The Xiaomi Mi A1, part of the Android One program, has long been one of the most popular mid-range devices due to its clean interface and high-quality build. However, even such time-tested models sometimes have questions about basic interface configuration, in particular, the management of navigation button backlighting. Many users face a situation where the usual touch buttons “Home”, “Back” and “Menu” cease to glow or their behavior seems illogical after the system update.
It’s important to understand that managing these elements is directly related to the Android operating system version and the specific security patches installed on the device. In earlier versions, the firmware settings may have been more explicit, whereas in newer updates, Google often changes the interface logic, removing unnecessary options or automating processes. If you’re looking for a way to make the buttons glow constantly or, conversely, you want to turn them off to save battery power, you’ll need to understand the current capabilities of your version of the OS.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available management methods. LED-We'll look at standard system settings, hidden engineering menus, and possible driver problems that might prevent indicators from working correctly. AMOLED or IPS matrices, as in the case of Mi A1, Constant button lighting can significantly affect the overall power consumption of the device in standby mode. Let's move from theory to practice and set your smartphone correctly.
Standard navigation settings in Android One
The first place to look for answers is the regular operating system settings menu. Since the Xiaomi Mi A1 runs on pure Android, the interface here is different from the MIUI shells that many Xiaomi smartphone owners are used to. The management logic here is built on minimalism, so some functions can be hidden or automated. To access the basic parameters, you need to go to Settings → System → Language and input.
This is where the basic switches that control the look and feel of the bottom panel are hidden, and you can choose the type of navigation you want: classic three buttons or gesture control, which is becoming standard in modern versions of Android. If you choose button mode, the system will offer additional options, such as ordering (back button on the left or right) and, in some versions of the firmware, a timeout of backlighting.
It’s worth noting that in recent security updates, Google often removes the option of forced on-lighting, leaving only the “press” or “automatic” mode, which is done to save energy and extend the screen life. If your menu does not include “Lighting Duration”, then your firmware version does not support manual adjustment of this setting through the standard interface.
- 🔹 Go to the Settings menu and select System.
- 🔹 Find the Language and Entering section (or Language and Keyboard»).
- 🔹 Click on Virtual Keyboard or Navigation Management».
- 🔹 Check for a button light or a navigation screen timeout switch».
⚠️ Note: If after the Android update, the backlight settings point disappeared, this is not a device error, but a limitation introduced by the system developers to save energy.
Also in this section, you can find the vibration settings when pressed, which is often confused with backlighting. Make sure you don't turn off the tactile response thinking you're setting up the glow. Visual and tactile recoil are different functions, although they're often nearby. For some users, the lack of vibration can be perceived as a button malfunction, so check this setting as well.
Using the Engineering Menu for Diagnostics
If standard settings don't work or menu items aren't available, more advanced diagnostic methods can be used. Android's Engineering Menu provides access to hardware tests, including checking. LED-To enter this mode on Xiaomi Mi A1 It uses a special code typed in the Phone app, and it's a safe way to check if the button lighting module is physically functional.
To open the test menu, dial ##6484##. Once the last digit is entered, the CIT (Customer Integration Test) interface will open. Here is a list of all the components of the smartphone. You need to find the item associated with LED, Keylight or Backlight. The names may vary depending on the version of the test software, so check the list carefully.
Inside the test, you can force the buttons to be illuminated at full brightness, which will help you understand if the hardware is working, if the buttons are lit up in the test, but the system is not, it's a software problem, and even if the glow test doesn't, you may need to repair or replace the plume, and be careful when you change any other parameters on this menu, because incorrect settings can cause the device to unstall.
There's no "turn on forever" feature, only a test mode, but this step is critical to avoid hardware breakdown, and many users mistakenly carry the phone for repair, although the problem is solved by resetting or flashing, but first you need to make sure the integrity of the hardware.
Hidden settings through ADB-team
For advanced users who aren’t afraid to work with the command line, there is the option of changing hidden system settings through the Android debugging bridge (ADB).This method allows you to activate features that are hidden by developers in the normal interface. For the Xiaomi Mi A1, it is often the only way to return constant button highlighting if it was removed in the update.
First, you need to turn on Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then a new Developers option will appear in the menu. Inside it, activate the USB Debugging switch. Now connect your smartphone to a computer with the ADB Drivers package installed.
With the command line, you can change global system variables. For example, a command to change the backlight behavior may look like changing the value in the secure settings database. However, specific commands depend on the version of Android (8.0, 9.0 or 10.0) installed on your device. Below is an example of a command that can help reset navigation settings to factory ones, which sometimes returns missing features.
adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "back,home,recent"You can also try resetting the system interface, which often solves the problem of backlighting "glitches": this will not delete your personal data, but will return the location of the widgets and some design settings to the original state. Use this command with caution and make sure that the device is securely connected.
adb shell pm clear com.android.systemui⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Introducing incorrect parameters can lead to a cyclic reboot of the interface (bootloop), although user data is usually stored.
If you're not sure what you're doing, you should refrain from using this method. System setting errors through ADB are harder to fix than errors in the regular menu. For most users, the standard methods described above will suffice, but for enthusiasts, it's a powerful customization tool.
Impact of energy saving mode on illumination
One of the most common reasons for button highlighting to disappear is activated power saving mode. Android aggressively optimizes energy consumption, and one of the first steps when turning on the economical mode is to turn off or reduce the operating time. LED-The interface indicators. A1 This is especially noticeable, since the battery of the device over time could lose some of its capacity.
When the battery goes below 15 percent or 20 percent, the system automatically goes into savings mode, at which point the buttons can stop lighting up completely or go out instantly after touching, this is a routine behavior of the system designed to extend the life of the smartphone in a critical situation. Check the status of the battery at the top of the screen.
To return the lighting, you need to turn off the power saving mode or connect the device to the charger. You can also add exceptions for system processes, although on pure Android, the options for controlling background processes are limited compared to MIUI. In the battery settings, find the "Saving Charge" option and make sure that it is turned off if you care about the visual component of the interface.
- 🔋 Check the battery level – Savings mode is often turned on automatically.
- 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and turn off the energy saving mode.
- 🔋 Note adaptive brightness, which can affect the visibility of buttons in dim light.
- 🔋 Make sure that the Security app (if set) does not have strict limits.
And then there's the adaptive brightness feature, which can affect the brightness of the buttons depending on the lighting. The light sensor next to the front camera regulates the intensity of the glow. If the sensor is contaminated or closed with a protective glass, the buttons may appear to be out, when in fact they just shine very dimly.
💡
Wipe the top of the screen with an alcohol napkin. A dirty light sensor is a common reason that navigation buttons don't light up even during the day.
Update issues and version compatibility
Owners of the Xiaomi Mi A1 are well aware that each major Android update (such as switching from Oreo to Pie or Q) brings not only new features, but also changes to the interface. Google often revises the Material Design design guidelines, which leads to changes in the behavior of navigation elements. In some versions of the firmware, the permanent backlight feature has been eliminated completely.
If you notice that buttons behave differently after the update, it's probably a change in the logic of the system, not a bug. In newer versions of Android, the emphasis is shifting to swipe gestures, and support for classic backlit buttons becomes secondary, a global trend that has affected all manufacturers, including Xiaomi.
The table below shows how the backlight behavior changed depending on the version of Android on the Mi A1:
| Android version | Name of name | Behavior of illumination | Presence of settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1.2 | Nougat | Constant or timer | Full access |
| 8.0.0 | Oreo | By press (default) | Restricted access |
| 9.0.0 | Pie | Only by pressing. | Hiddenly. |
| 10.0 | Q | Depends on the launcher. | Absent. |
Users who are critically important to always have a constant light may have to stay on an older version of firmware or look for modified versions of system applications. However, consider the security risks of using outdated software. Each update closes vulnerabilities, so abandoning them for the sake of the beauty of the interface is a dubious decision.