You can also change their order (for example, make the Back button on the right, like on the iPhone, or on the left, like on Android by default).

⚠️ Note: When you switch back to the buttons, the previously hidden bar indicator will disappear automatically. If you decide to turn on gestures again, you will have to activate the option to hide the strip again, since the settings may reset.

Xiaomi’s flexibility allows you to change the type of navigation every day, and it’s a great way to experiment and find the one that fits your smartphone experience, and don’t be afraid to try something new, because the interface is designed for your comfort.

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Main conclusion: You can remove three buttons in 30 seconds through the settings menu, and for complete minimalism, do not forget to activate the option "Hide the gesture prompt".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)