How to change navigation buttons on Android 11: all methods from gestures to customization

Since its release Android 11 in 2020, the system has undergone a lot of changes in terms of device management. One of the most noticeable innovations was full support gestural navigation, which replaced the traditional three buttons. However, not all users are comfortable working with the new interface - some are used to the classic panel, while others want to completely redo the appearance and arrangement of elements.

In this article we will look at all the possible ways to change navigation buttons on Android 11: from standard system settings to using third-party utilities and even manually editing configuration files. You'll learn how to bring back the old buttons, customize gestures, or completely remove the navigation bar for an immersive experience. We will also tell you about hidden features that will help make operating your smartphone as comfortable as possible.

It is important to understand that customization options depend on the device manufacturer. For example, Samsung, Xiaomi and Google Pixel offer different interface options. But the basic principles remain the same for all smartphones on Android 11 —be it a flagship or a budget model.

1. Standard navigation settings in Android 11

Let's start with the simplest thing - built-in system options. In Android 11 Google focused on gesture navigation, but left the opportunity to return the classic panel with buttons. To change the control type, follow these steps:

Open Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation. Here you will see three main options:

• 🔄 Gesture navigation - full-screen swipes (standard for new devices).
• 📱 2-button navigation - compact panel with a button "Back" and a gesture to switch tasks.
• ⬛⬛⬛ 3-button navigation —classic "Back", "Home" and "Recent" buttons.

The choice between these modes depends on your preferences. For example, gesture navigation saves screen space and looks modern, but takes some getting used to. A 3-button panel is intuitive, but takes up part of the display. On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy c One UI) there may be an additional option - gestures from the manufacturer.

If you want to return the old buttons, but do not see such an item in the menu, check if it is hidden behind additional settings. For example, on Xiaomi the path may look like this: Settings → Display → Full screen mode → Navigation type.

2. How to change the order or appearance of buttons without root

Standard settings Android 11 only allow you to select the type of navigation, but do not provide flexibility in customization. However, there are legal ways to change button orderthem color or even add new ones functions without obtaining root access.

The simplest method is to use launchers with advanced settings. For example:

• 🎨 Nova Launcher — allows you to hide the navigation bar in immersive mode and replace it with gestures inside the launcher.
• ⚙️ Microsoft Launcher —offers alternative gestures (for example, swipe up to search).
• 🔄 Action Launcher —supports setting up gestures on the desktop that can duplicate functions buttons.

Another option is applications like NavStar or Fluid Navigation Gestures. They overlay their own panel on top of the system one, allowing you to:

• 🔄 Swap the "Back" and "Recent" buttons (relevant for left-handers).
• 🎨 Change the transparency and color of the panel.
• ➕ Add additional buttons (for example, for quick launch applications).

Please note that such applications require permission Accessibility (in the security settings). Without this, they will not be able to intercept gestures over system elements.

3. Advanced customization with ADB (without root)

If you need Completely redo the navigation panel —for example, remove the “Recents” button or change it to a swipe—you can use the command line ADB. This method does not require root access, but will require connecting the smartphone to the computer.

Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Install ADB on PC (download Platform Tools s site Android Developers).
2. Enable on your smartphone USB debugging v Settings → About phone → Build number (press 7 times to unlock developer mode).
3. Connect the device to the PC and run the command:

   adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

   This will hide the navigation bar, but leave the gestures.

4. To return the buttons, use:

   adb shell settings put global policy_control null

For more fine-grained settings (for example, changing the order of the buttons), you can use the commands like:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,back;home;recent,space"

Where:

• back — "Back" button,
• home — "Home" button,
• recent — "Recent" button,
• space — empty space.

Important: after rebooting the device, the settings applied via ADB may be reset. To consolidate the changes, you will need to create a script to automatically execute commands when the system starts.

4. Complete replacement of the navigation panel using the command. root

If you are ready to go further and get root access, almost limitless customization possibilities will open up to you. With root you can:

• 🎨 Completely redo the panel design (color, icons, animations).
• ➕ Add additional buttons (for example, to quickly launch a camera or flashlight).
• 🔄 Reassign button functions (for example, double-click on “Home” to launch the voice assistant).
• 🚫 Remove the panel forever and control the device only with gestures.

The most popular tools for this:

• 🛠️ Xposed Framework + module GravityBox — allows you to fine-tune the appearance and behavior of buttons.
• 🎯 Tasker — for creating custom gestures and automating actions.
• 🖌️ Substratum — themes for changing the design of system elements, including the panel navigation.

Example of setup via GravityBox:

1. Install Xposed Installer and activate the module GravityBox.
2. Go to Navigation panel settings.
3. Select Add a button and specify an action (for example, launch an application).
4. Customize the appearance: color, icon, size.

⚠️

Attention: Getting root access will void the warranty on the device and may lead to instability system operation. In addition, some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff) refuse to work on rooted devices.

5. Hidden tricks and alternative control methods

Not everyone knows, but Android 11 there are hidden options for controlling the device without a traditional navigation panel:

1. Immersive mode

To temporarily hide the navigation bar (for example, to watch videos or games), swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold. The system will hide the buttons, leaving only a thin strip. To return the panel, swipe up from the bottom again.

2. Gestures in applications

Some apps (for example, YouTube or Chrome) support their own gestures, which can duplicate the functions of buttons. For example, in YouTube swiping left or right rewinds the video, and in Chrome switches tabs.

3. Voice control

If you are uncomfortable using the buttons, you can set up voice control via Google Assistant. For example, saying "Hey Google, go back" will do the same thing as the back button. To activate this feature, go to Settings → Google → Settings for applications → Search, Assistant and Voice → Voice Access.

4. External devices

A keyboard or gamepad connected via Bluetooth (for example, Xbox Controller) can completely replace touch buttons. In the settings Accessibility → Physical buttons you can reassign the keys for the desired actions.

6. Solving problems with navigation on Android 11

Sometimes after changing the settings, the navigation buttons may not work correctly. Here are the most common problems and their solutions:

If none of the methods help, try resetting the interface settings to factory settings. To do this, go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset settings interface. This will not delete your data, but will return all visual parameters to standard.

⚠️

Attention: On some devices (especially from Huawei or Honor), navigation settings may be limited by the manufacturer. In this case, the only way to change the buttons is to use third-party launchers or get root access.

Frequently asked questions

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*