Modern smartphones based on Android offer incredible flexibility in customizing the user interface, but many gadget owners are not aware of the depth of changes available. The concept of a “toolbar” in the context of a mobile operating system can be interpreted in different ways: these include navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen, the status bar at the top, and even controls in specific applications or launchers. The correct configuration of these elements can dramatically improve the ergonomics of the device and speed up access to frequently used functions.
Changing the standard arrangement of controls is often necessary when moving to a new phone or after a system update, when the manufacturer changes the logic of the interface. For example, relocating the Home button or enabling gesture controls can make it much easier to use your smartphone with one hand. It is important to understand that depending on the device model (be it Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi or “clean” Google Pixel), the paths to the settings may differ, but the basic principles remain the same for the entire ecosystem.
In this guide, we will analyze in detail all the ways to customize the interface, from standard system settings to advanced methods using third-party software. You'll learn how to hide unnecessary elements, change the transparency of panels, and even create your own shortcut combinations. Get ready to turn your smartphone into a unique tool, fully adapted to your personal habits and needs.
Basic setup of the navigation bar and gestures
The first thing the user encounters when he wants to change the interface is the bottom navigation bar. In modern versions Android there are two main control methods: the classic three buttons and intuitive gestures. Switching between them is carried out in the system settings, however, the location of the buttons themselves (the order of “Back”, “Home”, “Menu”) can often be changed manually.
To access these parameters, you need to go to the Settings → System → Gestures or Settings → Screen → Navigationsection. Here you'll see a toggle that allows you to choose between buttons and gesture controls. If you select buttons, the system will often offer an additional option to change their order. This is especially true for those who are accustomed to logic iOSwhere the "Back" button is on the right, while in the standard Android it is usually on the left.
Using gesture controls frees up a significant part of the screen, removing the black bar at the bottom, but it takes some getting used to. A swipe from the edge of the screen replaces the Back button, a swipe from the bottom up replaces the Home button, and holding your finger at the bottom of the screen brings up the recent applications menu. Some manufacturers, such as OnePlus or Oppooffer their own variations of gestures, which may differ from the stock behavior.
⚠️ Attention: When activating full-screen gesture controls in some older applications, conflicts may arise, since swipes from the edge of the screen may be overlapped by the internal navigation of the app. In such cases, it is recommended to add a specific application to the list of exceptions in the gesture settings.
Don’t forget about such a function as “Touch feedback” or vibration response. In the navigation menu, you can often adjust the strength of vibration when you press virtual buttons, which creates the feeling of a physical click. This is a small thing, but it significantly improves the tactile perception of the interface, making working with glass more pleasant and confident.
Customizing the status bar and notification panel
The top part of the screen, known as the status bar (Status Bar), contains critical information: time, battery level, network signal and icons of active applications. Many users want to hide unnecessary icons or, conversely, display additional data that the system hides by default. Customizing this area allows you to make the interface cleaner or more informative depending on your tasks.
In most shells, such as MIUI ot Xiaomi or One UI ot Samsung, there is a separate menu for managing icons in the line condition. Usually it is located along the path Settings → Notifications and status bar. Here you can enable the display of the battery percentage next to the battery icon, which is much more convenient than guessing by the color of the bar. The option to hide notification icons for specific applications is also often available, so as not to clutter the top panel.
The notification curtain or quick settings panel deserves special attention. You can edit the set of tiles that appear when you swipe down. Add a calculator, voice recorder or reading mode there if you use them often. To do this, you need to click on the pencil icon in the corner of the notification panel and drag the necessary elements to the active zone.
If your smartphone model does not allow you to hide the “notch” or camera cutout programmatically, use dark-colored wallpaper with a black stripe on top - this will visually hide the cutout and make the status bar less noticeable.
There are also advanced settings for changing the transparency of the status bar. In some launchers and themes, you can make this area completely transparent so that the wallpaper shows through the time and icons. This creates an immersive effect, but can reduce the readability of information on colorful backgrounds, so use this option with caution.
Use third-party launchers for complete control
If the built-in capabilities of the system are not enough for you, third-party launchers come to the rescue. These are special applications that completely replace the desktop and system control panels. The leaders in this niche are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher. They allow you to change literally everything: from the animation of minimizing applications to the appearance of the dock panel at the bottom of the screen.
Installing the launcher gives access to setting up the “dock” - the bottom panel with docked applications. You can change the number of icons, turn on the background, change the transparency, or hide it altogether. Some launchers allow you to add not only application shortcuts to the dock, but also weather widgets, search or system toggles, turning the bottom of the screen into a powerful toolbar.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher provides the most in-depth animation and gesture settings, allowing you to bind a double tap to any action.
- 🎨 Lawnchair offers an interface as close as possible to stock Pixel, but with the ability to customize the grid and icons.
- 🛠️ Smart Launcher automatically sorts applications into categories and has a unique toolbar for quick access to functions.
It is important to note that using a third-party launcher may slightly increase RAM consumption, but on modern devices with 6-8 GB RAM this almost unnoticed. Moreover, many launchers are optimized better than heavy factory shells, which can even speed up the operation of the smartphone.
How to return the standard launcher?
If you want to opt out of a third-party solution, just go to Settings → Applications → Default applications → Home screen and select the system launcher. The third-party application will not be uninstalled, but will simply cease to be active.
Toolbar in browsers and applications
Often, by the request “change toolbar”, users mean the bottom or top panel in the browser, for example, Google Chrome or Yandex Browser. In mobile browsers, the location of the address bar and tab control buttons can be changed for ease of use. This is especially true for devices with large screens, where it is difficult to reach the top with your finger.
In Settings Chrome on Android there is a “Toolbar” option. By default it is located at the top, but you can move it to the bottom. This action will move the address bar, refresh button, and menu to the bottom of the screen, within easy reach of your thumb. A similar function is available in other browsers, such as Firefox or Opera.
Inside other applications, such as instant messengers or office suites, toolbars are often less flexibly configured, but some apps allow you to pin frequently used functions. For example, in the keyboard Gboard you can customize the panel above the letters, adding quick access to the clipboard, translator or emoji there.
| Application | Moveability | Where to find the setting | Impact on ergonomics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Yes (Top/Bottom) | Settings → Toolbar | High (comfortable with one hand) |
| Yandex Browser | Yes (Top/Bottom) | Settings → Interface | High |
| Gboard | Partial (Row of buttons) | Settings → Panel above the keyboard | Average (quick access) |
| Telegram | None (fixed) | Unavailable | Low |
Remember that changing the position of the panels in the browser may affect the display of web pages differently. On some sites with fixed positioning of elements, the bottom panel may overlap the content, so after changing settings it is worth checking the display of your favorite resources.
Advanced configuration via ADB and system modifications
For users who are not afraid of the command line, it is possible to change system panels via the debug bridge ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to hide icons in the status bar that cannot be removed by normal settings, or change the behavior of the navigation bar at the system level. However, this method requires connecting to a computer and enabling USB debugging.
Using the command adb shell settings put global policy_control you can control the visibility of the system bars. For example, the command to hide the navigation bar (full dive) looks complex and varies depending on the Android version. A safer option is to use utilities like SystemUI Tuner, which create an interface for managing hidden settings without entering long commands.
adb shell pm grant com.android.systemui android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSThis command (after installing the appropriate tuner) gives the application the rights to change the system interface. After this, a new item “System UI Tuner” will appear in the phone settings, where you can disable the display of the battery icon, change the appearance of the clock, or completely repaint the notification panel in dark colors for AMOLED screens.
⚠️ Attention: Interfering with the system settings via ADB can lead to unstable operation of the interface or a “bootlap” (cyclic reboot) if disabled critically important system processes. Always make a backup copy of your data before experiments.
☑️ Preparing to work with ADB
Solving problems with panels disappearing or freezing
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where when the toolbar simply disappears, is covered by other windows, or stops responding to clicks. This may be due to a process failure SystemUI or a conflict with a recently installed application. The first step is to try a simple reboot of the device, which clears the RAM and restarts system services.
If rebooting doesn't help, check to see if Full Screen or Immersive Mode is enabled in the settings of the specific app you're currently using. The cause may also be a malfunction of the launcher. Try clearing the launcher cache in the menu Settings → Applications → [Your Launcher] → Memory → Clear cache.
In rare cases, the problem lies in corruption of system files after an unsuccessful update. If the panels behave inappropriately constantly, a factory reset may be required. Do not forget to save all important data before doing this, as this procedure will delete all personal information from the device.
In 90% of cases, problems with displaying panels are solved by clearing the cache of the "System UI" application or restarting the launcher, without the need to completely reset the phone.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions questions
Is it possible to change the size of navigation buttons on Android?
You cannot change the size of buttons using standard means, but some third-party launchers and modules Magisk (for root users) allow you to scale navigation bar elements. Also in accessibility there is the “Accessibility Menu” function, which adds a large floating button to the screen.
Why did the ability to change the order of buttons disappear after the update?
Smartphone manufacturers often change interface policies in new versions of shells. If the option has disappeared, try installing an application to change navigation from Google Play, which emulates a panel with the desired order of buttons on top of the system one.
How to return the toolbar in the browser if it has disappeared?
Usually it is enough to scroll the page up or down. If the panel doesn't appear, check your browser settings to see if you have View or Full Screen mode enabled, which hides controls to maximize the content area.
Does changing panels affect battery consumption?
Minimal. Using complex animations in third-party launchers or constant operation of floating buttons can increase consumption by 1-3% per day, but changing static settings (button order, hiding icons) does not affect autonomy in any way.
Is it safe to use customization applications from the Play Market?
Yes, if you download popular applications with a high rating and a large number of reviews. Avoid dubious utilities that require suspicious permissions, such as access to contacts or SMS, if their functionality does not require it.