Gesture Management on Xiaomi: How to enable, configure and optimize

Handling gestures on Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI has become the standard for most modern models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14. However, not all users know how to properly activate this feature, customize it to their needs or return the classic navigation buttons if gestures seem uncomfortable. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances from basic settings to solving typical problems, such as random positives or conflicts with applications.

Gesture control doesn’t just save screen space — it speeds up interactions with your device by 20-30% compared to traditional buttons (Xiaomi internal tests data), but to unlock this potential, you need to fine-tune the sensitivity, learn the combinations and adapt them to your habits. We’ll detail how to do this on different versions of MIUI, including MIUI 14 and HyperOS, and give you tips on optimization for games and multitasking.

Why to switch to gestures: advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of gesture control is the increase in the usable area of the screen, disappears the bottom panel with buttons, which is especially noticeable on smartphones with small displays (for example, the Redmi Note 12 with a diagonal of 6.43 inches).

• ⚡ Swipe between applications faster (swipe on the bottom edge instead of clicking on the “Recent” button").
• 🔄 It’s easier to control one hand – like swiping back from the edge of the screen.
• 🎮 Improve the gaming experience: many games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile: Conflicts with virtual buttons.
• 🔋 Save battery power: turning off the backlight of navigation buttons reduces power consumption on the 2-5% (test-test XDA Developers).

However, gestures have disadvantages:

• 🤷‍♂️ Getting used to: first 2-3 Users often perform random actions (for example, return to the menu instead of scrolling the page).
• 🚫 Incompatible with some apps where swipes are used for other features (e.g. TikTok or Instagram Reels).
• ⚠️ Recognition errors on curved screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) or when using high-sided cases.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) Prolonged use of gestures can cause the bottom of the display to burn-in due to static interface elements. To avoid this, change the design theme to Settings periodically. → Screen. → Topics.

What Xiaomi models support gesture control

The gesture control feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 9 and later.

To find out the MIUI version on your device, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If your firmware is outdated (below MIUI 11), update it through Settings → System Update.

Step-by-step instructions: how to turn on gesture control

Activation of gesture control takes less than a minute.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the Screen section (on some models – Additional settings → Full-screen mode).
3. Select Full-screen gestures (or System Navigation in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Click on MIUI Gestures (recommended option) or Android Gestures (if you prefer the standard implementation from Google).
5. Confirm the choice and wait for the application of settings (the device can slow down for a short time).

Once activated, a thin white bar will appear at the bottom of the screen, which is an indicator of the sign area, and it will disappear after 5-10 seconds of inactivity.

If the item Full-screen gestures are absent, it means:

• 📱 Your model does not support the function (see table above).
• 🔄 Firmware update required (check in Settings) → Updating the system).
• 🔧 Developer mode with forced-disable gestures is activated (check in Settings) → Extended. → For developers).

Sensitivity adjustment and gesture customization

By default, gestures in MIUI are set to "medium" sensitivity, which is not always convenient. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with a curved screen, a false touch can be triggered when holding the device behind the side edges.

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen gestures → Additional settings.
2. In Sensitivity, select: Low for neat swipes (recommended for games); Medium for balance between convenience and accuracy; High for quick switching (risk of random positives).

Activate the option to Ignore random touches if you notice false swipes while holding your phone.

Also available in MIUI 14+ is advanced settings:

• 🔄 Return gesture: you can choose a swipe from the left or right edge (convenient for left-handed people).
• 📱 Show navigation bar: Turn it off if it interferes.
• 🎯 Operation zone: adjust the width of the swipe area (5% to 20% of the screen edge).

💡

If you drop your phone frequently because of random gestures, turn on the gesture lock feature when held in additional settings. It ignores swipes if your finger is on the screen longer than 0.5 seconds.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after setting it up correctly, users are faced with common errors, and here's how to fix them:

1.Gesturals do not work or work with a delay

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Low battery (less than 15%): connect charging – the system limits background processes.
• 📱 Overheating of the device: let the phone cool down (especially relevant for the phone) POCO F4 GT playful).
• 🛠️ System failure: Restart the device or reset gesture settings to standard (Settings) → Screen. → Full-screen gestures → Drop it).
• 🧩 Cover conflict: Disable third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher) and check work.

2. Random swipes in games or applications

Decisions:

• 🎮 Enable game mode (Settings) → Special facilities → Turbo mode. It blocks gestures at the edges of the screen.
• 🔧 Reduce the gesture activation area in additional settings.
• 📱 Use immersive display mode for applications (Settings) → Annexes → Full screen mode).

3.The swipe to return does not work

Check it out.

• ⚙️ Is a return gesture included in the Settings → Screen. → Full-screen gestures → The gesture "Back".
• 🔄 Does it conflict with the app’s gestures (for example, in YouTube, a swipe from the edge opens the side menu).
• 📲 Update the firmware: in MIUI 12.5+ Fixed bugs with swipe recognition on curved screens.

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader (for example, after installing custom firmware), gestures may not work properly due to a modified kernel.

Comparison of MIUI gestures and standard Android gestures

Xiaomi offers two options for gesture control: branded MIUI gestures and standard Android gestures (available with Android 10).

MIUI gestures are better suited for multitasking and gaming, whereas standard Android gestures are more versatile for users accustomed to “pure” Android (for example, on Pixel or Samsung with One UI).

💡

If you use split screens frequently, select MIUI gestures – they allow you to switch faster between swipe-up app windows with retention.

Additional chips: hidden gestures and automation

In addition to basic features, MIUI offers hidden features for advanced users:

1. Double tap to wake up: Activates in Settings → Screen → Double tap to wake up. Allows you to turn on the screen with double tap even if your gestures are turned off.
2. Screenshot gesture: Three-finger swipe down (includes in Settings → Advanced → Screenshot) works even in games.
3. Automatically rotate the screen by gesture: In Settings → Screen → Auto Rotate, turn on the option of rotation gestures. Now, to change the orientation, you need to swipe with two fingers on the edge of the screen.
4. One-hand gestures: On larger smartphones (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), activate Settings → Special Features → One-hand mode. This will reduce the screen workspace for easy control.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gesture management on Xiaomi