Navigation buttons on Xiaomi: where are they and how to set up

Have you just purchased a Xiaomi smartphone and can't find the usual Back, Home and Recent buttons? Or have your touch keys disappeared after the update? This problem is familiar to many brand users, especially those who have switched from other devices. Depending on the model and version of MIUI, the location of controls can be radically different, from classic physical buttons to fully gesture controls.

In this article, we will look at all the options: where to look for navigation buttons on different Xiaomi smartphones, how to turn them on/off, and what to do if they suddenly disappear. We will focus on the features of new models with MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, where the logic of control has changed. You will also learn how to return the usual three dots at the bottom of the screen if you are uncomfortable with gestures.

Navigation button types on Xiaomi: physical, touch and gesture

The manufacturer uses three basic approaches to the implementation of navigation and their availability depends on the model and year of release of the device:

• 🔘 Physical buttons -- found on older models (before 2017) are real-life haptic keys underneath the screen. 3S, Mi 5.
• 🖥️ Touch buttons are virtual keys embedded in the bottom of the screen, and are relevant for most devices in 2017-2020 (Redmi Note 7, Mi 9).
• 👆 Gesture management - a modern standard (c) MIUI 10 and later) Instead of buttons, swipes are used around the edges of the screen. Examples: Xiaomi 12, Redmi Note 11.

It's important to understand that there may be a combination of these types on one device. For example, the POCO X3 Pro has touch buttons on by default, but you can switch to gestures in the settings. On the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, there are no physical keys in principle, just gestures or a software bar.

How do you determine what type of navigation is used on your smartphone?

• 🔍 Look at the bottom of the screen: if you see three dots/icons, these are touch buttons.
• 📱 Swipe your finger from the left or right edge of the screen to the center: if the previous app or home screen opened, gestures are enabled.
• 🔘 Click on the area below the screen: if you feel a click, these are physical buttons (relevant for very old models).

Where are the navigation buttons on different Xiaomi models

The location and appearance of the buttons depends on the series of devices and the firmware version. Below are the current information for popular lines:

On HyperOS models (2026 and later), the logic of gestures has changed: now the swipe from the bottom down the center opens the notification bar, rather than the main screen, which often confuses users who are used to MIUI 12/13.

If you are not sure about your device model, check it in Settings → About Phone → Model. Or use the combination ##4636## in the dialer, and a menu with technical information will open.

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On smartphones with AMOLED-In the case of the Xiaomi 13 Pro, touch buttons can be hidden in a dark theme, which is almost invisible. To regain visibility, turn on the option of "Backlight navigation buttons" in the display settings.

How to turn on or off navigation buttons

If the buttons are missing after the update or you want to change the type of control, follow this instruction:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Display section (on some firmware - Screen).
3. Choose Full Screen Mode or Navigation Style (name depends on MIUI version).
4. You will have options available: 🔄 Navigation buttons – the classic three dots at the bottom. 👆 Gesture control – swipes instead of buttons. 🔘 Full-screen gestures – an extended version with additional functions (on HyperOS).

Some devices (like the Redmi Note 12) have an option to Show Navigation Bar, a thin white line at the bottom of the screen that helps you navigate when you’re gesture-controlled.

Open Settings → Display.|Select "Full screen mode"|Test each control option|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

⚠️ Note: HyperOS devices may need to restart after changing navigation type. If the buttons don't appear immediately, restart.

What to do if the navigation buttons are gone

The situation when the buttons suddenly disappear is most often associated with:

• 🔄 Failure after update MIUI/HyperOS.
• 📱 Activation of the “No-Frames” mode in games or applications.
• 🛠️ Incorrect settings for developers.
• 🦠 Virus or shell conflict (for example, after installing a custom launcher).

Here is the algorithm for recovery:

1. Check the display settings: Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode. Make sure you select Navigation Buttons (not Gestures).

Reset the launcher settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear data

This will bring back the standard look of the desktop and button.

Turn off immersive display mode:

Settings → Special features → Mode without frames → Disable

Check the applications with overlay rights:

Some programs (such as Game Turbo or Second Space) can block the navigation bar. Go to Settings → Apps → Rights → Other Rights → Display on top of other windows and disable suspicious applications.

Set up gesture control on Xiaomi

If you decide to switch to gestures, it is important to set them up correctly to avoid accidental activation. MIUI 14/HyperOS has the following options:

• 🔙 Swipe from the edge – swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to the center to return back.
• 🏠 Swipe from bottom up – short motion opens the main screen, long – panel of recent applications.
• 🔄 Smart gestures – for example, swiping down the center of the bottom bar opens the notification bar (on HyperOS).
• 🎮 Gaming gestures – special combinations for controlling games without buttons.

To adjust the sensitivity and behavior of gestures:

1. Open Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Guest settings.
2. Turn on the Vibration option when pressed if you want a tactile response.
3. Adjust the sensitivity of edges – this will help to avoid random swipes in games or browser.
4. Activate Showing hints if you are just beginning to master gestures.

HyperOS has introduced Adaptive Gestures, which is a system that adjusts sensitivity to your habits, but it doesn’t work on all models (check Settings → Display → More).

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Gesture controls save screen space and reduce wear (no static buttons), but it's addictive. If you're uncomfortable, you can always return the classic buttons.

Additional functions of navigation buttons

Few people know, but the navigation buttons on Xiaomi can be programmed to take additional actions.

• 🔄 Double-click on Home – Quickly opens the camera or voice assistant.
• 🔍 Long-Tap on "Recent" - Includes split screen mode.
• 🔇 Swipe on the back button – switches between the last two applications (on some firmware).

To customize these functions:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures (or Settings → System → Gestures on new versions).
2. Select the desired button (for example, "Home").
3. Assign an action from the list: Launch the application, enable a feature, or shortcut.

Nana POCO-The game has a unique Game Turbo feature that allows you to block navigation buttons during the game to avoid accidental clicks).

⚠️ Note: Setting up additional button actions may conflict with some applications (e.g. banking) If the application stops working correctly after changing the settings, reset the button settings to the standard ones.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set it up properly, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!).

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After resetting, the navigation buttons will return to the standard settings for your model.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions