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 any time.

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

Adjust sensitivity of back gesture

To adjust sensitivity of the back navigation gesture:

  1. Go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to Gesture navigation, tap settings icon.
  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 you use, you can turn it off.

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

Set options for 3-button navigation

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

  1. Go to Settings > Gestures > System navigation.
  2. Next to 3-button navigation, tap settings icon.
  3. Turn Hold Home for Assistant on toggle on switch or off toggle off switch.

Search by circling item on screen

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

  1. Choose one:

    • For gesture navigation: Press & hold the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.
    • For 3-button navigation: Press & 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.