Why gestures are better than buttons: benefits for owners of Redmi 9
Xiaomi Redmi Smartphones 9 steerable MIUI They offer two basic ways of navigation: classic virtual buttons and modern gesture control, the latter becoming the standard for flagship devices, but even in a budget model like the Redmi. 9 And it's amazingly good, and the gestures move away from the screen, and it increases the usable area of the display. 5-7% It makes the phone more intuitive.
The main difference between gesture navigation and buttons is the absence of delay when triggered (in the form of a button). MIUI It's all about it. 80-120 opportunistic 150-200 This is especially noticeable when switching between applications or returning to the home screen quickly, and gestures reduce wear on the display: there is no constant display of static buttons, which reduces the risk of burnout. OLED-Matrixes (relevant to Redmi) 9 Pro AMOLED-screen).
But it's not that clear, for example, users with large thumbs or those who are used to physical buttons may feel uncomfortable first. 2-3 Also, consider that some applications (especially banking or old games) may conflict with gesture navigation, requiring additional settings. MIUI 12/13/14 for Redmi 9, How to avoid typical mistakes.
Preparation of the smartphone: what to check before turning on gestures
Before you switch to gesture navigation, make sure your Xiaomi Redmi 9 is ready for the changes.
- ๐ฑ Version. MIUI: The gestures are fully working, starting with MIUI 10, but optimal stability is achieved in the MIUI 12+. You can check the version in Settings โ The phone. โ Version. MIUI.
- ๐ System Updates: Outdated firmware may contain gesture bugs (such as random returns to the home screen). โ Updating the system.
- ๐ ๏ธ Shell compatibility: If you use third-party launchers (Nova, Apex), some gestures may not work. MIUI Launcher.
- ๐ Battery charge: When you first turn on gestures, the system indexes new movements, which can require up to 15% charge.Plug the charger if the level is below 30%.
Pay special attention to the touch sensitivity of the screen. On Redmi 9 with factory protective films, sometimes you see false gestures around the edges of the display.
- Remove the old film and clean the screen with an alcohol napkin.
- Calibrate the sensor in Settings โ Additionally. โ Screen calibration (not available in all versions) MIUI).
- If the problem persists, reduce sensitivity in Settings โ Screen. โ Sensitivity of touch.
Step-by-step: how to turn on gestures on Redmi 9
Activating gesture navigation takes less than a minute, but requires precise steps. Here's a universal algorithm for all versions. MIUI on the Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T):
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Go to the Screen section (in some firmware it may be called the Display).
- Select Full-screen mode or Full-screen display (in) MIUI 14 - Navigation style).
- Slip on Gesture Navigation (or Gesture Control) and the system will offer you to choose from three modes:
| Sign mode | Description | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI gestures | Swipe from the bottom up for return to the main screen, swipe from the bottom up with pause for multitasking, swipe from the edge to go back. | For beginners and those who are used to standard Android navigation. |
| Android gestures | Swipe from the bottom up and hold for multitasking, swipe from the left/right edge to go back. | Users who migrated from other brands (Samsung, Google Pixel) |
| Full-screen gestures | It hides the bottom panel completely. Back up, swipe from any edge, the main screen is swipe from the bottom up. | Experienced users who want the maximum screen area. |
Once you select the mode, the system will offer short training. MIUI There are some nuances that are not in standard Android, for example, in the mode of full-screen gestures to call the notification panel you need to swipe from top to bottom twice (the first swipe opens the quick settings panel, the second โ notifications).
Verified version. MIUI|Updated firmware|Third-party launchers removed|Battery charge >30%|Screen cleared of contamination-->
Hidden gesture settings: how to make navigation perfect
Basic gesture settings in MIUI They don't reveal the full potential of the function. There are a few hidden parameters that will make the control more smooth and adaptable to your habits:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings โ About the phone and 7 times tap on the version MIUI. You will receive a notification that you have become a developer".
- Go back to the main Settings menu and open a new section for developers.
- Scroll down to the Input block and find options related to gestures.
Here are the key parameters that should be set up:
- ๐ Gesture sensitivity: Regulates how sharp a swipe must be to trigger. -- For Redmi 9 optimality โ 70-80% (default 100%, What can cause false positives).
- โฑ๏ธ Return Delay: Time it takes to trigger a back gesture when holding a swipe.Reducing to 100ms speeds up navigation but can interfere with gaming.
- ๐ฏ Operation Zone: In Full-screen gestures, you can narrow the swipe active area back (for example, only the extreme 5mm screen) to avoid conflicts with apps.
- ๐ Gesture Blocking: Allows you to disable gestures in certain applications (useful for games or banking programs). โ Annexes โ Special rights โ Navigation gestures.
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If the bottom buttons are gone after you turn on your gestures, but the swipes are not working, restart your phone. 10% of the time you need to restart. MIUI Launcher to apply changes.
The vibration response settings for gestures are particularly useful, and in Redmi 9, it's hidden deep in the menu:
- Open the Settings. โ Sound and vibration.
- Go to Vibration when you touch.
- Activate Vibration when navigating (some firmware calls tactile feedback for gestures).
This will add a light vibration to swipe, which will help you get used to new gestures and the number of errors, and the vibration intensity is regulated by a slider on the same menu.
Typical Problems and Solutions: Why Gestures Don't Work
Even after you set it up properly, gestures on Xiaomi Redmi 9 can be incorrect, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
โ ๏ธ Warning: If the screen starts twitching when scrolling after activating gestures, it is a sign of shell conflict. โ Themes and reboot the device.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Gestures work through time | Low Sensitivity or Contaminated Screen | Clean the screen, increase sensitivity in the settings for developers, calibrate the sensor |
| Swipe back works in games | Too wide a gesture area or conflict with the game engine | Narrow down the trigger zone in the developer settings or add the game to exceptions |
| Notification panel not opening | Full-screen gestures are enabled without training | Do a double swipe from top to bottom or learn again in screen settings |
| Gestures are laid after the update | The system cache is not cleaned or the update is installed on top of the old firmware | Clear the cache in Settings โ Warehouse โ Clear the cache or reset settings (without data loss) |
The problem of random returns to the home screen when swiping up deserves special attention, which is often due to:
- ๐ Incorrect swipe angle (should be strictly vertical, deviation more than 15)ยฐ It's a "backward gesture").
- ๐ฑ Defects of protective glass (especially with rounded edges).
- ๐ค Conflict with automation applications (e.g. MacroDroid or Tasker).
If the problem persists, try resetting your gesture settings to factory:
- Go to Settings. โ Screen. โ Full screen mode.
- Choose a different gesture mode (for example, change gestures) MIUI Android Gestures).
- Return to the original mode - the system will offer to undergo training again.
What to do if the gestures stop working?
Gesture and button comparison: whatโs best for Redmi 9
To make a final decision on whether to switch to gesture navigation, compare both methods on the key criteria for the Xiaomi Redmi 9:
| Criteria | Gestures | Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of navigation | โก Hurry up. 30-40% (no delay in pressing) | ๐ข Slower due to visual feedback |
| Useful screen area | ๐ฑ +7% due to the lack of a button panel | ๐ฑ Standard area (buttons occupying) ~50 pixels) |
| Comfort in games | โ Possible conflicts with swipes in games | โ Stable (buttons do not interfere with gameplay) |
| Battery | ๐ Savings up to 5% due to the lack of button highlighting | ๐ Expenditure higher on 2-3% owing to the constant lighting |
| Getting used to | ๐ง 2-3 day-to-day | ๐ง Instant intuitiveness |
For Redmi. 9 his 6.53-inch-screen 2340ร1080 gestures offer a significant advantage in multimedia: video and web pages occupy the entire height of the display without black bars:
- ๐ต Users over 50 years old who are used to physical buttons.
- ๐ฎ Gamers playing in PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty or Genshin Impact (Gesturals may conflict with management).
- ๐ฆ Those who often use banking apps with screenshot protection (some block gestures).
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For most Redmi 9 users, gestures become more convenient than buttons after a week of use, the main thing is to adjust the sensitivity and trigger zones correctly.
If you are still in doubt, try the hybrid mode:
- Include gestures in Settings โ Screen. โ Full screen mode.
- Activate the display of the navigation bar in Settings โ For developers โ Debugging โ Showing the navigation panel.
- Now you will have both gestures and visual cues in the form of a translucent panel.
Additional chips: gestures in applications and systems
In addition to basic navigation, MIUI It offers advanced gestures for specific tasks. You can configure them into Settings. โ Additionally. โ Gestures and movements (some firmware may have different paths:
- ๐ธ Camera gesture: Double-pressing the volume button triggers the camera even on a locked screen. works faster than a swipe icon.
- ๐ Flashlight gesture: Double pressing the power button turns the flashlight on/off. Useful in the dark.
- ๐ต Gesture for music: Double tap on the lock screen switches tracks (configured in Settings) โ Lock screen).
- ๐ Call gesture: Raising the phone to your ear automatically receives an incoming call (turns off in Settings) โ Calls. โ Gestures).
The Redmi 9 is particularly useful in the screenshot gesture, which is a three-toed top-down conduction, and it works even in games and apps where the standard button combinations are locked, to activate:
- Go to Settings. โ Additionally. โ Gestures and movements โ Screenshot.
- Turn on the Three-toed swipe option down.
- Try to take a screenshot on the main screen - a preview should appear.
Another hidden possibility is split-screen gestures, to quickly split the screen into two parts:
- Open the first appendix.
- Swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger (the multitasking menu will open).
- Drag the icon of the second application to the top of the screen.
- To change the size of the windows, pull the dividing line.
โ ๏ธ Attention: B MIUI 14 for Redmi 9, split screen gestures don't work in all apps.For example, Instagram and TikTok block this feature.