Gesture management on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: how to turn on and configure

Why are gestures better than navigation buttons?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphones running MIUI offer two main ways of navigation: classic virtual buttons ("Back", "Home", "Recent") and modern gesture control. The latter not only saves space on the screen, but also makes interaction with the device more smooth and intuitive. For example, swiping from the bottom up to return to the home screen takes less time than clicking on the home button, and side gestures make it easier to switch between applications.

However, not all users know that the Redmi Note 8 Pro has three types of gestures: standard MIUI gestures, full-screen gestures (similar to the iPhone), and even gestures from Android 10+ (depending on the firmware version). Each option has its own nuances, and the choice depends on the user's habits. In this article, we will discuss how to enable each type of gesture, customize them for yourself and solve possible problems, from accidental positives to conflicts with applications.

Before you get to the settings, make sure your smartphone is running the current version of MIUI. At the time of writing, the latest stable firmware for the Redmi Note 8 Pro is MIUI 14 (based on Android 12). If you have an older version, some options may not be available. You can update the software in the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update.

Types of gestures on the Redmi Note 8 Pro: which one to choose?

MIUI has three different gesture controls, and let's look at them so you can make an informed choice:

• 🔹 Gestures MIUI (Default: Swipe from bottom up returns to the home screen, swipe from bottom up with pause opens a list of recent apps, swipe from left or right back, suitable for those who are used to standard navigation but want to make room on the screen.
• 🔹 Full-screen gestures (similar to iPhone): swipe from bottom up to home, swipe from bottom up with pause - recent, swipe from left to right on the bottom edge - back. Makes maximum use of display space, but requires addiction.
• 🔹 Android gestures 10/11/12: available on new versions MIUI (Android 10 The swipe from the bottom edge diagonally back, the swipe from the bottom up home, the swipe from the bottom up with retention is recent. The most versatile option for those who often switch between devices of different brands.

It is important to consider that full-screen gestures may conflict with some applications (such as games or instant messengers) where swipes on the lower edge of the screen are used to control, in such cases it is recommended to either turn off gestures for specific applications or choose MIUI gestures as a more “sparing” option.

⚠️ Note: If you use full-screen gestures, some banking applications (such as SberBank or Tinkoff) can block swipes for security, in which case you will have to temporarily switch to classic buttons or add the application to exceptions (we will discuss this below).

Step-by-step: how to turn on gestures on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

The transition to gesture control takes no more than a minute.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select Full-screen Mode (on some versions of MIUI it may be called Navigation buttons or Gesture Management).
4. In the menu that opens, you will see three options: Buttons, MIUI Gestures and Full-screen gestures (or Android Gestures, depending on the firmware).
5. Choose the right type of gesture and confirm the choice. The system will offer short training, we recommend you to pass it to avoid mistakes.

If you notice that some swipes are unpredictably triggered after activating the gestures, check the sensitivity of the sensor.

1. Return to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Click on Additional gesture settings (or similar).
3. Adjust the slider Swipe Sensitivity – if gestures work too easily, reduce the value.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Close all background applications

Check the battery power (minimum 20%)

Make a backup copy of the settings (optional)-->

After you turn on gestures, you may need to reboot your device, especially if you have chosen full screen mode, which is because the system redraws the interface for a new type of navigation. If the gestures are not working correctly after the reboot, try resetting the gestures to the standard (reset settings option in the same menu).

Set up exceptions for applications

As mentioned earlier, some apps (especially games and banking) can conflict with gestures. For example, in PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, a bottom-up swipe is used to open a card, and the system can perceive it as a back command. To avoid this, add problematic apps to the exceptions:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Exceptions for gestures.
2. Click Add Apps and select the ones you want to disable gestures for.
3. Save the changes. Now, the selected apps will display classic navigation buttons.

If there is no gesture exception, it means that your version of MIUI does not support this feature. Alternatively, you can temporarily switch buttons before running a problem application.

1. Open Settings → Notification Panel and Status bar → Quick settings.
2. Find Full-screen mode in the list and drag it to the active area.
3. Now you can quickly switch between gestures and buttons without going into the settings.

⚠️ Note: In some firmware from third-party developers (for example, xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience), the exception menu may be called Per-app gesture settings or Force full-screen display. If you do not find an option, check the firmware version in Settings. → The phone.

Solving gesture problems

Even when properly set up, gestures may not work properly, and consider typical problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Gestures fail or are delayed: Check if you have a low-sensitivity protective film on the screen. Try removing it or replacing it with a thinner one. Turn off the power saving mode in Settings → Battery and performance – it can limit the sensor’s performance. Update the firmware to the latest version or reset gesture settings (see above).
• 🎮 Conflicts with games: Add the game to exceptions (instruction above). In the game settings, find the option "Gestural Lock" or "Immersive mode" and activate it. MIUI (Settings → Special facilities → Turbo-playing mode).
• 🔒 Gestures don't work after update MIUI: Reset your gesture settings to standard and reset. Clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Clear the cache of all applications. If the problem persists, reset to factory settings (pre-backup data!).

If none of these methods worked, it could be a hardware malfunction, such as damage to the display plume or touch layer, in which case you should contact Xiaomi Service Center. Before visiting, check the gestures in safe mode (press the power button → Safe Mode): if it has gestures working normally, the problem lies in one of the installed applications.

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If gestures are too easy, try reducing sensitivity in settings or enable the option “Protection against accidental touch” in the Special Features section.

Additional settings for experienced users

For those who want to customize gestures as much as possible, MIUI has hidden options available through developer mode or third-party utilities, such as:

• 🔧 Change the speed of gesture animation: Activate the developer mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times. Go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, find options: Window animation, transition animation, and animator duration — reducing values will speed up gesture response.

Set up gestures for landscape mode

By default, in horizontal orientation, gestures may work differently. To fix this, in Settings → Display → Full-screen mode, find the option of Screen Rotation and select Automatic or Fixed.

Use third-party applications for gestures

If the standard settings don’t work, try utilities like Fluid Navigation Gestures or Edge Gestures (root rights or ADB required) that allow you to create custom gestures like swiping from the corner to start the camera or double tapping to lock the screen.

Remember that using third-party utilities to customize gestures can lead to system instability or loss of warranty. Before installing them, back up your data and make sure the application is compatible with your version of MIUI.

Comparison of gestures on the Redmi Note 8 Pro and other Xiaomi smartphones

If you’ve used other Xiaomi devices before, you may have noticed differences in gesture implementation.

• 📱 On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and later available gestures Android 12 with dynamic animation, while on the Note 8 Pro they work simplified.
• 🎯 On flagships (Xiaomi) 12/13) There is an option Smart gestures, allowing you to control music or notifications swipes on the back panel – on the Note 8 There's no pro to this function.
• 🔄 Nana POCO F3 and POCO X3 Signs are set up through a separate menu POCO Launcher, which is not on Redmi.