Home button on Android: where it is, how to return it and what to replace it with

The “Home” button (or «Home») is one of the key controls on smartphones Android. It allows you to instantly return to the home screen from any application or menu. However, its location and even its presence depend on the version of the operating system, the device manufacturer and the selected navigation style. If you can’t find this button on your phone or it suddenly disappeared, don’t panic: most likely, it was simply hidden or replaced with a gesture.

Modern Androiddevices are increasingly abandoning classic hardware buttons in favor touch strips or gesture navigation. For example, Google from version Android 10 has made gestures the main control method, and Samsung and Xiaomi offer a choice between traditional buttons and new gestures. In this article, we will look at where to look for the button "Home" in different scenarios, how to return it if it is missing, and what alternatives exist.

⚠️ Attention: The appearance and location of interface elements may vary depending on the manufacturer's shell (One UI, MIUI, ColorOS etc.). If your smartphone model was released before 2018, there is a high probability that the "Home" physical button - look for it under the screen.

1. Where is the “Home” button on modern Android smartphones? Instead, they use:

On devices with Android 9 and newer button "Home" more often absent as a separate element. Instead, use:

• 📱 Touch strip at the bottom of the screen —a thin white or gray line that responds to touches. Tap it once to return to the main screen.
• 👆 Swipe up gesture —swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen (with a delay in some shells).
• 🔙 Combination with the "Back" button —on some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy) button "Home" located in the center between "Back" and "Recent".

On Android 10–14 Google actively promotes full-screen gesture navigation, where all actions are performed by swiping. In this case, there is no separate button at all - it is replaced by a gesture from the bottom edge of the screen up. If you are used to the classic buttons, you can return them in the settings (more on that below). "Home" no at all - it is replaced by a gesture from the bottom edge of the screen up. If you are used to the classic buttons, you can return them in the settings (more on that below).

💡 Exception: On some models Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 12) and OPPO button "Home" may be hidden, but it can be enabled via Settings → Display → Navigation style.

2. Physical “Home” button: which phones have it

Until 2018, many smartphones were equipped physical "Home" buttonlocated under the screen. It could be:

• 🔘 Mechanical - pressed with a characteristic click (for example, on Samsung Galaxy S7 or iPhone to the model 8).
• 🖱️ Touch with fingerprint —does not press, but responds to touch (for example, Meizu MX5 or Huawei P10).
• 🔄 Combined —combined with a fingerprint sensor (as on Samsung Galaxy S8).

If your smartphone was released before 2017–2018there is a high probability that the button Home here are the models where it was exactly:

Brand	Models with a physical Home button	Button type
Samsung	Galaxy S6/S7, Note 5/7, A5 (2016–2017)	Mechanical + fingerprint sensor
LG	G5, V20, G6	Touch (without pressing)
HTC	10, U11, Desire 10 Pro	Mechanical
Meizu	MX5, PRO 6, Note 8	Touch mTouch

⚠️ Attention: On older smartphones, the physical button "Home" is often combined with a fingerprint sensor. If it stops working, the reason may be damage to the cable or wear mechanism. In this case, only repair will help.

What to do if the physical Home button does not work?

If the button does not respond to presses, try:

1. Restart the phone.

2. Clear the system cache (Settings → Storage → Cache data).

3. Check the gesture settings - the button may be disabled by software.

If nothing helps, contact the service center: the problem may be in the hardware (oxidation of contacts, damage to the flexible cable).

3. How to return the "Home" button if it disappeared

If the button "Home" suddenly disappeared, most likely it was turned on in the settings gesture navigation mode. You can return it in a few steps:

For pure Android (Google Pixel, Motorola, Nokia)

1. Open Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.
2. Select item "3-button navigation" (or "Navigation buttons").
3. Save changes - buttons "Back", "Home" and "Recent" will appear at the bottom of the screen.

For Samsung One UI

1. Go to Settings → Display → Navigation bar.
2. Select "Buttons" instead "Gestures".
3. If necessary, configure the order of the buttons (you can swap "Back" and "Recent" places).

For Xiaomi MIUI

1. Open Settings → Display → Full screen mode.
2. Select "Navigation buttons" (or "Standard navigation").
3. If the button "Home" does not appear, try rebooting device.

🔧 If the button does not return:

• 📱 Check if a third-party theme or launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) is installed, which may hide system elements.
• 🔄 Reset the interface settings: Settings → System → Reset → Reset application settings.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI or One UI navigation bugs are often fixed.

4. Alternatives to the Home button: gestures and third-party applications

If you prefer modern navigation without buttons, this is what you can replace "Home":

• 👆 Swipe up gesture - the standard method in Android 10+. A quick swipe returns to the main screen, a delay opens the list of recent ones. applications.
• 🔘 Floating button —some shells (for example, EMUI ot Huawei) allow you to add a virtual button that can be moved around the screen.
• 📲 Third-party launchers — Nova Launcher, Action Launcher or Microsoft Launcher offer their own navigation options, including a customizable button "Home".
• ⚙️ Applications for gestures — Fluid Navigation Gestures or Edge Gestures allow you to configure swipes from any edge of the screen.

🔹 An example of setting up gestures in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the launcher settings and go to Gestures and inputs → Gestures.
3. Assign an action "Home" to swipe up from the dock panel.

⚠️ Attention: Some gesture applications require accessibility permissions (Settings → Accessibility. features → Services without barriers). Be careful: provide access only to trusted apps!

💡

If you often use one hand, set up a double-tap gesture on the back panel (available on Xiaomi and Google Pixel) to return to the main screen.

5. The "Home" button does not work: possible causes and solutions

If the button "Home" does not respond to presses, the problem may be either softwareor hardware. Let's look at it in order:

Software failures

• 🔄 System freezes - try rebooting the phone (power button + volume up for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Launcher crash — clear the standard launcher cache: Settings → Applications → [Launcher] → Storage → Clear cache.
• 🐞 Error after update - rolling back to a previous firmware version or resetting settings may help.

Hardware problems

• 💧 Moisture ingress - if the phone fell into water, the button could oxidize. Requires disassembly and cleaning.
• 🔌 Damage to the cable is a common problem after falls. Diagnosed at a service center.
• ⚡ Wear of the mechanism —on old smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4), the button may simply break over time.

If the “Home” button It only works after a few presses, this is a sign of an imminent breakdown. Do not delay your visit to the service - over time, contacts may completely fail.

💡

Before visiting the service, check the operation of the button in safe mode (hold down the power button → “Safe Mode”). If it works there, the problem is in the third-party software, not in the hardware.

6. How to customize the Home button for yourself

Even if you have a button "Home" you can customize it for convenience. Here are a few ways:

Changing the order of navigation buttons

On Samsung and some other smartphones you can swap places "Back" and "Recent":

1. Open Settings → Display → Navigation bar.
2. Select "Button Order".
3. Drag the icons into the desired order.

Adding a double tap

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi) button "Home" can be programmed for additional actions:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Home button.
2. Turn on the option "Double tap" and select an action (for example, launch Google Assistant or open the camera).

Hide the button for full screen mode

If the button gets in the way when watching videos or playing games, you can temporarily hide it:

• 📺 YouTube or Netflix double-tap the screen - the navigation bar will disappear.
• 🎮 In games, use the immersive display mode: swipe up from the bottom edge and hold.

💡 Tip for gamers: In the developer settings (Settings → About phone → Build number (7 taps) → For developers), turn on "Disable navigation bar" - this hides the buttons during games.

7. Frequently asked questions about the Home button on Android

💡

If your question is not covered below, check the documentation for your specific smartphone model - manufacturers often change the location of the settings.

Is it possible to move the Home button to the other edge of the screen?

On most smartphones, no, since the navigation bar is hard anchored to the bottom of the screen. However, some custom firmware (for example LineageOS) allow you to change the location. You can also use third-party launchers that support gestures, for example Nova Launcher.

Why does the Home button vibrate when pressed?

This is standard feedback (haptic feedback). You can disable it in the settings:

1. For Samsung: Settings → Sounds and vibration → System vibration.
2. For Google Pixel: Settings → Sound → Vibration on touch.

How to get the Home button back after updating Android?

Updates often reset navigation settings. To return the buttons:

1. Open Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.
2. Select "3-button navigation" instead of gestures.
3. Restart your device if the buttons do not appear right away.

If there is no option with 3 buttons, your device no longer supports this mode (relevant for Android 12+).

What to do if the Home button works, but with delay?

The delay can be caused by:

• System overload (close background applications).
• Weak processor (relevant for budget smartphones).
• Enabled interface animation (disable in Settings → About phone → Build number (7 taps) → Animation = Off.).

Is there a Home button on folding smartphones (for example, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold)?

On folding devices button "Home" usually is absent - it is replaced by gestures or a touch panel on the side frame. On Galaxy Z Fold/Flip to return to the main screen, use a swipe up from the bottom edge (on the inner screen) or touch the touch strip (on the outer one).