All gestures on Xiaomi: management secrets you didn’t know

Managing Xiaomi smartphone with gestures has become the standard for users MIUI But even experienced owners of brand devices often miss half the features of this system, gestures save time, simplify navigation and even can replace hardware buttons — if you know how to set them up correctly.

In this article, we will analyze not only basic gestures (like swipe up to return to the home screen), but also hidden combinations that work only on certain Xiaomi models. AMOLED-screens and refresh rate 120+ Hz. You’ll learn how to disable unnecessary gestures, adjust sensitivity, and even create your own combinations with third-party apps – no root rights.

We will pay special attention to the problems faced by users after updating to the MIUI 14/15: Why do gestures start to go off with a delay, how to bring back the old control logic, and what to do if the screen doesn't respond to swipes. FAQ answering the most common questions, from “how to turn on gestures on a locked screen” to “can you reassign gestures for specific applications".

Basic gestures in MIUI: What can be done without settings

Even if you've never gone to the Gestures section of Xiaomi's settings, your smartphone already supports several standard combinations. MIUI 12 and newer, including budget models like the Redmi Note 12 and flagships of the Xiaomi 13 series.

Here's what's available out of the box:

• 📱 Return to the main screen: swipe up from the bottom edge (similar to the Home button").
• 🔙 Backward: Swipe from right to left from any edge of the screen (can be configured from left or right).
• 🗂️ Opening the menu of recent applications: swipe up with pause or long swipe up (depending on the version) MIUI).
• 🔍 Quick search: swipe down the main screen (does not work on all firmware).
• 📵 Turning the phone down with the screen (must be enabled in the settings).

These gestures also work on a locked screen, for example, swipe up unlocks the device, and swipe left/right switches notifications, POCO F5) Sensitivity of gestures on the block is reduced to avoid accidental positives.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) the default back gesture is set to the left edge of the screen. If you are left-handed, it can be reassigned to Settings → Display. → Navigation gestures.

How to turn on or off gestures on Xiaomi

If you prefer classic navigation buttons or want to disable intrusive gestures (for example, accidentally opening the menu when scrolling pages), you can do this in 3 steps:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select the navigation gestures (on some firmware - Full-screen gestures).
3. Switch between modes: 🔘 Navigation buttons – the classic three buttons at the bottom of the screen. 👆 Gestures MIUI — Swipes instead of buttons (recommended). 📱 Full-screen gestures are the maximum screen area, but require getting used to.

On devices with MIUI 14/15 Android Gestures is a standard navigation system from Google, which can be more convenient for users accustomed to “pure” Android. However, some Xiaomi signature gestures do not work in this mode, such as a quick start of the camera.

To turn off a specific gesture (such as flipping to turn off sound), go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Turn over to turn off the sound and deactivate the option. Similar gestures for the camera, flashlight and other functions are configured.

Hidden gestures on Xiaomi: what flagships can do

Xiaomi premium smartphones (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Ultra) MIX Fold 3) supports advanced gestures that most users don't even know they are, and these features are often hidden in the lab. MIUI or require activation through ADB.

Here are the most useful ones:

• 🎮 Double touch to wake up: works for everyone AMOLED-models, but some need to be included in the settings → Display. → Awakening with a double touch.
• 📸 Quick camera start: double press the power button (configured in Settings) → Power button. POCO F4 GT You can set the camera to hold the button.
• 🔦 Flashlight gesture: Draw the letter "V" on the locked screen (you need to enable Settings in the Settings). → Screen locking → Gestures).
• 🔄 Switching applications: swipe left / right on the bottom panel in full-screen gesture mode (analogue of double tap to the button "Last applications").
• 📱 Screenshot swipe: three-toed swipe down (works on the screen) MIUI 13+).

On folding devices (Xiaomi) MIX Fold has unique gestures for multitasking:

Screen split: Hold the app icon in the last menu and drag it left/right.

Quick switching between internal and external display: double swipe on the lower edge.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and other models with curved screens gestures on the edges can be triggered accidentally. To avoid this, reduce the width of the trigger zone in Settings → Display. → Additional gesture settings → Sensitivity of edges.

Xiaomi’s Gesture Problems: Why They Don’t Work

If gestures on your Xiaomi started to glittle after the update or on their own, the reasons may be as follows:

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the gesture settings to factory:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting.

2. Select Reset gesture settings (does not affect personal data).

3. Reset the device.

💡

If the gestures stopped working after the update MIUI, Try to clear the system cache: go to Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → This often solves lag problems without completely resetting the system.

Customizing gestures for yourself: advanced tricks

Standard gesture settings in MIUI They're limited, but there are ways to expand them:

1. Reassign gestures for specific applications

Using the Fluid Navigation Gestures app (available on the Play Market), you can assign different gestures to different apps, such as swiping up on YouTube to fold videos into a mini player, and opening new tabs on Chrome.

2. Addition of new gestures

The Edge Gestures app allows you to create your own combinations, for example:

- Swipe from top right corner to turn on the flashlight.

Double touch on the back panel for screenshot (works on devices with a gyroscope).

Sensitivity adjustment

On devices with MIUI 14+ There's a hidden parameter that's going to fine-tune the gesture area, to activate it:

1. Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).

2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.

3. Find the Minimum width of the return gesture and adjust the value (by default - 8%).

💡

On devices with Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) (for example, Xiaomi MIX 4) The sensor may make gestures worse, and in this case, the sensitivity can increase. 12-15%.

Gestures on a locked screen: what can be done without unlocking

Even when the Xiaomi screen is locked, some gestures remain active, which is convenient for quick access to features, but can be insecure if the phone falls into the wrong hands.

• 📞 Answer to the call: swipe to the right.
• 🚫 Call rejection: swipe left.
• 🔊 Volume control: Volume buttons (can be turned off in the settings).
• 📷 Quick camera start: double press the power button (if configured).
• 🔦 Turn on flashlight: gesture "V" on the lock screen (must be turned on separately).

To disable unnecessary gestures on the block:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen locking → Additional settings.

2. Deactivate Gesture options on the locked screen and Quick camera start.

3. For complete security, turn off notifications on the lock screen (Settings) → Notifications → On the lock screen).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 13T Pro and other models with Always-On Display (AOD) If you're in a locking position, you might be in conflict with the time display. AOD In Settings → Display. → Always-On Display.

Gestures in games and applications: how not to interfere with gameplay

One of the most common problems is the accidental triggering of gestures during games (for example, swipe on the edge of the screen in the game). PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact can bring you back to the home screen in a number of ways:

1.Game Turbo mode

On devices with MIUI 12+ There is a built-in game mode that blocks gestures on the edges:

1. Open Settings. → Special facilities → Game turbo.

2. Add the game to the list and activate the option of Gesture Block.

2. Hiding the navigation panel

In some games (like Call of Duty: Mobile), the navigation bar may interfere to remove it.

1. Launch the game.

2. swipe up and hold your finger in the center of the bottom panel.

3. Select Hide the navigation bar (a transparent bar will appear, which will disappear after 5 seconds).

3. Reassignment of gestures for games

With the Game Tools app (pre-installed on many Xiaomis), you can create separate control profiles for each game, such as as assigning a swipe down to open a chat or a double tap to jump.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gestures on Xiaomi