How to Remove the Navigation Buttons on Xiaomi & POCO Phones

Xiaomi is one of the most popular smartphone brands in many markets around the world. Its popularity stems from several factors, such as affordable pricing, stylish design, solid performance, and a wide range of advanced features.

One standout aspect of Xiaomi phones is the MIUI interface, which continuously evolves to offer users more convenience and modern features. Not only has Xiaomi eliminated physical navigation buttons, but it now also allows users to remove the on-screen navigation bar and switch to gesture-based controls instead.

By removing the navigation bar, you get more screen space, which makes the phone feel more immersive and dynamic. You can simply use intuitive gestures to go back, access recent apps, or return to the home screen.

If you’re interested in trying this feature but aren’t sure how to enable it, don’t worry. In this guide, our team will walk you through the steps to remove the navigation buttons on Xiaomi and POCO phones. Read on to learn how!

How to Remove the Navigation Buttons

Removing the navigation buttons on Xiaomi phones is actually very simple, and you don’t need to install any additional apps. Just follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Home screen.
3. Then, select System navigation to choose your preferred navigation style.
4. Choose the Gestures option from the list.

Once you’ve made the switch, you’ll be taken back to the home screen. If you’re unfamiliar with the gesture system, you can revisit the System navigation menu for a quick tutorial or guide.

How to Use Gesture Navigation

In simple terms, gesture navigation allows you to operate your smartphone using gestures instead of traditional navigation buttons. Previously, you might have relied on the back, home, or recent apps buttons. Now, these have been replaced with intuitive swipe gestures.

Here’s how the gestures work:

• Go Back

Instead of tapping a back button, you can now swipe inward from either the left or right edge of the screen.

• Open Recent Apps

The recent apps button, previously displayed as a stacked square or triangle icon, has been replaced. To access recent apps, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and pause briefly in the middle. Once the list appears, simply tap the app you want to switch to.

• Return to the Home Screen

To go back to the home screen, just swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. No button needed.

• Switch Between Apps

This is a new feature that wasn’t available with button navigation. To quickly switch between open apps, swipe up slightly from the bottom and then swipe left or right.

• Access App Menus (Trigger App Actions)

Some apps have side menus or extra features accessible by swiping. To open these, swipe inward from the top-left or top-right edge of the screen.

The gesture navigation system is quite simple once you get the hang of it. That said, it may take a few days to fully adjust, especially if you’ve been used to button navigation.

Still, this feature offers a more modern and fluid way to use your phone. It gives you a more dynamic experience, free from relying on the three traditional navigation buttons.

As mentioned earlier, people tend to fall into two camps: those who prefer button navigation for its familiarity and simplicity, and those who enjoy gesture navigation for its fluid and immersive feel.

If you ever feel uncomfortable using gestures, don’t worry, you can always switch back to button navigation through your settings.