How to turn on swipe on Xiaomi: the complete guide to gestures

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which are powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of options for personalizing the interface. One key element of user-friendly interaction with the device is the navigation system, which allows you to control the screen without using physical or on-screen buttons. Many users are looking to switch to gesture control to free up useful display space and speed up access to basic functions of the Android operating system.

However, despite the apparent simplicity, activating and properly configuring swipes can be difficult, especially after major firmware updates or when switching from other brands. It is common to see standard finger movements stop responding or work incorrectly. In this article, we will discuss in detail the on-boarding algorithms, sensitivity adjustment subtleties and methods for correcting common malfunctions in your navigation system.

Types of navigation in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS

Before you start to change the system, you need to clearly understand what management options the developer offers. In current versions of Xiaomi firmware, there are two main modes of interaction with the interface: classic button mode and modern full-screen mode. The first option involves three virtual keys at the bottom of the screen that emulate the standard Android navigation buttons.

The second option, often referred to simply as "swipes," removes the bottom bar completely, allowing application content to occupy the entire available matrix area, in which the return, exit to the desktop and switch between running programs is carried out by specific finger movements along the edges of the display. HyperOS also retains this logic, but adds new animations and customization capabilities.

It is worth noting that the choice of navigation type affects not only the appearance, but also the logic of some applications, especially those that use on-screen joysticks or have their own interface elements at the bottom. Enabling swipes on Xiaomi automatically activates the hidden bar-indicator at the bottom of the screen, which serves as a visual guide for action. Understanding the differences between these modes will help you make an informed choice in favor of the most comfortable option.

Step-by-step activation of full-screen mode

The process of turning on gesture control takes only a few seconds and does not require root rights or a computer connection. All the necessary settings are in the standard menu of the device parameters. First, you need to unlock the smartphone and find the Settings application, which usually looks like a gear.

Then you go to the display and system navigation section, and the path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the logic remains the same, and you need to find the location associated with the main screen or system navigation, where the modes are switched.

When you select Full-screen mode, the interface will change instantly: the bottom buttons will disappear and a thin strip will appear in their place. If you accidentally chose the wrong option, do not worry - in the same menu you can return everything back.

Sensitivity and response area setting

Simply switching on swipes is not enough if the swipes are not correctly selected or the sensor sensitivity is not configured correctly. The gesture control menu often has an additional section to adjust the response settings. This is especially true for users who use protective glasses or films that reduce feelings.

touchscreen quality.

In advanced settings, you can find options related to preventing accidental taps, the system analyzes the area of contact of the finger and ignores too light or short touches that are not a full swipe, which helps to avoid chaotic switching of windows during active typing or playing.

⚠️ Warning: If you set your sensitivity too high, the phone may start to react to accidental touches of the edge of the screen while talking or watching a video, leading to an unintentional exit from the app.

For accurate calibration, it is recommended to perform several test movements in different areas of the screen. If the swipes are triggered after a time, try increasing the speed of the finger or changing the angle of the device, and it is also worth checking whether the "Work with gloves" mode is turned on, which can distort the sensor response to ordinary touches.

Table of comparison of navigation methods

To make your choice easier, we have created a comparison table that shows the key differences between button control and gestures, which will help you weigh the pros and cons before making changes to the system.

As you can see from the table, gestures win in ergonomics and usable area, but may require a period of adaptation. For owners of devices with large diagonals, such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, switching to swipes is often the only way to comfortably reach the top elements of the interface.

Solving problems with non-working gestures

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where swipes are turned on, but stop working correctly: the screen does not respond to movements or performs the wrong actions. The first thing to do is to eliminate a software failure that may have occurred after installing a new application or updating the system.

If the reboot didn’t work, it’s worth checking the special features settings. Some features, such as Eye Control or third-party launchers, can intercept control and block standard MIUI gestures. The problem can also be the damage to the touchscreen: if the sensor does not respond to anything in a certain area of the screen, the swipes will not work there.

Another common reason is a design conflict: If you installed a third-party theme that isn't fully optimized for your Android version, it can break system overlays. Try temporarily returning a standard theme and checking swipes. If the problem is gone, it was the visuals.

Useful combinations and hidden functions

Once you've mastered basic swipes, you can move on to more advanced features that make it much faster to use your smartphone. For example, HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI have the ability to call up the multitasking menu not only by swiping up with pause, but also by side movements on the bottom edge, which allows you to instantly switch between the latest apps.

Also worth paying attention to is the lock gestures: Double tapping to turn on the display or drawing a letter to quickly start the application — all this works in conjunction with the main navigation system, these settings are set up in the section Additional or Special features.

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Use a swipe with two fingers down your desktop to instantly roll up all open windows and show the desktop.This is a built-in feature that doesn't require you to install additional programs.

Remember that in horizontal orientation mode (whether watching videos or playing games), the logic of swipes can change, the side faces become up and down, which sometimes leads to confusion, and in settings you can turn off the navigation interface by fixing the buttons or swipe area in the original position.

Frequently asked questions

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Proper sensitivity setting and understanding of the logic of response zones is the key to comfortable use of a smartphone without physical buttons.