Xiaomi's MIUI UX "skin" sees frequent updates from the Chinese company, to the point that it becomes difficult to keep up with what is new on the large number of devices that it supports. Xiaomi tends to add and also remove features from the base Android version, so there often is a sense of dissonance between how an Android device works and how a MIUI device works. Coupled with the fact that the same MIUI version can sport different Android base versions depending on the device, what you end up with is a UX skin that is difficult to keep up with.

If you are using a Xiaomi device with MIUI, you must be aware by now that you can get rid of the navigation bar and utilize gestures to navigate the Android interface. Fullscreen navigation gestures were added in MIUI 9 for a few devices initially, but are now widely available across the Xiaomi portfolio of smartphones. However, enabling these gestures would leave you with no shortcut for accessing Google Assistant. There is no software button for home, so you can't perform a long press action to trigger Google Assistant.

MIUI Fullscreen Navigation Gestures

On MIUI 10.2.1, you can now trigger Google Assistant while using navigation gestures as Xiaomi has incorporated a separate shortcut to do so. You can now press and hold the power button for 0.5 seconds to activate Assistant functionality. This setting is disabled by default, so be sure to enable it from within the "Button and gesture shortcuts" setting menu.

MIUI Fullscreen Navigation Gesture for Google Assistant

Xiaomi's shortcut is similar to the functionality that OnePlus incorporated in the Open Beta 3 for the OnePlus 6. There is no option to modify the delay before triggering Assistant, which is something we wish they add in the future. The trigger option also makes it a bit difficult to access the shutdown menu, though most users do not frequently venture into this area. Huawei's EMUI has assigned Assistant functionality to a swipe up from the bottom left/aright areas, which is more intuitive and fluid to quickly trigger Assistant.

Which shortcut do you prefer to launch Google Assistant? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks SunilSuni for the tip!