How to remove the line at the bottom of the screen on the Xiaomi phone

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the bottom of the display is occupied by navigation elements that interfere with viewing or are simply annoying with their presence.This so-called "string" can be a standard three-button panel or a modern gesture control bar that also blocks some of the usable space in games and applications. Understanding how to manage these elements is key to making more comfortable use of the MIUI or HyperOS interface.

In modern firmware versions, Xiaomi offers flexible navigation settings that completely hide visual controls or change their type. However, not all users know where the desired switches are hiding, and some functions can be hidden in the engineering menu or depend on regional settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to eliminate unnecessary lines and buttons so that you can get a clean screen without compromise.

It’s worth noting that removing system elements completely may require not only standard settings, but also understanding the differences between system navigation and third-party widgets like Google’s search bar. It’s important to understand that the bottom bar disappears completely only when you switch to gesture control, since classic buttons require constant visual display. Let’s look at the available methods Step-by-step.

Differences between the navigation bar and the Google bar

Before you start settings, you need to clearly distinguish what you want to remove. Often users confuse the system navigation bar with the Google search widget, which is the default at the bottom of the screen on many global firmware versions. The navigation bar is the Android system element responsible for returning, accessing the desktop and menu of running applications. It is part of the MIUI shell interface and can not be deleted as a regular file, but it can be transformed.

Unlike navigation buttons, Google bar is a separate widget that can be easily removed or moved. If your goal is to free up space from the searcher logo and microphone, the actions will be radically different from the setting of the system buttons. For a widget long enough to press, while the buttons will require input into deep settings of the system.

And there's also the bar that comes up when you turn on gesture control, which is a thin line at the bottom of the screen that shows that swipe up will bring you back to the home screen, and many people think that's the very "line" that you need to get rid of, and unfortunately, you can't completely remove this indicator with regular tools, but you can make it less visible or get used to its lack of visual background.

• 📱 Navigation panel – three buttons or one bar to control the system.
• 🔍 Google String – A search widget that can be removed like a regular icon.
• ⚙️ System bar – an area reserved for control that changes height depending on the type of navigation.

Understanding these differences will save you time and avoid looking for non-existent widget removal settings where system components are involved. If you want to change button behavior, you need a system settings section. If the G logo gets in the way, it's the Launcher desktop.

Disable the classic panel with three buttons

The most common request is to move from the outdated three-button format (Back, Home, Menu) to a more modern solution: the classic panel occupies a significant part of the screen at the bottom and often leads to random taps. To get rid of this wide band, you need to activate gesture control, which is the standard for modern Xiaomi smartphones.

The switching process is simple enough, but it requires care, because once you change the settings, the navigation principle changes instantly, you no longer have to reach the bottom corner of the screen; instead, all control will take place from the edges of the display, which is especially convenient on large screens, where reaching the bottom with one hand becomes difficult.

To transition, do the following: open Settings, find the Additional section (or just scroll down in the main settings on the new versions of HyperOS), then select Full-screen mode. Here you will be offered two options: "Buttons" and "Gesturals." When you choose "Gests", you automatically remove a wide black or white string with buttons, replacing it with a thin bar-indicator or removing visual markers altogether, leaving only functionality.

Once you turn on the gestures, the system will offer a brief learning, and don't ignore it if you're new to the system, because swipe combinations may be different from what you're doing. For example, swiping to the right of the left edge now functions as a back button, and swiping up from the center now returns to the desktop.

Set up full screen mode and hide the indicator

Even after you turn on your gestures, many users notice a thin bar at the bottom of the screen, which is a home screen indicator. The question of "how to remove a line" often implies the desire to make the screen completely clean, without any prompts. With the usual MIUI shell tools, you can not completely turn off the display of this strip, because it serves as an important visual guide.

However, there are workarounds and settings that minimize the impact of the feature. In some regions and firmware versions (such as Chinese or Indian), there may be a hidden option in the Full Screen Mode section called Hide the Hint or similar, and if you have a Global ROM, this option may not be available in the public domain.

For advanced users, there is a possibility of changing system settings through the Activity Launcher app or ADB commands, but this requires caution. Changing system files can lead to unstable interface operation. A safer method is using the theme. Some Themes store features built-in modifications to the system bar that make the strip transparent or change its color in the blend with the background.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party launchers or those from unverified sources to hide system elements can lead to interface conflicts when the status bar overrides important buttons in applications.

If you do decide to experiment with themes, make sure to create a restore point or backup data. Remember that visual merging of a strip with a background is a cosmetic effect, functionally it will remain an active swipe up.

Removing Google Search from the Desktop

Often, by “bottom line” users mean Google search widget, which is by default located in the dock bar (bottom panel with icons) or hovers above it. Unlike system navigation, this element is part of the launcher POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher and removed by standard methods.

To remove this item, find the search icon on your desktop. Click on it and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the action menu or vibration appears. In the menu that appears, select "Delete" or drag the widget to the top of the screen where the delete zone appears. After that, the search bar will disappear, making room for other icons or widgets.

If the standard uninstallation doesn't work (the widget isn't removed), it may be locked in the launcher settings. Go to Settings → Desktop and look for the "Google Search" or "Search String" option. If you turn off this switch, you'll remove the string from the interface forever. On some Redmi models, this option is called the "Show search bar."

• 🗑️ Long press on the widget allows you to remove it as a regular application.
• ⚙️ Launcher settings contain a switch to global disable search bar.
• 🔄 Changing the launcher to a third-party one (like Nova Launcher) gives you full control of the bottom dock bar.

Using a third-party launcher is a radical but effective method, and by installing a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, you can customize the bottom panel as you like: hide it, change the number of icons, or completely redesign your navigation, ignoring the standard limitations of MIUI.

Hiding a line in specific apps and games

Special attention should be paid to the situation when the navigation bar interferes with games or watching videos. In such cases, the line can overlap virtual joysticks or control buttons. To solve this problem, Xiaomi has a feature called Screen Extension or Full-screen applications.

This feature forcibly stretches the content to the full screen, hiding the navigation bar and the notch under the camera (if supported by the application). To configure this, go to Settings → Screen Extension (or Full Screen Applications). Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Find the desired game or video player and set the switch to the position "Full Screen".

Once you have set up the settings when you start the app, the navigation bar will disappear automatically, so if you have to go out during the game, the swipe from the edge of the screen will still work, but you won't see the strips in normal mode, which greatly increases the level of immersion in the gameplay.

Note that not all apps are properly displayed in full screen mode. In some cases, the interface may go and important controls will be cropped. If you notice such artifacts, it is better to return the standard display for a particular application through the same settings menu.

Comparison of Navigation Management Methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the different navigation methods available on Xiaomi smartphones.

As you can see from the table, switching to gestures is the best solution for most users who want to remove a cumbersome string of buttons. However, if it is critical to remove even a thin indicator, you will have to resort to one or another launcher, since Android system requires a visual marker for gestures.

The choice of method also depends on the screen diagonal. On compact models such as the Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note compact series, saving space at the bottom of the screen gives a noticeable increase in usable area. On large phablet phones of the Max or Mix series, the difference is less noticeable, but aesthetically cleaner screen looks more modern.

Solving the Problems of Losing a Line

Sometimes users have the opposite problem: the navigation bar has disappeared on its own, and it is now unclear how to control the phone, this can happen after a system update, a reset or an application conflict, if the screen has gone black from the bottom and the swipes are not working, there may have been a failure of the SystemUI process.

First of all, try rebooting your device, and most often, it puts all system elements back in place. If the reboot didn't work, check if Full Immersion is enabled in the settings of a particular application, which may have spread to the entire interface due to an error.

It’s also worth checking for system updates. In older versions of MIUI, bugs have been encountered when the navigation bar was hidden after installing some security updates. Installing an up-to-date security patch usually fixes this error.

⚠️ Warning: If the line is missing after installing a third-party launcher or theme, remove the last installed application via Safe Mode or using a computer mouse connected to the site. OTG.

In rare cases, the problem may lie in the corruption of system files. If nothing helps, you may need to reset to factory settings, but this is an extreme measure that requires prior data backup.

Additional features of customization of the interface

In addition to removing the line, Xiaomi’s interface allows you to flexibly adjust the appearance of the font, you can change the font size, which indirectly affects the layout of the elements at the bottom of the screen. Also in the Topics → Profile section, you can customize the system components, including icons and colors, which will make the remaining controls less noticeable.

For those who like minimalism, there is an option to change the color of the navigation bar. In some themes, you can set black for the panel, which on screens with an AMOLED matrix will lead to a real shutdown of the pixels in this zone, saving battery power and visually expanding the screen.

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Use dark themes of design on AMOLED-screens: this will not only hide the bottom line, making it black, but also save up to 10-15% battery charge during active use.

Remember that changing the interface settings can be temporary disorienting. Give yourself time to get used to the new way of controlling. Gestures may seem complicated at first, but after 2-3 days, muscle memory will take its toll, and you will appreciate the freedom that comes with not having extra elements on the screen.

In conclusion, managing the navigation bar on Xiaomi is a balance between habits and modern standards. By removing unnecessary elements, you will make using your smartphone more ergonomic and enjoyable.

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The optimal solution for most users is to switch to gesture control using standard system settings, which provides a better balance between functionality and free screen space.