If you're tired of always seeing the three buttons at the bottom of your phone screen, the good news is that you can use navigation gestures and forget about them. With these gestures you'll have more screen space, the phone will be more comfortable to use with one hand, and the experience will be much smoother.
In the latest versions of Android, and in customized layers such as those from Samsung, Google or Motorola, features have been incorporated gesture controls Not only for navigating the system, but also for taking screenshots, turning on the flashlight, or quickly opening the camera. Let's see, step by step and in detail, how to activate them, what each gesture can do, and when it's worth using them.
What are navigation gestures and why use them?
When we talk about navigation gestures in Android, we are referring to a way of controlling the mobile phone using movements on the screen Instead of the classic touch buttons (Back, Home, and Recents) that appear at the bottom, this involves swiping from the edges, dragging a button, or making various quick finger movements.
The arrival of these controls became popular with Android Pie (Android 9) And since then, most current mobile phones include them. In many models, they come disabled by default, so you still see the traditional navigation bar, but with a few adjustments You can switch to a system based almost entirely on gestures.
Among the clearest advantages, the first is that you recover useful area at the bottom of the screen, which is especially noticeable on larger phones. Furthermore, it's more comfortable to use the phone with one hand, because almost everything is done with quick swipes, without having to press a specific button.
It's also important to keep in mind that gestures aren't identical across all devices. Each brand organizes them differently. system settings The settings are different, and the options are named differently. On your phone it might be called "System Navigation," on another "Buttons and Gestures," or simply "Gestures." The idea is the same, although the exact path to activate them may vary.
How to enable gesture navigation on current Android?
On most modern Android phones, switching from buttons to gestures is done from the menu. System settingsYou won't see a giant button that says "magic gestures", but you will see a navigation or gestures section where you can choose.
A fairly common way is to open the app of Settings Then use the search bar at the top to type something like "system navigation" or "gesture navigation." This way, even if your custom interface changes the menus, the search bar will take you directly to the correct setting.
When you enter that section you will usually see two main options: classic navigation with 3 keys (or three buttons) and gesture navigation. On some models, you'll first need to tap "System Navigation" and then choose whether you want the button bar or the gesture system.
By choosing the option gesturesNormally, a settings screen will open where you can adjust small details: which gestures are used, whether you want a small indicator bar at the bottom, or whether you can swipe from the sides to, for example, go back. From there you can personalize the experience so that it is comfortable for you.
In some cases, even without advanced gesture navigation, you can at least hide the three bottom buttons. This is done from the same menu by activating an option to hide navigation barIt's not as practical as pure gestures, because it often "wakes up" again when touched, but at least you gain some screen space.
Gesture navigation in Android P (Android 9) and later
When Google launched Android P (Android 9)Gesture navigation first came as optional function and disabled by default. If you installed the Android P beta on one of the compatible phones, you would still see the usual buttons unless you chose to change that behavior in the settings.
To activate these gestures in Android P, it was necessary to open the app of Android Settings and scroll to the bottom of the list, where the "System" section appears. This section contained several advanced options such as updates, language, and gestures, which is precisely the submenu you needed to select.
Within “System” you found a block called GesturesThis feature, which already existed in previous versions for other shortcuts like lifting the phone to check notifications or silencing calls, was added in Android P. Google included a specific entry for gesture navigation called "Swipe up on Home Button," which initially wasn't even translated into Spanish.
Upon entering that option, the system displayed a brief explanation: slide up from the home buttonThe Recents button disappeared, and its function was integrated into a single button. Simply activating the switch at the top of the screen immediately changed the navigation bar's appearance, adapting it to the new gesture-based system.
With this configuration, all navigation was reorganized around the central start button and the various swipes associated with it. Although the list of gestures was initially limited, Google left the door open to including more actions with subsequent system updates.
Gestures available for navigating Android P and similar
Once the gesture system was activated in Android P, the home button became the true command center. Most of the movements needed to open apps, switch between them, or close those you no longer needed were performed using it. swipes on that button or from the recent apps view.
Open the app drawer
With gesture navigation, the drawer where all installed apps appear opens by making a long slide From the home button to the top of the screen. It's important that the gesture covers almost the entire height; if you stop halfway, it will likely open only the recent apps view.
This gesture is usually used from the home screen, so when you're on the desktop and want to find an application that isn't in your shortcuts, simply... drag the home button Swipe up decisively. You'll see the entire drawer, usually sorted alphabetically, just like with traditional navigation, only now without pressing any specific buttons.
View recent apps
The dedicated button for recent apps disappears from the gesture system, but you don't lose that functionality. To see the list of recently used apps, simply... slide up from the home button With a short movement, without reaching the top of the screen, this gesture displays a horizontal or card-based view of your recently opened apps.
From that screen, you can scroll through your apps, see what you were doing in each one, and decide whether to reopen or close it. A tap on the app you're interested in will bring it back to the foreground, much like pressing the old Recents button, only now you're using a quick gesture instead.
Switch to another background app
To jump from one app to another even faster, Android P introduced an additional gesture: if slide the home button to the rightWithout releasing your finger, a strip of recent apps will appear. The interesting thing about this gesture is that the app you leave in the foreground of that strip will automatically open when you lift your finger.
Once the slider is active, you can move it both towards the right as well as to the left to navigate between the apps you've used. It's a kind of app "carousel," designed for those who constantly switch between two or three apps (like a browser, email, and a messaging app) and want to do so with minimal effort.
Go directly to the previous application
If you need to return to the previous app without having to browse through the recent apps view, a gesture has been added that resembles the Windows Alt+Tab shortcut. It consists of... Quickly slide the home button to the rightwith a small tap and a quick drag. (See also gestures to navigate forwards and backwards).
This gesture takes you directly back to the app you were using before. If you persist and repeat the movement over and over, you'll keep jumping between your recently used apps in a sort of... alternating cycle, useful for copying and pasting information between two applications or for quickly comparing content.
Close an app from the recent apps view
The system for closing apps barely changed with the arrival of Android P. Previously, a sideways swipe gesture was used; now, in the recent apps view, the same idea is maintained, but the movement is in a different direction. To close an app, simply... slide your card up on the recents screen.
By doing this, the app is removed from the list and no longer appears among the most recent apps. This doesn't mean it's deleted from your phone; it simply stops running in the background immediately. As before, you can repeat this gesture for several apps in a row if you want. clean up multitasking in one fell swoop.
Open an app from the recent apps view
From the recent apps screen, in addition to closing apps, you can also quickly open any of them without returning to the home screen. If instead of swiping up on a card you swipe down, the app currently on screen will move to the foregroundThis gesture is equivalent to tapping directly on the app, but some people find the downward drag motion more natural.
In practice, most users simply tap on the app thumbnail to open it, but it's useful to know that Android also recognizes that downward shift as an order to bring the application to the main view.
Basic touch gestures: tap, drag, swipe, and zoom
In addition to pure Android navigation gestures, many manufacturers explain to users the basic touch gestures These gestures allow you to navigate the system and select items. They work on virtually all Android phones, regardless of the brand.
Simple touch
The most basic gesture consists of tap the screen once Press the fingertip and release it immediately. This is commonly used to open an application from the desktop, select a checkbox on a form, or choose an icon from a menu.
When you click on a desktop app, it opens; if you tap on a checkbox, it's checked or unchecked. In web forms, such as when you have to select a privacy option or accept terms and conditions, a quick touch hovering over the box is enough to change its state.
Hold down
Another variation is to hold your finger on the screen for a few seconds before lifting it. This gesture long press It's typically used to select items and display additional actions. For example, if you press and hold an app icon on the home screen, a small context menu with options will appear.
The same applies to text: if you press and hold on a word, the system highlights it and controls appear for copy, cut or shareIt is an essential gesture for managing text in emails, messages or documents, and is very useful for those who need to copy data from one page to another.
Drag
The drag gesture combines a long press with a lateral or vertical movement. It consists of pressing and holding an element and, without releasing the finger, slide it across the screen until you reach the desired position. Only when you reach the right spot do you lift your finger to finish the action.
It is used to rearrange shortcuts on the desktop, move icons from one folder to another, or adjust switches within menus. A typical example is changing a button from on to off in some switches, or moving a shortcut from one part of the menu to another. main screen to another.
Slide
The swipe gesture is similar to dragging, but involves a faster and lighter movement, without pausing upon initial contact. It consists of touching the screen and moving the finger with some speed, so that the system interprets a scroll or page change instead of dragging objects.
This gesture is used to switch between desktop screens, scroll through a contact list, change tabs within certain apps, or navigate a long webpage. You can swipe up, down, left, or right for different results, such as: swipe between tabs in the Phone app or between conversations in certain messaging apps.
Spread your fingers to zoom in
The zoom gesture is performed by placing two fingers (usually index finger and thumb) on the screen and separating them from each otherThe further you move your fingers away, the more the image or content you are viewing enlarges, whether it is a photograph, a map, or a web page with small text.
This gesture lets you see a larger, more detailed version of photos, better locate a point on a map, or expand notifications that support zoom. If you have vision problems, Android also offers... additional magnification gestures in the accessibility section to further enhance the content with specific touch patterns.
Zoom in with your fingers to zoom out
To look away, the gesture is the opposite: you must place two separate fingers on the screen and slide them togetherThe image shrinks, allowing you to see a larger portion of the content, useful for getting an overview of a large photo or a large area on the map.
This gesture is constantly used in map apps, image galleries, and browsers, and is part of the basic repertoire of any mobile phone with a touchscreen. Combined with the zoom gesture, it allows you to adjust zoom level with great precision, according to what you need at any given time.
Extra gestures for quick mobile actions
Beyond basic navigation, many manufacturers add a series of special gestures to perform everyday tasks almost automatically. These controls can be enabled or disabled independently from the gesture settings of the phone, and are usually accompanied by short explanatory tutorials.
On some models, you'll find a list of each gesture and a "More information" link or similar to see how it works and what it does exactly. It's advisable to review this list and try each gesture carefully, activating only those that you find useful. useful in everyday life.
Screenshot with three fingers
A fairly widespread function is taking a screenshot using three fingersInstead of pressing the combination of physical buttons (usually power + volume down), simply slide three fingers simultaneously across the screen, from top to bottom or in the direction indicated by the manufacturer.
When done correctly, the system takes a snapshot of what's on the screen and displays a preview, just like with the traditional method. This gesture is especially convenient when your phone is on the table and you don't want to... force the buttons sideways every time you take a screenshot.
Turn the flashlight on or off with a quick motion
Another common gesture is the one that allows you activate the flashlight with a sudden movement of the phone. On many phones, a quick flick of the wrist, as if you were shaking the device, is enough to turn the rear flash on or off without having to search for the shortcut in the notification bar.
This type of gesture is designed for when you urgently need light, for example, when entering a dark room or to find something under a piece of furniture. It's advisable to practice it a couple of times to determine the exact sensitivity and avoid accidentally turning the flashlight on too quickly. accidentally turned on when you're just moving your phone from one side to the other.
Open the camera by twisting your wrist
Some manufacturers offer a gesture to open the camera from any screen, even when the screen is locked. It usually involves... turn your wrist twice quickly while holding the phone, as if you were doing a double wrist twist.
This shortcut is very practical for saving time when you want to take a photo instantly, without unlocking the phone or searching for the camera icon. In other configurations, it's also possible to assign a shortcut to the power button for this. open the camera by pressing it twice in a row, instead of invoking the Google Assistant.
Control the music with the volume buttons
Another interesting feature is using the volume buttons to change track While listening to music. Depending on the model, it may require holding down one of the buttons or quickly double-tapping to skip to the next song or go back to the previous one.
This way, you can control playback without turning on the screen, which is very convenient when your phone is in your pocket or backpack. However, it's a good idea to check the settings to see exactly which combination of taps is associated with each playback. reproduction action on your device.
Swipe on the fingerprint sensor to view notifications
On some phones with a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, that same sensor can be used as a touch surface. slide your finger over the sensor Swiping down reveals the notification shade, and swiping up hides it again.
This trick is especially useful on large phones, where reaching the top of the screen with your thumb is awkward. Thanks to this gesture, you can check notifications, quick settings, and controls without acrobatic movements, taking advantage of the fingerprint sensor as a physical shortcut.
Activate Do Not Disturb mode and silence calls by moving your phone
Another set of gestures uses the phone's movement to manage sounds and notifications. For example, some models allow you to control sounds and notifications by placing the phone in a specific position. face down on a surfaceThe Do Not Disturb mode will be automatically activated, blocking calls and sound alerts.
Similarly, many devices allow you to silence an incoming call and switch to vibrate mode when you pick it up. It's a very natural gesture: simply You pick up your phone It goes off the table and stops playing at full volume, which is very useful in meetings or environments where you don't want to make noise.
Gestures for split screen and multitasking
On some phones, you can also use a specific gesture to enter split-screen mode. It might be a forward and backward slide on a specific bar or pattern marked by the manufacturer, which allows two apps to be placed on the screen at the same time without resorting to additional menus.
This type of shortcut is useful if you often use split-screen mode to work with multiple apps simultaneously, such as chatting while browsing or taking notes while watching a video. Combined with the other navigation gestures, they make using your phone a breeze. very gestural experience, almost without buttons.
Gestures and consent: checkboxes and additional services
On some websites and services, such as official manufacturer websites, you'll see checkboxes that you must tap to accept certain terms and conditions. For example, in the case of Samsung, there might be a checkbox to indicate that you want to go to Samsung.com or that you accept updates to their services.
By checking these boxes with a simple tap, you are giving your consent to receive marketing informationThis includes product and service updates, special offers, event invitations, and newsletters. Although the action is as simple as tapping the box once, it has legal and privacy implications, so it's always advisable to read the associated text before clicking. accept the conditions.
Training and continuous learning in gestures and Android
Mastering all these gestures takes a little practice, especially if you've been using only traditional buttons for years. That's why some training centers and digital literacy programs offer Android specific courses where everything from the most basic (turning on, turning off, installing apps) to more advanced aspects such as gesture navigation is explained.
In these types of courses, under titles similar to "Smartphones and Tablets: Learn to Use Your Android Device," you are taught how to use your mobile phone almost as if it were a pocket computer: manage emails, organize files, use applications in multitasking and, of course, take advantage of gesture navigation to move around the system more comfortably and efficiently.
If you feel lost among so many settings and shortcuts, dedicating a few hours to guided training can make all the difference. Ultimately, the goal is for the gestures to become second nature. automatic and intuitiveso that they stop being something "weird" and become the natural way you interact with your device.
Adopting gesture navigation and other touch shortcuts transforms your Android phone into a much more convenient and faster tool, provided you take the time to configure the "System Navigation" or "Gestures" options, understand what each movement does (from swiping on the home button in Android P to three-finger capture or wrist twist for the camera), and practice for a few days until the gestures become second nature. This will free up screen space, reduce unnecessary taps, and give you easy access to everyday actions like turning on the flashlight, silencing calls, managing notifications, or switching apps with a fluidity that's difficult to achieve with the old three-button bar. Share this information so more users can learn about this feature on Android.
