How to set up the bottom panel on Honor Android smartphones: from gestures to design

The bottom panel on smartphones Honor (or “navigation panel”) is not just a set of buttons for returning and switching applications. This is a key element of the interface MagicOS (and outdated EMUI), which affects the ease of operation, speed and even the appearance of the screen. Many users do not suspect that the panel can be completely redesigned to suit themselves: remove the classic buttons in favor of gestures, change their order, adjust transparency, or even hide the panel in full-screen applications.

In this article we will analyze all available customization methods the bottom panel on Honor —from basic settings to hidden functions that the manufacturer does not advertise. The emphasis is on modern models (series Honor 90/100/200 and newer) with firmware MagicOS 7.0+, but most of the tips are also suitable for older devices. If you have a different OS version, check the presence of the described items in the menu: some options may be missing or named differently.

1. How to open the bottom panel settings on Honor

Before changing anything, you need to find the correct menu. T MagicOS the path to navigation settings is not always obvious - especially if you are used to “pure” Android. Here are two reliable ways:

• 📱 Through the main settings: open Settings → System and updates → System navigation. On some models, the path may look like Settings → Screen → System navigation.
• ⚙️ Through the quick settings panel: swipe down from the top edge of the screen, find the “⚙️ Settings” (gear) icon → “System navigation.”
• 🔍 Through search: in the top line of settings, enter the request “navigation” or “button panel.”

If you do not see the “System Navigation” item, you probably have a third-party shell installed (for example Google Android One on some models Honor Play). In this case, the path will be different: Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.

Important: on devices with MagicOS 8.0 and newer, part of the bottom panel settings can be hidden behind the “For Developers” option. To activate it, go to Settings → About phone and click on “Build number” 7 times. After this, the “For Developers” section will appear in the main settings menu, where you can fine-tune the display of the panel (for example, disable button animation).

2. Selecting the type of navigation: buttons vs gestures

The first thing you need to determine is whether you are more comfortable: traditional buttons (Back, Home, Recents) or modern ones. Each option has pros and cons: what control method is it more convenient for you: traditional buttons (“Back”, “Home”, “Recents”) or modern ones gestures. Each option has pros and cons:

Option	Classic buttons	Gestures
Convenience for beginners	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Working speed	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saving screen space	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Game support	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐ (may conflict)

To change the navigation type:

1. Go to Settings → System navigation.
2. Select one of the options:
   • 🔘 Navigation buttons —traditional three buttons at the bottom of the screen.
   • 👆 Gestures (swipe up) —swipe from the bottom edges for back, home, multitasking.
   • 🔄 Gestures from the side edges (not available on all models) - swipe left/right for navigation.

Click "Done" and test the new one mode. The system will offer a short tutorial on gestures.

On Honor 200 Pro and newer models, a unique “Gestures + dynamic panel” mode is available - a hybrid option where buttons appear only when you swipe up from the bottom edge. This is convenient for those who want both gestures and visual cues. To activate it, select “Gestures” in the navigation menu, then enable the “Show panel when swiping” option.

3. Customizing the appearance of classic buttons

If you settled on traditional buttons, you can customize fit them to your style. In MagicOS the following options are available:

• 🎨 Button order: you can swap “Back” and “Recent” (useful for left-handers or those accustomed to a different layout). To do this, in the navigation menu, click “Button order” and select the desired option.
• 🖼️ Color and transparency: in some firmware you can change the color of the buttons (black, white, gray) or make them translucent. The option is hidden in Settings → Display → Navigation button style.
• 📏 Panel Size: on devices with MagicOS 7.1+ you can reduce the height of the bottom panel, freeing up space for content. Look for the "Panel Height" slider in the navigation settings.
• 🔄 Animation: disables visual effects when pressing buttons (useful for saving battery power). Located in the “For Developers” menu.

On models Honor Magic V2 and Honor Magic 6 the “Adaptive Color” option is available, in which the buttons automatically adjust to the color of the wallpaper or open application. To enable it:

1. Open Settings → Wallpaper and style → Color palette.
2. Activate the "Adaptive colors" option.
3. Go back to navigation settings and select "Button color" → Automatic."

How to return the old buttons on Honor with MagicOS 8.0?

Starting with MagicOS 8.0, the manufacturer removes the ability to use classic buttons in some regions. If the option is missing, try changing the device region to "Europe" or "China" in the language settings. After a reboot, the "Navigation buttons" item may appear again.

4. Fine-tuning gestures on Honor

Gestures on Honor are flexible, but many users use them “as is”, not knowing about the hidden capabilities. Here's what you can change:

• 👈 Swipe sensitivity: if gestures work too easily or, conversely, do not respond, adjust the sensitivity in Settings → System navigation → Gesture settings → Sensitivity. The optimal value is “Medium.”
• 🔙 Back gesture: By default, swipe on the right, but can be reassigned to swipe on the left (convenient for left-handed). The “Double tap” option is also available to go back.
• 🏠 Home gesture: you can adjust the delay before opening Google Assistant (if you hold your finger on the gesture). The default delay is 0.5 seconds.
• 📱 Ignoring gestures in games: Activate the "Disable gestures in landscape mode" option to avoid accidentally leaving the game by swiping.

On devices with MagicOS 7.2+ the "Smart Gestures" function has appeared - additional swipes for quick actions:

Gesture	Action	How to enable
Swipe up and hold	Open Google Assistant	Settings → System navigation → Smart gestures
Double swipe up	Quickly open the last one applications	Ibid
Swipe down from the bottom edge	Collapse keyboard	Requires activation in “For Developers”

Attention: on some models (Honor X6a, Honor 70 Lite) smart gestures may conflict with gestures for launching the camera or other applications. If you notice bugs, disable conflicting options in Settings → Accessibility → Gestures and movements.

Swipe up from the bottom edge → Home

Swipe up and hold → Multitasking

Swipe left/right → Back

Double tap → Return (if enabled)

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5. How to hide the bottom bar in games and applications

The bottom panel (even in gesture mode) can get in the way when playing games or watching videos. There are several ways to hide it: MagicOS There are several ways to hide it:

• 🎮 Automatic hiding in games: enable the option “Hide the panel in full-screen applications” in Settings → System navigation → Advanced. Works for most games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact etc.).
• 📺 Manual hiding: in some applications (for example, YouTube or Netflix) the panel disappears when you double tap on the screen. If it doesn't work, check the application settings.
• 🔧 Via ADB (for advanced): You can forcefully disable the panel for specific applications with the command:

  adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

  Attention: This will disable the panel completely, and it can only be returned by rebooting or repeating the command.

If the panel is not hidden in a specific application, try:

1. Go to the settings of this application (press the icon on the main screen → “Application information”).
2. Select “Full screen mode” or “Display on top of other windows.”
3. If there are no options, check the developer settings: enable “Force full-screen mode.”

6. Solving problems with the bottom panel on Honor

Sometimes the bottom panel behaves incorrectly: it disappears, does not respond to presses, or appears where it is not needed. Here the most common problems and their solutions:

• ❌ The panel does not appear:
  • Reboot the device - this resets temporary interface errors.
  • Check whether it is activated “Borderless” mode in the screen settings.
  • If the panel disappeared after the update, reset the navigation settings to standard (Settings → System navigation → Reset).
• ⏳ Delay when pressing buttons:
  • Disable animation in the "For Developers" menu (option "Window Animation" and "Transition Animation" → set to 0.5x).
  • Clear the system cache (Settings → Memory → Clear → Cache).
• 🔄 Gestures work crookedly:
  • Check whether there is a protective film or case installed that blocks swipes.
  • Update the firmware - in new versions MagicOS bugs with gestures are fixed.
  • Reset the gesture settings to standard.

Attention: if after changing the firmware (for example, from EMUI to MagicOS) the bottom panel begins to behave unpredictably, reset the interface settings. To do this:

1. Open Settings → System → Reset.
2. Select “Reset interface settings” (do not confuse with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and restart the device.

If the problem persists, check the device for viruses (for example, through Honor Guard) - some malicious applications can replace system interface elements.

7. Additional tricks with the bottom panel

For those who want to squeeze out Honor maximum, there are several hidden chipsthat few people know about:

• 🎛️ Customization via ADB: using the commands adb you can change the color, size and even add your own icons for the buttons. For example, to make the panel completely. transparent:

  adb shell settings put global navigationbar_color "transparent"
  adb shell settings put global navigationbar_current_color "transparent"

  Caution: not all firmware support this command.
• 🔄 Quickly switch between modes: add the “System navigation” tile to the quick settings panel Now you can switch between buttons and gestures in one. tap.
• 📱 Emulation of buttons on the screen: If the physical buttons are broken, turn on the virtual panel in Settings → Accessibility → System navigation → Virtual buttons.
• 🔧 Configuration through third-party ones. applications: utilities like Nacho Notch or Edge Gestures allow you to fine-tune the gestures and appearance of the panel. Please note that they require rights ADB or root.

On Honor devices with the Kirin 9000s chip (for example, Honor Magic 6 Pro), a unique “Dynamic panel” function is available - the buttons automatically adjust to the color of the application interface. To activate it, select “Button color → Dynamic” in the navigation settings.

How to return bottom panel after reset?

If after resetting the settings the panel disappears and the navigation menu is empty, try:

1. Set the device region to "China" (in the language settings).

2. Update the firmware via HiSuite.

3. Reset via recovery (hold Power + Volume Up while booting).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the bottom panel on Honor

Is it possible to completely remove the bottom panel on Honor?

Yes, but with reservations:

• In gestures the panel hides automatically, but appears when you swipe up.
• In games and some applications it can be hidden through the full screen mode settings.
• Complete removal is possible only through ADB or root, but this may disrupt the system.

Why are there no gesture settings on my Honor?

Probable reasons:

• You have old firmware (EMUI 9.0 and below do not support modern gestures).
• The device was released for a specific region (for example, some models for China have reduced settings).
• The manufacturer has disabled the option in your version MagicOS (check for updates).

Solution: update the firmware or use third-party applications to emulate gestures (for example, Fluid Navigation Gestures).

How to change the icons of the "Back", "Home", "Recent" buttons?

In the standard settings MagicOS there is no this option, but there are workarounds:

1. Install the theme from Honor Themes, which changes the icons of system buttons.
2. Use ADB-commands to replace icons (knowledge and system backup are required).
3. Install a launcher like Nova Launcherthat supports customizing the navigation panel.

Attention: Changing system icons can lead to interface failures!

Gestures conflict with applications. What should I do?

The problem is typical for games and applications with their own gestures. (for example TikTok or Instagram) Solutions:

• Disable gestures for a specific application in Settings → Applications → [Application name] → Full screen mode.
• Use “Game Mode” (Game Turbo) - it blocks system gestures in games.
• Reduce the sensitivity of swipes in the navigation settings.

Is it possible to return the old buttons on Honor with MagicOS 8.0?

In the latest versions MagicOS the manufacturer removes the classic buttons in favor of gestures, but there are ways to return them:

• Change the device region to “Europe” or “China” in the language settings.
• Roll back the firmware to MagicOS 7.1 (risky, may break the operation of the device).
• Use ADB-command:

  adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.threebutton

  (does not work on all models).

If all else fails, consider using third-party panels (for example NavStar from Google Play).