Change System navigation

You can choose how to move between apps and screens:

  1. Go to Settings > Gestures.
  2. Tap System navigation.

  3. Choose an option:

    • Gesture navigation: use drag and swipe gestures to return to your Home screen, to switch apps or to go back to the previous screen. Learn more about gestures.
    • 3-button navigation: use the Back , Home and Recent buttons. Learn more.

Set options for Gesture navigation

You can choose if the navigation bar appears at the bottom of the screen and how certain gestures work.

Show or hide navigation bar

If you don't want to see the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, you can hide it. You can show it again at any time.

  1. Go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to Gesture navigation, tap .
  3. Under Navigation bar, select whether to Show or Hide it.

Adjust sensitivity of back gesture

To adjust the sensitivity of the back navigation gesture:

  1. go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to Gesture navigation, tap .

  3. under Back gesture sensitivity, move the sliders to adjust sensitivity for the left and right edges.

    If you have apps that include gestures along the edges of the screen, setting a higher sensitivity here might conflict with them.

Disable or enable swipe for Google Assistant

To start a voice command with Google Assistant, swipe from the bottom corner. If this gesture conflicts with another gesture you use, you can turn it off.

  1. Go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to Gesture navigation, tap .
  3. Turn Swipe for Assistant off or on .

Set options for 3-button navigation

To start a voice command with Google Assistant, press and hold the Home button. You can turn this gesture on or off at any time.

  1. go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to 3-button navigation, tap .
  3. turn Hold home for Assistant on or off .

Search by circling an item on your screen

This feature will be available after you upgrade to Android 16.

You can search for anything visible on your screen–whether it's a photo, text or more.

  1. Choose one:

    • For gesture navigation: press and hold the Navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.
    • For 3-button navigation: press and hold the Home button.

    The search feature will appear transparently over your screen.

  2. Circle or tap the item you want to search for, then swipe to view the search results.
  3. If needed, use the Google search bar to refine or expand your search.

If this gesture doesn't work, check that it is turned on: Settings > Gestures > System navigation > Circle to Search.