How to Enable Gestures on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users several ways to navigate the system. The classic buttons at the bottom of the screen are gradually becoming a thing of the past, giving way to more ergonomic swipes. The transition to gesture control allows you to free up the useful area of the display and makes interaction with the interface smoother and more natural.

However, not everyone knows that activating this feature can be nuanced, especially when changing the version of the operating system or region, and in this article we will discuss the transition process in detail, consider hidden settings and help solve typical problems faced by owners of devices of the Chinese brand.

Turning on gestures isn't just a change of image, it's a change of logic in how you work with the device. Full-screen gestures provide quick access to recent apps and desktops with a single finger movement. Let's figure out how to set this setting up properly for maximum comfort.

Advantages of full-screen management in MIUI and HyperOS

The switch to swipes is driven not only by fashion, but also by real ergonomics: On the big screens of modern flagships and public sector workers, it is inconvenient to reach the bottom buttons. Gestures allow you to control a smartphone with one hand, using most of the display for content rather than for controls.

In addition, gesture navigation is often faster, and the animations of opening apps and switching between windows become more fluid, as the system does not waste resources on rendering static buttons at the bottom, which is especially noticeable on devices with high screen refresh rates.

• 🚀 Increase the screen area by hiding the navigation bar.
• 🖐 More convenient one-handed control on devices with a diagonal of 6.5 inches.
• ⚡ Accelerated access to the multitasking menu via swipe up and retention.
• 🎨 Modern appearance of the interface, corresponding to design trends.

It is worth noting that new versions of HyperOS have improved their swipe recognition algorithms, better predicting user intent, reducing the number of random returns or erroneous transitions to the desktop, and interface adaptability is now key to everyday use.

⚠️ Attention: The first gesture switch may require a short training session. Don't rush back the buttons if you find it unusual to not have visual cues at the bottom of the screen in the first 10 minutes.

Another plus is the ability to fine-tune the sensitivity and even change the direction of the swipe "Back" in global versions of firmware, although in Chinese builds this option is often limited. For many users, it is the absence of unnecessary elements that makes using the smartphone more enjoyable.

Where to find navigation settings in the system

Finding the menu you want may vary depending on the shell version. Most current Redmi and POCO models have standardized the path to settings, but older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 10-11) may have had different logic.

To get to the menu you want, open the Settings app. Scroll down to the Additional or Advanced Settings section. That's where Full-screen Mode hides. In some localized versions, it may simply be called Navigation.

If you can't find a location, search for settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings list and type "gestures" or "navigation." The system will prompt you to go to the desired section, which is especially convenient when the menu is deep nested.

⚠️ Note: On devices with the Chinese version of firmware (CN) The path may be different. Look for the Additional Settings section and then Full-screen mode.

It's important to understand that changing these settings is instant. You don't have to reboot your phone to see the result. However, if the interface fails (both buttons and gestures are missing), then rebooting the device is a necessary step to restore functionality.

Step-by-step instructions: how to turn on gestures

The activation process is as simple as possible, but it requires careful consideration when choosing the type of gestures, because their logic may vary. Once you log in to the Full Screen Mode menu, you will see two or three switch options.

Select Full-screen gestures, at which point the buttons at the bottom of the screen will disappear, and the sides will appear barely noticeable bars indicating the zones for the swipe "Back"; if the indicators are not needed, you can hide them with a separate switch in the same menu.

There is also an alternative way to switch on through the theme, but it's less reliable and subject-specific. You'd better use system settings. Once you turn on, try swiping from the left or right edge of the screen to the center, which should take you back a step.

If you've used other brands' Android smartphones before, the logic may seem inverted. Xiaomi's default swipe Back works from either side, but some regions (e.g. Europe) have a direction setting available, which is the flexibility of the system that you should use for yourself.

• 📱 Swipe from the bottom up – go to the desktop or open the application menu.
• 🔙 Swipe from edge to center - action "Back".
• ⏸ Swipe from the bottom up and hold – opening the menu of the latest applications.
• ↔️ Lower strip swipe (if enabled) – quick switching between running programs.

Pay special attention to learning. There's often a "Learn" or "Demonstration" button in the settings menu, where the animated finger shows the right paths of movement. Take this mini-course to let your muscle memory remember the right vectors of movement.

Sensitivity settings and additional options

Just turning on gestures isn't enough for the perfect experience. In the same menu, Full-screen mode often hides edge sensitivity settings. If your smartphone has curved screen edges (2.5D or), random touches can get in the way.

You can set up the area to ignore touches around the edges, and this is especially true for those who wear thick-framed protective glass or use high-sided covers, and calibration avoids false positives.

Also worth mentioning is the Sidebar or Floating Window feature, which is activated by a swipe from the corner of the screen, which is not directly related to navigation, but often interferes with users who have just switched to gestures. → Sidebar.

For users who lack visual landmarks, a gesture prompt is available, and a thin strip at the bottom of the screen will remind them that swipe is where they need to be, and it's a visual anchor that helps with the adaptation period.

⚠️ Attention: Enabling full navigation bar transparency may cause some older applications to overlap text with system elements.

Problem Solving: Gestures Are Not Working or Lost

When you update or reset your settings, gestures don't respond well, most often it's a software glitch of a launcher or SystemUI system process. First of all, try just restarting your smartphone.

If the reboot didn't work, check if the One Hand mode is on. In this mode, the screen shrinks and swipe zones shift, making it impossible for a finger to hit the desired area. Turn it off in the menu Additional → One Hand mode.

Problems can also arise from third-party launcher conflicts: If you’ve installed Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or other alternatives, try temporarily returning the standard POCO Launcher or MIUI Home launcher.

• 🔄 Reboot the device to reset temporary system errors.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the application "Settings" and "Security".
• 📉 Turn off power saving mode, which may limit background navigation processes.
• 🛡 Check for system updates in the About Phone section.

In rare cases, especially on custom firmware or after unlocking the bootloader, you may need to reset your settings to factory settings.Be sure to back up important data before doing so, as this step will remove all information from the device.

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If gestures are working with a delay, try enabling the option “Accelerated graphics update” (GPU rendering) in the developer settings, this can improve the responsiveness of the interface.

Navigation Types Comparison: Which to Choose?

Users often argue about whether buttons or gestures are better, and objectively, gestures are better at accessing the multitasking menu and ergonomics, but buttons provide a clearer understanding of the current state of the system and are accessible to people with motor characteristics.

Buttons take up space on the screen, which is critical for compact models, but convenient on tablets. Gestures are addictive, but after 2-3 days of use, you don't want to go back to the buttons. It's a matter of personal preference and habit.

Also worth mentioning is the Assistive Touch, which is the third navigation option that mimics the button on the screen, and it's the least popular because it overlaps content, but it's indispensable if the touch edges of the screen are damaged or not working properly.

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Gestures are the modern standard for maximum immersion in content and speed, while buttons remain a more conservative and predictable option.

The table below compares the main characteristics for the final selection:

To sum up, for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO owners, switching to gestures is the most rational solution, making smartphone use more modern and efficient.