How to hide the bottom buttons on Xiaomi: a complete guide to removing the navigation bar

The bottom panel with buttons "Back", "Home" and "Recent" on smartphones Xiaomi occupies precious space on the screen, especially on devices with small diagonal or cutouts for the camera. Many users MIUI want to remove these virtual keys to expand the work area or switch to gesture controls - like on iPhone or new versions Android.

However, not everyone knows that depending on the firmware version and phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 etc.), the methods for hiding buttons differ. Some prefer to completely remove the panel, others prefer it to automatically hide when scrolling, and some want to replace standard keys with custom gestures. In this article, we will look at all the current methods, including hidden settings MIUIthat are not obvious even to experienced users.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi after updating to MIUI 14/15 standard methods of hiding buttons may not work. This is due to the security policy Xiaomiwhich restricts changes to system elements. In this case, you will need to use workarounds (described in the about section ADB).

1. Standard hiding of buttons through the MIUI settings

The easiest way to remove the bottom panel is to activate full screen mode in the system settings. This method works on most devices. Xiaomi managed MIUI 12–15, but may not be available on budget models (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO C31).

To enable full screen mode:

1. Open Settings → Display.
2. Select item Full screen mode (or Screen style on some firmware).
3. Activate the option Hide navigation bar or Gesture controls.
4. Reboot the device if the changes are not applied immediately.

⚠️ Attention: After activating gesture controls, the standard buttons will disappear, but they can be temporarily returned by swiping up from the bottom edge of the screen. On some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60), a hybrid mode is available, where gestures work in parallel with virtual keys.

If there is no item in your menu Full screen mode, then the manufacturer has blocked this function for your model. In this case, proceed to the following methods.

2. when scrolling

If you do not need to completely remove the buttons, but just free up space when viewing content (for example, in YouTube or Chrome), you can configure their automatic hiding. This method works on all versions MIUI without additional rights.

Instructions:

• 📱 Go to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures.
• 🔍 Find the option Automatically hide navigation bar (may be called Hide when scrolling).
• ✅ Turn on the slider and select a delay (usually 1-3 seconds).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone if hiding doesn't work.

Once activated, the buttons will disappear after a few seconds of inactivity and appear when you touch the bottom of the screen. This method is convenient for reading or watching videos, but is not suitable for those who want to completely get rid of the virtual panel.

3. Using ADB to force button hiding

On devices with MIUI 13/14 and newer, standard methods are often blocked. In this case, a debugging tool that allows you to change will help. system parameters without root access. Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a debugging tool that allows you to change system parameters without root access.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use ADB can lead to malfunctions of the phone. Before executing commands, make sure that the device is turned on USB debugging (Settings → About phone → MIUI version - press 7 times, then return to Advanced settings → For developers).

Steps for hiding buttons via ADB:

1. Download Platform Tools from the official website Android and unpack the archive.
2. Connect the phone to the PC via USB and enter in the command line:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

3. Reboot the device. disappear.

To return the panel back, do:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null

If the command did not work, try the alternative:

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Enable USB debugging on the phone

Download Platform Tools (latest version)

Connect the phone with the original cable

Check the connection with the command adb devices-->

4. Removing buttons using third-party applications

If you don’t want to mess around with ADB, you can use applications from Google Play. The most popular:

• 🔧 Nacho Notch - hides cutouts and the navigation bar, supports Xiaomi.
• 🖥️ Full Screen Gestures - replaces buttons with gestures with setting touch zones.
• 🎨 Edge Gestures - allows you to create your own gestures for navigation.

⚠️ Attention: Applications for hiding buttons require permission Overlaying on top of others. windows (Settings → Accessibility → Overlay). Without this permission, they will not work. Also, some apps may conflict with MIUI and cause lags.

Instructions for Nacho Notch:

1. Install the application from Google Play.
2. Run it and provide all necessary permissions.
3. Enable option Hide Navigation Bar.
4. Set up exceptions for applications where buttons should remain (for example, in games).

The disadvantage of this method is the constant running of the background process, which can slightly increase battery consumption. But it is not required ADB or root.

5. build.prop

For experienced users who are willing to risk the stability of the system, there is a radical way - editing the file build.propThis method requires root access and does not work on all devices Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect change build.prop may lead to bootloop (loop loading). Before editing, make a backup copy of the file!

Instructions:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Use a file manager with support root (for example, Root Explorer).
3. Open the file /system/build.prop.
4. Add to the end line:

qemu.hw.mainkeys=1

5. Save the file, set the rights 644 and reboot the device.

If after reboot the buttons disappear, but gesture control does not work, return the line qemu.hw.mainkeys=0 or delete it completely.

6. Alternative: setting up gesture controls in MIUI

If your goal is not just to remove buttons, but to switch to convenient navigation with gestures, MIUI there is a built-in function Miui Gestures. It is available on most devices, starting from MIUI 10.

How to enable:

• 🔄 Go to Settings → Display → Full screen mode.
• 👆 Select MIUI Gestures (or Swipe Up Gestures on global firmware).
• 🎯 Adjust sensitivity and trigger zones (for example, swipe from the edge to go back).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone to apply the changes.

Benefits of gesture control:

• ✅ Frees up screen space.
• ✅ Speeds up navigation (for example, swipe up for home, hold for recent).
• ✅ Works more stable than third-party applications.

On some models (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50) additional settings are available, for example:

7. Features for specific Xiaomi models

Some devices Xiaomi have unique settings or limitations. Let's consider the most popular models:

Redmi Note 10/11/12 Pro:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null