How to change buttons on Android: change the navigation location in 5 minutes

Touch or virtual navigation buttons on Android are an integral part of the interface, but their standard arrangement (from left to right: "Back" → "Home" → "Recent") is not always convenient. It is difficult for left-handed users to reach the button "Back", and owners of devices with large screens are forced to stretch their finger to press "Recent" applications". Fortunately, Android allows swap buttons —and this can be done both natively and using third-party applications.

In this article you will find current methods for all versions of Android (from 9 to 14), including branded shells One UI (Samsung), MIUI (Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco), ColorOS (Oppo/Realme) and pure Android on Google Pixel. We will also look at how to return the standard location if the experiment is unsuccessful, and what to do if the necessary settings are hidden by the manufacturer.

Why you may need to change the buttons on Android

At first glance, changing the location of the navigation buttons seems like a small thing, but in practice, this affects:

• 👆 Ergonomics —it is more convenient for left-handers when the button "Back" is on the right rather than on the left.
• 📱 Convenience on large screens —on smartphones with a diagonal 6.5"+, it’s difficult to reach the outermost button with one hand.
• 🔄 User habits — if you switched from iPhone to Android, the standard layout may seem counterintuitive.
• 🎮 Game mode — in some games, the navigation buttons interfere with controls (for example, in PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile).

In addition, on some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Pro), by default, manufacturers disable the ability to change the order of buttons through the settings menu. In such cases, you have to use hidden functions or third party utilities.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with hardware buttons (for example, Samsung Galaxy S8 or older models), changing their location not possible is a limitation at the hardware level. Also, some brands. (for example Huawei in the latest versions EMUI) block this function due to the peculiarities of the proprietary shell.

Method 1: Standard Android settings (for most devices)

If your smartphone is working on pure Android (for example, Google Pixel, Nokia, Motorola) or a shell with minimal changes (for example, Android One), you can change the buttons through the system settings:

1. Open Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.
2. Select item "3-button navigation" (if you have gestures enabled, switch to buttons first).
3. Tap on the option "Button order" or "Button location".
4. Select the desired option:
   • Standard (Back → Home → Recent)
   • Reverse (Recent → Home → Back)

On some devices (for example, Sony Xperia) this item may be called "Navigation panel settings" and located in the section Settings → Screen.

Is 3-button navigation mode enabled (gestures should be disabled)|

Is there in your shell, the "Gestures" or "Navigation" section|

Is the manufacturer blocking this function (relevant for Huawei, some Xiaomi models)|

Has a backup of the settings been made (in case of failure)

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Method 2: Changing buttons on Samsung (One UI)

On smartphones Samsung (series Galaxy S, Galaxy A, Galaxy Note etc.), the algorithm is different due to the shell One UIHere's how to change the buttons to Samsung:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Navigation bar.
2. Select “Buttons” (if you have gestures enabled, switch to buttons first).
3. Tap on "Button order".
4. Select one of the options:
   • 🔄 Standard (Back → Home → Recent)
   • 🔄 Reverse (Recent → Home → Back)

On new models (for example, Galaxy S24) Samsung can hide this item. If it is not there:

• 🔧 Try turning on developer mode (tap 7 times by Build number in Settings → About phone) and look for the option force_fullscreen_navigation in Settings → System → For developers.
• 📱 Use third-party applications (see Method 4).

⚠️ Attention: On some Samsung devices after updating to One UI 6.0 (Android 14) button “Button order” may disappear. This is due to the company's policy of unifying the interface. In this case, only third-party software will help.

Pure Android (Pixel, Nokia, Motorola)|

One UI (Samsung)|

MIUI (Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco)|

ColorOS (Oppo/Realme)|

EMUI (Huawei)|

Other-->

Method 3: Setting up buttons on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco (MIUI)

In the shell MIUI (set to Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco) you can change the buttons, but the algorithm depends on Firmware version:

If the required item is not there:

1. Try reset screen settings (Settings → Display → Reset screen settings).
2. Install alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), which supports customization of the navigation bar.

Method 4: Third-party applications for changing buttons

If the manufacturer has blocked the ability to change buttons through the settings, third-party software will help. The best applications for this task:

• 📱 Button Mapper — allows you to reassign both virtual and hardware buttons. Supports creating custom gestures and changing the navigation order.
  • ✅ Pros: works without root, supported by most. brands.
  • ❌ Cons: on some devices requires permission ADB.
• 🔧 NavStar - a specialized application for customizing the navigation bar. Allows you to change the order of buttons, their size and transparency.
  • ✅ Pros: simple interface, does not require root.
  • ❌ Cons: the paid version is needed for advanced functions.
• 🛠️ Tasker - a powerful automation tool that can reassign buttons through plugins.
  • ✅ Pros: flexible settings.
  • ❌ Cons: difficult for beginners.

To use Button Mapper:

1. Download the application from Google Play.
2. Launch it and grant access to Accessibility (Settings → Accessibility → Button Mapper).
3. Select «Navigation Bar» and swap the buttons by dragging them.
4. Save the settings and reboot the device.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 10+ for work Button Mapper you may need to enable USB debugging and run the command via ADB:

adb shell pm grant flar2.homebutton android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Without this, the application will not be able to change the system buttons.

Method 5: Using ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can change the buttons via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires a connection to a computer, but gives 100% results on most devices.

You will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with ADB drivers installed.
• 📱 A smartphone with USB debugging enabled USB debugging.
• 🔌 USB cable (better original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and open command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to test the connection:

   adb devices

   The serial number of your device should appear.

3. Run the command to change the order of the buttons (for example, swap "Back" and "Recent" places):

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

   For reverse order:

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

4. Reboot device.

If the command does not work, try the alternative:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use ADB can lead to system failure. Before experiments, make a backup copy of your data through Settings → System → Backup.

adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar

Method 6: Alternative launchers with customization of the navigation bar

If you don’t want to mess around With system settings, you can set alternative launcherwhich supports changing the navigation bar. The best options:

• 🌌 Nova Launcher —allows you to hide the standard navigation bar and replace it with your own gestures.
  • ✅ Pros: high customization, support for gestures.
  • ❌ Cons: for full control you need a paid one version Nova Launcher Prime.
• 🔄 Lawnchair —a lightweight open-source launcher that supports changing the order of buttons.
  • ✅ Pros: free, no ads.
  • ❌ Cons: fewer functions than Nova.
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher —offers flexible gesture settings, but not changes the standard navigation bar.
  • ✅ Pros: integration with Windows.
  • ❌ Cons: limited options for customizing buttons.

To change buttons via Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play.
2. Go to Nova Settings → Gestures and Controls → Navigation Bar.
3. Select "Custom" panel" and customize the button order.
4. Save the changes and set Nova as the default launcher.

What to do if the buttons do not change

If none of the methods worked, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔒 The manufacturer has blocked the function — relevant for Huawei, some models Xiaomi and Oppo.
• 📱 Outdated version of Android - on Android 8.0 and below, changing buttons is often impossible.
• 🔧 Conflict with other applications — some utilities (for example Good Lock on Samsung) can block changes.
• 🛠️ Damaged system files —if the navigation bar does not work correctly, resetting the settings will help.

Solutions:

1. Try update firmware to the latest version.
2. Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), if you have an unlocked bootloader.
3. Reset the settings to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset settings), but make a backup first.
4. Contact Service Centerif the problem is related to a hardware failure.

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware voids the warranty and can lead to data loss. Before the procedure, check the compatibility of the firmware with your model on the forum XDA Developers.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing buttons on Android

adb shell settings delete secure sysui_nav_bar