Many smartphone owners Xiaomi i Redmi Note over time get tired of classic navigation with three physical or virtual buttons at the bottom of the screen. These interface elements, known as navigation buttons, take up valuable display real estate, interfere with full video viewing, and are often accidentally pressed while playing games. Switching to a modern gesture control system allows you not only to free up space, but also to make using the device more ergonomic and faster.
The process of disabling buttons in the shell MIUI or new HyperOS is intuitive, but the menu location may vary depending on the firmware version and model of your device. In this article we will look in detail at how to remove navigation elements on series models Redmi Note, including the latest versions with Android 13 i Android 14. You'll learn how to adjust swipe sensitivity and avoid common mistakes when changing control types.
Before you start making changes, it's important to understand the difference between standard buttons and full-screen gestures. If you're used to going back by tapping an arrow, switching to swipes will require a short adjustment period. However, most users note that after getting used to it, control becomes much more convenient, since the thumbs are in a more natural position, and the screen is used at 100% of its area without black bars at the bottom.
The main ways to switch to gestures in MIUI
The simplest and most official method of disabling buttons is in the system settings of your smartphone. Manufacturers Xiaomi have provided a convenient switch that instantly changes the logic of the interface. You won't need third-party applications or fetch root accessas this feature is built into the base software. Just go to the section Settings and find the item responsible for managing the screen.
In new versions of the shell, the path to the desired menu may look like this: go to Settings, then select section Desktop. This is where the option System navigationis hidden. By clicking on it, you will see two main options: “Buttons” and “Gestures”. Selecting the second option will automatically hide the bottom bar with three icons. In some firmware, this item may be in the Additional or Advanced settingssection, if the developers have changed the menu structure.
It is worth noting that on some models of the series Redmi Note, especially budget ones or those released for specific markets, the interface may differ slightly. If you don't find the "Desktop" item, try searching in Settings. At the top of the settings screen there is a magnifying glass - enter the word “navigation” or “gestures” there, and the system itself will redirect you to the desired section. This saves time and eliminates confusion in numerous menu sub-items.
⚠️ Attention: After switching to gestures, the Home button will disappear. To return to the home screen, you will need to swipe from the bottom up from the center of the screen. Be prepared for this change in your usual algorithm of actions in the first days of use.
Setting sensitivity and swipe area
After you have removed the buttons, the system will prompt you to set up the area where gestures are triggered. This is a critical step, as the settings may be too sensitive or require too wide a swipe. The gesture settings menu usually contains a slider or a choice of several options for the width of the response area: “Narrow”, “Medium” or “Wide”. For most users, the middle option is optimal.
If you often accidentally minimize apps or end up back in a different location than you intended, try changing this setting. The narrow area requires more precise pressing at the very edge of the screen, which reduces the number of false positives when gaming or reading. The wide area, on the contrary, allows you to swipe from almost any point on the side edge, which is convenient when operating with one hand on large screens Redmi Note.
Also in this section, the option of hiding the indicator strip at the bottom of the screen is often available. This thin line shows where to swipe from. If it bothers you aesthetically, you can disable its display in the same navigation settings. However, for beginners, it is recommended to leave it turned on for at least a week so that muscle memory remembers the correct position of the finger to call up the home screen.
If gestures work with a delay, try restarting your smartphone after switching modes. Sometimes the system launcher requires a restart to correctly apply new input parameters.
Comparison of classic buttons and full-screen gestures
So that you can finally decide on the choice of control mode, let's compare both options based on key parameters. The classic layout with the Back, Home and Application Menu buttons has been familiar to every user Android for the last 10 years. It is reliable, predictable and requires no training. However, it “eats” about 40-50 pixels of the screen height, which on modern displays with an aspect ratio of 20:9 significantly reduces the usable area.
Full-screen gestures, which have become standard in Android 10 and later, offer a completely different interaction experience. To go back, swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to the center. Open the multitasking menu by swiping from bottom to top with a pause in the center. This logic allows you to use the entire screen for content, which is especially valuable when watching videos, reading books or surfing the web.
| Parameter | Classic buttons | Full screen gestures |
|---|---|---|
| Usable screen area | Reduced (occupied by the panel) | Maximum (100%) |
| Convenient with one hand | Medium (need to reach) | High (swipe from the edges) |
| Switching speed | High (clear click) | High (smooth transition) |
| Game compatibility | Low (random clicks) | High (you can hide the indicator) |
| Adaptation period | Not required | 3-7 days |
The choice in favor of gestures is also dictated by trends in the development of mobile interfaces. Applications are increasingly being optimized to operate without physical or on-screen buttons. Developers of games and media services expect the user to use the entire surface of the display. By removing the bottom buttons, you bring your Redmi Note in compliance with modern ergonomic standards.
Solving problems with gestures
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where gestures do not work or work incorrectly immediately after being turned on. Most often this is due to a conflict with third-party launchers or specific accessibility settings. If swipes are ignored, check whether you have installed applications that completely replace the desktop. Some custom launchers have their own navigation settings, which may override the system ones.
Another common reason is enabled accessibility services. Screen recording apps, ad blockers, or memory cleaning utilities can intercept touches. Go to the Advanced settings -> Accessibility section and temporarily disable suspicious services. If after this the gestures work, then the problem was in a specific application, and it is worth updating it or finding an alternative.
☑️ Diagnosing problems with gestures
You should also pay attention to the protective glass or film. If they are glued unevenly or have thick edges, the sensor may not register touches in the very corners of the screen, where the back gestures begin. In this case, calibrating the sensor through the engineering menu or replacing the protective coating with a thinner and higher-quality one will help.
⚠️ Attention: If you have the “One-handed” mode (shrinking the screen) enabled, gestures may not work correctly, since the active area of the screen is compressed. Disable this mode in the settings for full functionality of navigation.
Features of navigation in games and applications
Gamers often complain that random swipes minimize the game at the most crucial moment In the shell MIUI And HyperOS there is an excellent solution to this problem - the “Games” mode or Game Turbo. When you launch a game, the sidebar allows you to block gestures or adjust their sensitivity specifically for that application. You can set the swipe to go back to work only when double-tapping or long-holding.
In addition, in the full-screen mode settings, you can choose the option to hide the gesture indicator. This not only makes the interface cleaner, but also prevents accidental clicks on this strip. In first-person games or shooters where the view is controlled by fingers across the entire screen, this becomes critical. You can move your finger around the edges of the screen without the risk of minimizing the application.
For applications with video content, such as YouTube or Netflix, switching to gestures opens up the possibility of full-screen viewing. The video occupies every pixel of the display Redmi Notewithout being cut off by the black navigation bar. When you try to swipe while watching a video, the system usually ignores it or shows the controls on top of the video without minimizing the player.
Secret setting for advanced users
In some versions of MIUI via ADB, you can completely disable the navigation bar even in button mode, but this requires a connection to a PC and is not recommended for ordinary users due to the risk of losing control.
Return to buttons: how to restore settings
If you realize that gestures do not suit you, or just want to return to the familiar interface, doing this is as easy as disabling the buttons. You don't need to reset your phone to factory settings. Just go to the menu again Settings -> Desktop -> System navigation and select “Buttons”.
The system will instantly return the bottom panel with three buttons. Moreover, in the same menu you can often configure the order of the buttons. You can swap the positions of the “Back” and “Menu” buttons if you are used to the logic iOS or older versions Android. This is a small but nice detail that allows you to personalize the device for yourself.
Remember that you can change the navigation type as many times as you like without any consequences for the data or performance of the smartphone. This is a software interface setting that does not affect user files. Feel free to experiment: use the gestures for a week, and if you don’t like it, return the buttons. Flexibility Android allows each user Xiaomi to choose the most comfortable usage scenario.
Switching between buttons and gestures is a reversible process that does not affect the warranty or stability of the smartphone. Choose what is comfortable for your hands.
Why were the navigation settings reset after a firmware update?
With major updates MIUI or switching to a new version Android the system sometimes resets some user preferences to default values. This is done in order to introduce the user to new functions or changes in the logic of the interface. Just go to the settings and select the usual mode again.
Is it possible to configure gestures for calling Google Assistant?
Yes, in most firmware versions, swiping from the bottom corner of the screen diagonally calls the voice assistant. This feature can be turned on or off in the Gesture settings section, next to the navigation type selection. You can also schedule an assistant call by long pressing the power button.
Does disabling buttons affect battery life?
No, the type of navigation (buttons or gestures) does not have a noticeable impact on power consumption. The difference in processor consumption for drawing a small panel of buttons or processing swipes is negligible and is within the statistical error. Battery life depends on screen brightness and active applications.
What to do if the Back button does not work in a particular application?
If the back gesture does not work in a certain application, most likely the developer of this application has not optimized it for new navigation standards. Try updating the application via Google Play. If this does not help, temporarily switch to the buttons for working with this particular app.
How to remove the bar at the bottom of the screen when using gestures?
In the navigation settings, find the item “Hide gesture hint” or similar. Disabling this option will remove the visual bar indicator. Remember that without it, you will have to remember the swipe area yourself, since there will no longer be a visual hint.