How to return buttons at the bottom of the screen to Android Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the usual navigation bar with three buttons suddenly disappears, the screen becomes empty from the bottom, and the control moves to gestures or completely stops responding to attempts to return to the menu. This can confuse any user, especially if the habit of physical or on-screen buttons has been developed for years. In most cases, the problem is solved by simply reconfiguring the system, but sometimes deeper intervention in the interface is required.

The reasons for the disappearance of buttons can be different: from accidental switching of control mode in settings to system failure of the shell MIUI or HyperOS. Modern versions of Android actively promote gesture control, considering it more convenient and ergonomic, but for many, the classic scheme "Back", "Home" and "Menu" remains the no alternative standard. If you have lost navigation buttons, do not panic or carry the phone to the service center. You can return functionality yourself in a couple of minutes, using the standard operating system tools.

In this article, we will discuss all possible methods for restoring the bottom control panel. We will look at the standard settings, how to force the system application to restart the interface, and also discuss compatibility with certain applications. You will learn how to adapt navigation to your habits and why it can behave unpredictable in games or when watching videos.

The main reasons for the disappearance of navigation buttons

The first step to solving a problem is to understand it. Most users accidentally activate full screen mode without realizing the consequences. Updated versions of MIUI often have pop-ups suggesting "try gesture control," and carelessly pressing the confirmation button instantly changes the logic of the interface. The system switches, and the buttons at the bottom of the screen disappear, giving way to swipes. This is the normal behavior of the system, not an error.

However, there are more complex scenarios. Sometimes the system process responsible for rendering the interface can freeze or end with an error, in which case the buttons may not appear even if the appropriate mode is selected in the settings, and third-party launchers or memory cleanup applications that aggressively terminate background processes, believing them to be harmful can also affect the system failure can be caused by a failed software update.

⚠️ Warning: If the buttons are missing in only one particular application (e.g. a game or video player), this is normal behavior. Many apps automatically hide navigation to immerse the user in the content.

Another reason could be a permission conflict or a zoom conflict: If you've recently changed the screen resolution or connected your phone to an external display, the navigation bar settings may have gone wrong. In rare cases, the problem is that system files are damaged after a failed firmware modification or custom recavator installation. But before looking for tricky ways, it's worth checking the basic settings.

📊 How did you lose your navigation buttons?
After system update
Accidentally pressed in the settings
In one annex only
After installing a new program
I don't know, just gone.

Enabling buttons through the standard settings menu

The most obvious and safe way to return the buttons is to check the system settings section. In the shells from Xiaomi, this parameter is quite deep, but the algorithm of actions is the same for all versions of Android. You need to go to the menu where the type of navigation is selected. Usually the path is: Settings → Additional → Full-screen mode. In some versions of the firmware, this item may be called simply “Navigation” or located in the “Screen” section.

Once you've reached the right section, you'll see a switch or a list of control options. You'll need to select the buttons option instead of Full Screen or Gestures. Once you switch, the system will instantly apply changes, and at the bottom of the screen there will be three classic buttons. If you're using HyperOS, the settings interface may differ visually, but the logic remains the same. Sometimes you need to confirm the choice by clicking "Apply".

☑️ Checking the navigation settings

Done: 0 / 4

The same menu often provides additional button ordering. The standard Android schema assumes that the back button is on the left and the menu button is on the right. However, many users who have switched from other brands are used to the reverse arrangement. In full-screen settings, you can swap them to make navigation as comfortable as possible, this is especially true for those who hold the phone with one hand.

If the mode switching didn't work and the buttons didn't show up, try just rebooting the device. Once turned on, check the settings again - sometimes the system doesn't have time to apply the configuration without restarting. Also make sure you don't have One-Handed Mode or special features for people with disabilities who can change the interface view.

Resetting launcher and system interface settings

If the settings are correct but the buttons never show up, there's probably a malfunction in the system application that controls the interface. In Android, this application is often called System Interface, or has a name associated with the phone model (e.g. miui). To fix the bug, you need to clear its cache and data. This won't delete your personal files, but will return the look settings to factory ones.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, find the app that handles desktop and navigation. On Xiaomi devices, it is often an app called System Interface or simply Desktop. Go to its properties, select Memory and click Clear → Clear Everything. After that, the phone can flash the screen and the interface will reboot.

Settings → Applications → All applications → System interface → Memory → Clean everything

Once the launcher resets, the phone can behave as if it were just after purchase: wallpaper changes, widgets disappear, icons come back in standard order. Don't worry, your data (photos, contacts, messages) will stay in place. You just need to reconfigure the desktop look, but navigation buttons will likely return to their rightful place.

What to do if the app is not on the list?
If you can't find the app you want in the general list, try searching by settings. Type the word "interface" or "launcher" in the search bar. You can also sort applications by memory size -- system components usually take up a significant amount of space.> For advanced users who are not helped by standard methods, there is the possibility of using the Xiaomi engineering menu. This is a hidden part of the system designed for testing equipment. You can check the touch screen to make sure the bottom of the display is physically sound. You can use a special code in the Phone app to enter the engineering menu. CIT (Customer Inspection Test: You can select the item associated with the display or touch screen testing. If the sensor at the bottom of the screen does not respond to taps in test mode, the problem may be physical (crack, plume), and software methods will not help. Code Description of action # #6484## CIT Menu Enter the full engineering test menu #4636## Testing Phone and battery testing menu ##225# Calendar Calendar Information (rarely useful) *#06# IMEI Check the serial numbers of the device Also through the "Developers" menu, you can try reset the interface. To get there, you need to enter the full engineering test menu #7, however, you can only use these options in the "Configure in the interface" section in the "Ofigurate the device in the device in the same way in the settings" but you can use the "Ofect the interface. Sensitivity settings and delaying disappearance Sometimes buttons don't disappear completely, but hide after a short time of inactivity. This is a customizable parameter that saves screen space and prevents accidental clicks. In the navigation settings menu (the same one where the button type is selected), there is often a item "Hide buttons" or "Time out." By increasing the time or selecting the "Do not hide" option, you will make the control panel constantly visible. Special attention deserves sensitivity to presses. If there are buttons, but the phone responds to them with increased sensitivity of the screen, there is a strong response to the ty of the typing of the screen, where the typing of the typing of the typing of the typing of the typing of the screen, there is typing of the typing of the typing of the typing of the typing. Also worth mentioning is the Pocket Mode or Approximation Sensor feature. If there is dirt or poor-quality glass at the bottom of the screen, the sensor can falsely trigger, believing that the phone is in your pocket, and lock the bottom of the display. Wipe the screen and the top of the case to rule out this problem. Solving problems with individual applications Frequently: buttons work everywhere except for a particular application, most often a game or a video editor. This happens because the application requests full-screen mode. In new versions of MIUI, you can force it to turn on or turn on the application separately and see the full-on mode for each application. If you ticked, remove it, and vice versa, and it will cause the system to ignore the application's requests to hide the navigation bar, which allows you to keep the gestures in the browser convenient, but return the buttons in the game where they are needed. ⚠️ Warning: Some older apps may not work properly with modern aspect ratios. If buttons come back but overlap the game interface, try changing the screen resolution in the developer settings or zooming. If the problem is only seen in one app, try updating it through Google Play or GetApps. Developers often release patches that fix compatibility with newer versions of Android. You can also try to remove the cache of the application itself through the settings, as was done with the system interface. 💡Flexible full-screen settings for each application allow you to take advantage of gestures and buttons simultaneously, adapting the phone to specific tasks (FAQ) Why the navigation buttons disappeared after the update MIUI? System updates often reset user preferences to standard. The new firmware version may force gesture control to be more modern. Just go to the settings and return the button mode, as described at the beginning of the article. Can you resize navigation buttons? You can't resize the buttons with Xiaomi's standard tools, but you can do this with third-party apps from Google Play, such as Navigation Bar, or through the themes if they support modification of system elements. There are buttons, but they don't press? If the screen reacts elsewhere but ignores the bottom bar, maybe the touchscreen is damaged or the plume has gone away. Try calibrating the screen through the engineering menu. If it doesn't work, you'll need diagnostics in the service. How do you get the app menu back if it's gone? In button mode, the third button on the left or right is responsible for the app menu. If it's not, make sure it's button mode, not gesture mode. There's no menu button, and the app list opens swipe from the bottom up with a delay? In the interface, does the system have a direct effect on the energy, but can the system's effect on the functional mode?