Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have long moved to gesture control, allowing you to use the entire display area without distraction to navigation elements. However, many users who have switched from other brands or just got used to the classic scheme feel uncomfortable with the lack of the usual buttons “Back”, “Home” and “Menu”.
In MIUI, as well as the new HyperOS, button activation is completely hidden in the system settings, but it is done in a couple of touches. It is important to understand that switching between gestures and buttons does not require a device to restart or have root rights.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithm for enabling classic navigation, look at the differences in interfaces between different firmware versions, and answer frequent questions that arise when you set up, learn how to change the order of buttons, hide them for watching videos, and what to do if standard methods do not work.
Where to find navigation settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Finding the right menu can be difficult because of the deep nesting of system parameters. In current versions of the shells from Xiaomi, the path to navigation management is standardized, but the names of items may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware (Global, China, EEA).
To start, open the Settings app (cog icon). Scroll down to Settings Additions. This is where the settings that affect interface behavior, language, date, time, and control methods are concentrated. In some firmware versions, this item may simply be called Advanced Settings.
Inside the option menu, you need to find Full-screen Mode, which, despite the name, is the choice between gesture control and on-screen buttons, and clicking on this will open a window where you can choose your preferred navigation method.
If you use very old versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 10 or 11 on budget models), the path may be different. In such cases, look for the Navigation or Buttons section directly in the main settings menu or in the Screen section. However, for 95% of modern devices, the path through additional settings is relevant.
⚠️ Note: Some custom builds or themes may have menu items re-named. If you can't find the path, try temporarily returning the standard theme in the Topics app".
Why can the menu be different?
Step-by-step: activation of control buttons
Once you have entered the Full Screen Mode menu, you will have two main options: the default on new smartphones is always "Full Screen Mode with gestures." You need to switch the radio button or switch to the button option.
Once you select this item, you'll instantly see a three-button bar at the bottom of the screen, and it doesn't require any confirmation of action or reboot, and you'll see how the navigation has changed, with clear graphical controls instead of a thin bar at the bottom of the screen.
The same menu often features a button ordering feature, the standard Android schema: the back button on the left, the home button on the center, and the app menu on the right, but an inverted schema may be more convenient for users switching from an iPhone or older device.
☑️ Verification of activation
It is worth noting that the choice of buttons affects the operation of the sidebar. When activated, the swipe from the edge of the screen (which returns back in gesture mode) ceases to work in areas occupied by system navigation, which eliminates accidental pressing.
Customization of order and appearance of buttons
Navigation control is an important part of personalization: Full-screen (or just under the navigation type) menus often have a button order switch, activating it swaps back and menu.
Why is it necessary? Android logic suggests that the back button should be where the right thumb (for right-handers) is at rest. For left-handed or iOS-accustomed users, where the return button is often associated with the left side of the screen (although in iOS it is a gesture), the standard layout can be uncomfortable.
In stock MIUI, you can't change icons to custom ones (like Samsung or OnePlus stylized ones) without super-user rights, but you can change their size indirectly by changing the screen resolution or using One Hand mode in additional settings.
- 🔹 Standard layout: Back (left), Home (center), Menu (right) – familiar to most Android users.
- 🔹 Inverted layout: Menu (left), Home (center), Back (right) – convenient for those who hold the phone with their left hand.
- 🔹 Hiding the panel: When you start a video or game, the panel disappears automatically, but you can swipe it from the bottom edge.
Change the order of the buttons is instantaneous. You don't have to close the settings to see the result. Just switch the switch and see if you're comfortable pressing virtual keys with your thumb.
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Try to work with the inverted button order for at least one day, and many users are surprised how much it speeds up navigation on the big screens of the flagship Xiaomi 13 or 14 series.
Comparison of gestures and buttons: what to choose?
Choosing between gestures and buttons is not just a matter of habit, but also ergonomics. On Xiaomi’s big screens (especially 6.67-inch and higher models), reaching the bottom of the screen becomes physically more difficult.
Gestures allow you to interact with the interface from anywhere on the screen. A swipe from the bottom up to return to the desktop can be done with your thumb without intercepting the device. Buttons require a precise hit to the bottom zone, which can be uncomfortable with using the phone with one hand.
On the other hand, the buttons give you a visual cue for action, and the buttons clearly show you where "Back" is and where "Menu" is. In gestures, you have to remember that swipe on the left is a return, and swipe on the right is a multitasking experience. For beginners or people with motor impairments, buttons are often the only comfortable option.
| Parameter | On-screen buttons | Gesture management |
|---|---|---|
| Screen review | Take up space (strip below) | Maximum space |
| Adjustment rate | Instant (intuitive) | It takes 2-3 days. |
| Convenience with one hand | Medium (must stretch) | High (swipe from any point) |
| Risk of accidental pressing | Low. | High (conflicts in games) |
In games, buttons can interfere by overlaying part of the interface (for example, the joystick in shooters). In such cases, the system automatically hides the navigation, but sometimes this happens with a delay. Gestures in games work more predictably, since the swipe zone is clearly limited by the edges.
Navigation problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the buttons are gone, no longer reacting or are not working correctly, most often due to the freeze system process SystemUI, which is responsible for rendering the interface, in which case a simple reboot of the smartphone helps.
Another common problem is conflict with installed themes: Third-party themes from GetThemes store may not display system elements correctly, making the buttons transparent or shifting them outside the visible area. If the buttons disappear after installing the theme, return the standard theme.
Also worth checking is the special settings. In the Additional settings → Special features section, there is a special feature feature feature. If it is enabled, a floating button may appear on the screen, which sometimes conflicts with the main navigation bar.
⚠️ Warning: If the buttons have disappeared after the firmware update, don’t rush to bring the phone to the service. Often it helps to clean the Settings app cache or reset the interface settings through the engineering menu (only for power users).
In rare cases, the problem is with the safety glass, so if the glass is curved or has thick edges, it can physically block the touch zone of the buttons, which prevents the pressing from registering. Try pressing just above or below the visual center of the button.
Hiding buttons in apps and games
One of the main functions of buttons is to automatically hide them when content is launched. MIUI hyperos
If the buttons remain on the screen while watching a video or playing a game, overlapping the image, you need to check the settings of the particular application. Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen mode for applications. Here is a list of all installed programs.
Find the right application (such as a game or video player) in the list and make sure that the switch in front of it is activated, which will force the system to hide the navigation bar when you start the selected software.
- 🎮 For games: Be sure to turn on full screen mode so that the buttons do not interfere with the view and do not cause random exits.
- 🎬 For video: Hiding buttons allows you to evaluate the picture in 16:9 or 21:9 format without black bars and interface elements.
- 📚 Read: In book apps, buttons can interfere with flipping, so hiding them improves the reading experience.
If the automatic concealment doesn't work, try to fold the application and deploy it again, and sometimes the system process doesn't have time to respond to a screen rotation or media content launch.
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Forced full-screen mode for specific applications in screen settings solves 90% of the problems with button overlapping.