Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an unexpected notification on the screen that says: “Navigation buttons are turned off.” This system inscription appears suddenly while using apps or games, overlapping content and causing irritation. The message indicates a conflict between the chosen navigation method and the current system settings or third-party applications. The notification is informative and does not indicate a device breakdown, but its constant appearance interferes with the comfortable operation of the gadget.
In the modern shells MIUI and the new HyperOS, the company is actively promoting gesture management, abandoning the classic screen buttons. If you previously used buttons, but the system has updated the settings or a software failure, the interface can forcefully switch to gestures, as indicated by the pop-up. Understanding the mechanism of the system navigation will help quickly fix the problem.
Sometimes it's not the firmware itself, but the actions of a user who may have accidentally changed the settings in the special features menu. There are specific use cases, such as running games in full screen mode, where the system tries to optimize screen space. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to return the usual interface or permanently disable interfering notifications.
It is worth noting that ignoring this signal is not recommended, as it may indicate that some applications are not showing correctly on your screen.UI conflict can lead to accidental taps or the inability to return to the main menu at a critical moment.
Reasons for notification of buttons disabling
The main reason for the message “navigation buttons turned off” is the forced switch of the system to gesture control. Xiaomi developers consider this method more modern and ergonomic, because it frees the useful area of the display from static elements. When the system detects that gesture mode is activated, it automatically blocks the virtual buttons “Home”, “Back” and “Menu”, which informs the user.
Another common reason is to run in full-screen mode for specific applications. In system settings, there is a list of programs that run with hidden status bar and navigation for maximum immersion. If you accidentally add a system application or a popular messenger to it, a corresponding warning will appear when it starts. The system bug can also become the culprit, especially after a firmware update, when old configuration files conflict with the new interface rules.
⚠️ Note: If the message appears constantly and does not disappear after the reboot, this may indicate damage to the system partition responsible for the interface, which requires a deeper diagnosis.
It's also worth considering the impact of third-party launchers, and if you've installed an alternative shell, it may not interact properly with the MIUI navigation system settings, so that the conflict of software components causes a notification to appear cyclically, and understanding the source of the problem is the first step to solving it successfully.
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The message appears when the gesture mode is activated, but the system or application tries to use the buttons, or vice versa.
Enabling and configuring gesture management
If your goal is to get rid of the buttons and switch to modern swipe management, you need to set this mode correctly. Go to the Settings menu, then select Additional Settings (in some versions Advanced Settings). Next, look for Full-screen display or Navigation. This is where the switch between buttons and gestures is located.
When you activate gesture mode, the system will offer a training demonstration. Gesture control works like this: a swipe from the bottom up returns to the desktop, a latency swipe opens multitasking, and swipes from the edges of the screen act as a back button. Once you confirm the selection, the words "Navigation buttons are off" will cease to be an error and become a regular state of the system.
☑️ Set up full-screen mode
It is important to adjust the sensitivity of the edges correctly if you use a protective glass. In the same menu, the option “Enlarged edge area” is often available, which extends the swipe zone back. This is especially true for owners of smartphones with curved screens of the Xiaomi Mi or Redmi Note series. Proper calibration will eliminate accidental positives and make using the interface pleasant.
- 📱 Swipe from the bottom edge up - access to the desktop.
- ⬅️ Swipe from left or right edge – action “Back».
- 📑 Swipe from bottom up with a pause - the menu of open applications.
Once this mode is enabled, the classic buttons will disappear from the screen, giving way to a thin bar at the bottom of the display. If you are used to buttons, this transition can take a couple of days to adapt, but many users notice an increase in speed after getting used to swipe navigation.
How to Restore Classic Navigation Buttons
For those who are not willing to give up the usual interface, there is an option to return buttons. To stop disturbing the navigation buttons and the buttons appear, you need to do the reverse. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Full-screen display. Find an icon depicting three buttons (usually a triangle, a circle and a square), and activate it.
The system will warn that the use of buttons may take up space on the screen, but will confirm the switch. After that, virtual buttons will appear at the bottom of the display. It is important to note that in new versions of HyperOS, the location of this menu may have changed. If you do not find it along the specified path, search by settings by typing in the query "Navigation" or "Buttons".
Hidden button settings
After switching, make sure you choose the right button style. The navigation settings menu often includes the button settings option, where you can choose the look of the buttons: classic Android, MIUI style or minimalist icons, which allows you to personalize the device interface to your preferences.
- 🔙 Back button – return to the previous menu.
- 🏠 Home button – return to the main screen.
- ☰ The button “Menu” – management of running applications.
If the buttons don't appear after the switch, try restarting the device. Sometimes the system process that renders the interface (SystemUI) requires restarting to apply new configuration parameters.
Set up full screen mode for applications
Often, the navigation problem occurs in specific applications that are not optimized for screens with cutouts or dynamic islets. In the Settings menu, find Full-screen Mode (may be in the Screen or Display section), and here is a list of all installed applications.
For each application, you can individually choose how it will be displayed: using gestures, with buttons or in standard mode. If a particular application, such as a game or an old banking client, is set to “Hide the Notice” or “Full Screen”, this can cause conflicts. Change the setting to “Default” or “No Changes” to eliminate the labeling about disabling the buttons.
⚠️ Note: It is not recommended to force the full screen on for applications that do not support it, as controls may be cropped or overlapped with system indicators.
You can also adjust the behavior of the notch indicator in this section, and for devices with hole cameras or bangs, choosing the right screen area parameter is critical, and it affects how the system allocates space for navigation elements.
Check Game Mode or Game Turbo settings. This section often has its own navigation settings that override system settings. If you only see a message while playing, look for the solution in the game accelerator settings.
Reset navigation settings and resolve conflicts
If mode switching doesn't help and the label keeps appearing, there may be a software debris or a setting conflict in the system. The first step is to delete the temporary files of system applications. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find Settings in the list (cog icon).
Inside the app menu, click Clear and select Clear Everything (or Reset) and don't worry, it won't delete your personal data, photos or contacts. It will only return the system settings to factory values, including screen, sound and, of course, navigation, and then the phone can reboot, and you'll need to re-select the language and control method.
Settings → Applications → All Apps → Settings → Clean → Clean EverythingAnother effective method is to run in Safe Mode, which will determine if a third-party app is to blame. To enter Safe Mode on most Xiaomi models, you need to press the off button, and then press the “Switch off” icon on the screen for a long time. If the label is missing in Safe Mode, delete the recently installed programs.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The sign is always hanging. | System UI Failure | Resetting the settings of the Settings app |
| Buttons don't respond. | Sensor getting stuck | Rebooting the device |
| Inscription in games | Game Turbo settings | Checking the game mode |
| Random taps | High sensitivity | Setting up the edge of the screen |
In extreme cases, if the software methods do not help, you may need a complete reset to factory settings. Remember that a full reset will remove all data from the phone, so be sure to back up important files before starting the procedure.