Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 shell offers users flexible navigation options, including gesture control, which allows users to abandon traditional buttons on the screen, freeing up extra space and making smartphone use more intuitive. However, many device owners have difficulty trying to activate or adjust gestures — especially if they have previously used a classic three-button scheme.
In this article, we will not only discuss the basic process of turning gestures on in MIUI 12, but also consider hidden settings that will help fine-tune the behavior of the system to your needs. We will pay special attention to typical problems, for example, when gestures work incorrectly after updating or resetting. If you switch from an earlier version of the shell (for example, MIUI 11), you will need comparison tables with differences in control logic.
Before you start setting up, make sure that your device has exactly MIUI 12 (or newer). Check this in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI Version. If the version is outdated, we recommend updating through Settings → System Update – some gesture functions may be missing or malfunction in earlier builds.
Why should you use gestures instead of buttons?
The switch to gesture control is not just a fashion homage, but a practical solution to improve convenience.
- 📱 More space on the screen: the bottom panel with buttons disappears, which is especially noticeable on smartphones with a small diagonal or cutouts for the front camera.
- ⚡ Quick access to features: for example, swipe up and hold opens Google Assistant (or MIUI Assistant, depending on the settings).
- 🔄 Smooth transitions: animations in MIUI 12 optimized for gestures, which makes the interface visually more dynamic.
- 🛠️ Flexible customization: you can choose between “full-screen” gestures (like in iOS) or classic swipes from the bottom edge.
There are nuances, however: In some applications (especially games), gestures may conflict with internal controls, and users with physical button habits will take 2-3 days to adapt. If you are in doubt about whether to switch, try turning on gestures for a few hours — in MIUI 12 you can always go back to the buttons in two touches.
How to enable gesture control in MIUI 12: step-by-step instructions
Activating gestures takes less than a minute, but the path to settings may vary depending on the smartphone model and regional firmware.We'll look at the universal method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12:
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Go to the Display section.
- Select Full-screen Mode (on some devices it may be called Navigation buttons or Navigation Type).
- Slip on the option Full-screen gestures (or gestures) MIUI). The system will offer you to choose between two options: 🔹 Swipe up - classic version with a lower strip (analogue of the home button"). 🔹 Swipe from the edges – gestures from the left/right edge of the screen (similar to an iPhone).
Once selected, the system will show a short animation with a gesture demonstration. Press Ready.
Return to the main screen – the bottom bar with the buttons should disappear.
☑️ Preparation for gesture adjustment
If the screen starts to behave incorrectly after the gestures are turned on (for example, accidental returns to the menu or opening the notification panel), try calibrating the sensor.
- Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Set up gestures.
- Select Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to swipe through the marked areas).
The POCO F2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10T firmware features a unique “Gests in Games” option that automatically disables navigation swipes when running supported apps (such as PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty). To activate it, go to Settings → Apps → Gestures in Games and add the desired games to the list.
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If you use the Back gesture frequently in your browser (for example, to return to the previous page), disable the Browser Gestures option in the Google Chrome or MIUI Browser settings.
How to return the classic buttons if you don’t like the gestures?
If the gesture control experiment failed, you can go back to the buttons at any time.
- Open Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
- Select the Navigation Button option (or Three buttons, depending on the firmware).
- Confirm the change – the bottom bar with the “Back”, “Home” and “Recent” buttons will appear immediately.
Note that when you return to the buttons, some animations in MIUI 12 will appear differently (for example, opening multitasking will become less smooth), and you will not be able to use the gesture to call Google Assistant – it will have to be manually reconfigured through Settings → Apps → Assistant and voice input.
⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro with custom firmware) may lose the gesture option in the settings after returning to the buttons. → The phone. → Resetting settings → Resetting interface settings.
Compatibility of gestures with third-party launchers
Many Xiaomi users install alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher), but MIUI 12 gestures may conflict with their internal navigation mechanics.
- 📌 For Nova Launcher: In Launcher Settings (Settings) → Gestures and inputs) turn off the swipe gestures option upwards so they don't overlap system.
- 📌 For Microsoft Launcher: Go to Settings → Personalization → Gestures and deactivate swipe up for search.
- 📌 For Action Launcher: Turn off Quick Actions in Settings → Gestures.
If even then the gestures are not stable, try using the compatibility mode in MIUI:
- Activate the Developer Settings (as described above).
- Turn on the option to Disable full-screen gestures for third-party launchers.
Keep in mind that in this case, some of the gesture functionality will be limited (for example, the swipe to call the Assistant may stop working).
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Third-party launchers often intercept gestures before the system processes them. If you notice delays or twitches when swiping, check the launcher's settings first, not MIUI.