Have you turned on a Xiaomi smartphone and found that the bottom buttons ("Back", "Home", "Recent") disappeared from the screen? Or accidentally activated gesture control and do not know how to return the usual navigation bar? This problem occurs in owners of devices based on MIUI - from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 13/14. The reasons can be different: software failure, system update, accidental change of settings or even hardware malfunction.
In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to bring buttons to Xiaomi’s screen, from basic MIUI settings to hidden features for power users.
- 🔄 Return the standard navigation bar through the settings menu
- 📱 Activate buttons if hidden but not deleted
- 🛠️ Restore the sensor if the buttons do not respond
- 🔧 Use it. ADB bar-in
- ⚙️ Reset the settings if other methods have not helped
Important: the instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions).If your Xiaomi runs on pure Android (such as POCO F1 or Mi A3), some points may differ - we will mention this too.
1. Check the current navigation mode
Before you try to "return" buttons, make sure they are really hidden, rather than replaced with gesture controls. MIUI has three main types of navigation:
- 📱 Navigation buttons – a classic panel with three keys at the bottom of the screen.
- 👆 Gestures MIUI — Swipes from the bottom edge instead of buttons.
- 🔄 Android Gestures – An Alternative Signature System (as in Pure Android).
To check the current regime:
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Select Full-screen Display (in some versions – Navigation Panel).
- See which option you've chosen. If you have Gesture, just switch to Navigation Buttons.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or X-ray) POCO F5) post-update MIUI The 14th menu item may be called Navigation Style. If you don't find the section, search in the settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top).
Check the current navigation mode
Make sure the screen is not locked.
Connect the charger (if the battery is below 20%)
Make a backup copy of important data-->
2. How to turn on buttons if they are hidden but not deleted
Sometimes the navigation bar doesn't disappear completely, but it just becomes transparent or disappears when you scrolle. MIUI, plug-in:
Method 1: Disabling auto-disclosure
- Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
- Select additional settings (or extended settings).
- Find the option to Hide the navigation bar and turn it off.
Method 2: Forced display through the developer
If standard settings don’t help, activate the developer mode:
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find Forced to show the navigation bar and turn it on.
If the buttons never appear after these actions, the problem may be the system launcher crash: Try changing the launcher (for example, install Nova Launcher from Google Play) or restart the device.
3. button recovery via ADB (for power users)
If MIUI settings don’t respond to changes, you can force the navigation bar to be enabled via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works even on locked bootloaders, but requires a computer.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
- 🔌 USB-cable (original or quality)
- 📥 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools
Instructions:
- Enable USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps) Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging on USB
- Connect Xiaomi to your computer and confirm debugging access.
- Open the command line (or Terminal) in the adb folder and type: adb shell settings put global. force_fsg_nav_bar 1
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can cause the system to malfunction if you're incorrectly typed. Don't use this method unless you're sure you're doing it:
adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 0What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
4.Resetting launcher and system settings
If the buttons are missing after updating MIUI or installing a third-party launcher, resetting the settings will help:
Resetting the launcher (without data loss):
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the MIUI Launcher (or POCO Launcher if you have POCO).
- Select Warehouse → Clear data and Clear cache.
- Reset the device.
Hard reset (if other methods do not help):
This way, you can get all the settings back to factory, but you can delete the user data. Use it only as a last resort!
- Turn off your smartphone.
- Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
- Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
⚠️ Warning: After a hard reset, you will need to reconfigure the device, including the Mi Account account. If you forget your account password, do not reset - this can block the phone!
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Remove before resetting SIM-card and memory card to avoid accidental formatting.
5. Checking hardware faults
If the buttons don't appear even after reset, the problem may be in the touch module or the display plume, which is true for devices that have fallen, wet or repaired.
How to diagnose a hardware malfunction:
- 🔍 Check if the screen responds to touches at the bottom (where buttons should be).
- 📱 Connect your smartphone to your computer and use your mouse through USB-OTG — If the cursor is moving but the buttons are not working, the sensor is a problem.
- 🔧 See if the display plume is moving away (relevant after the falls.
Typical symptoms of hardware problems:
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The buttons don’t respond, but the screen is working. | The sensory layer in the lower part is damaged. | Replacement of sensor or display module |
| The buttons appear, but with a delay | Oxidation of the plume contacts | Cleaning or plume replacement |
| Buttons flicker or disappear when tilted | Poor contact of the display with the board | Reconnecting the plume in the service center |
| The buttons only work after rebooting. | Sensor controller failure | Firmware or replacement of motherboard |
If you suspect a hardware malfunction, don’t try to repair the device yourself – contact Xiaomi Service Center. Self-disassembly can lead to loss of warranty or aggravate the problem.
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If the buttons are missing after falling or getting moisture, there's a 90% chance of hardware failure, and then software won't help.
6. Alternative control methods without buttons
While you are looking for a solution, alternative navigation methods can be used temporarily:
Method 1: Gesture control
If the buttons don’t work but gestures are enabled, learn the basic commands:
- 🔙 Back - swipe from right to left from the edge of the screen.
- 🏠 Home - swipe up from the bottom edge.
- 📄 Recent - Swipe up and hold (or swipe right up).
Method 2: Virtual buttons through applications
Install utilities to create a virtual panel:
- 📱 Navigation Bar (requires root or ADB)
- 🎯 Floating Touch (floating panel with buttons)
- 🖱️ EasyTouch (Additional Control Menu)
Method 3: Voice assistant
Activate Google Assistant or Xiao AI (in Chinese firmware) for voice control:
- Hold the Home button (or say “OK, Google”).
- Say commands like “Go back” or “Open the menu.”