Many owners of modern smartphones are faced with a situation where the usual three buttons at the bottom of the screen - “Back”, “Home” and “Applications Menu” - take up useful space. This is especially noticeable on devices with elongated displays or when watching videos, where every millimeter matters. Hiding these controls allows you to switch to a more modern one, which not only expands the work area, but also makes interaction with the gadget smoother and more intuitive. gesture interface, which not only expands the work area, but also makes interaction with the gadget smoother and more intuitive.
The process of disabling the bottom navigation bar depends on the version of the operating system Android and the specific shell of the manufacturer, whether then OneUI from Samsung, MIUI from Xiaomi or pure Stock Android. In the latest versions of the system, Google is gradually abandoning buttons in favor of swipes, but on some models this function may be hidden in the depths of the menu or require activation through special developer modes. It's important to understand the difference between simply switching the navigation style and completely hiding the panel in specific use cases.
Before making changes, it's worth noting that switching to gestures requires a slight adjustment period. However, most users who have tried to control a smartphone without physical or on-screen buttons do not return to the old method. Next, we will analyze in detail all the available ways to remove the annoying panel and customize the system for yourself.
Standard navigation settings in Android 10 and later
Starting with version Android 10, Google has introduced gesture navigation as the main way to interact with the interface by default. If you have a relatively new device, most likely the ability to switch is built into the basic system settings. To access them, you need to open the menu Settings and find the section responsible for the display or system.
In most shells, the path looks like this: go to System → Gestures → System navigation. Here you'll see a switch between classic three-button mode and gesture mode. Activating the latter will automatically hide the bottom panel. On some devices, for example from Samsung, this item may be in the section Display → Navigation bar.
After enabling gesture control, the bottom bar will disappear, giving way to thin indicator line at the bottom of the screen. A swipe from this line up returns you to the main screen, a swipe from the edges performs the “Back” action. This solution is the most stable and does not require the installation of third-party software.
Using full immersion mode via ADB
If the standard settings do not allow you to completely remove interface elements or you want to achieve a “movie screen” effect without any indicators, you can use the debugging tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method requires connecting your smartphone to a computer and having basic command line skills, but gives maximum control over the system.
First, you need to enable developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item Build number. After the notification appears, return to the main settings menu, find the new section For developers and activate the toggle switch USB debugging. Connect your phone to the PC and launch the terminal.
Enter the following command to hide the bottom panel navigation:
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*This command puts the system into full immersion mode, hiding both the status bar at the top and the navigation bar at the bottom. To return everything as it was, use the command with the parameter null:
adb shell settings put global policy_control nullWhat to do if the command did not work?
If the command does not work, your firmware may be blocking changes to global security settings. Try replacing * with the specific app package name, for example: immersive.full=com.android.browser. This will hide the panels only in the browser.
Before entering commands, make sure that the drivers for your smartphone are installed on your computer, otherwise the computer will not see the device in debugging mode.
Hide buttons using launcher applications
An alternative and safer way for inexperienced users is to install a third-party launcher. Applications like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to flexibly customize the appearance of the desktop and often have their own settings for controlling or simulating the navigation bar.
Although launchers cannot systematically disable buttons at the kernel level without root access, they offer functions that override the standard interface or change the behavior of gestures. In the settings of such a launcher there is usually a section Interface or Control Panelwhere you can select the navigation style.
Some advanced launchers allow you to create profiles for different tasks. For example, you can set up a reading profile where the bottom bar is hidden automatically when you launch the book app. This is convenient for those who do not want to go into system settings every time.
- 📱 Nova Launcher - one of the most popular options with a huge number of gesture and appearance settings.
- 🎨 Lawnchair - a lightweight launcher that imitates the clean Pixel style, works great with gesture navigation.
- 🚀 Smart Launcher 6 - offers automatic categorization of applications and smart hiding of elements interface.
⚠️ Attention: When installing third-party launchers, the system may periodically reset navigation settings to standard after Android security updates. Be prepared to check your settings periodically.
Settings in various manufacturers' shells
Smartphone manufacturers often modify the shell Android, adding their own unique functions and changing the menu layout. Therefore, the algorithm for hiding buttons may differ depending on the brand of your device. Below is a table with paths to settings for the most popular shells.
| Brand / Shell | Path to settings | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → Display → Navigation bar | You can choose between buttons and gestures, adjust sensitivity. |
| Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS) | Settings → Home screen → System navigation | Additionally, you can hide gesture prompts. |
| Huawei (EMUI) | Settings → System → Navigation | Support for gestures appeared in later versions of EMUI. |
| Google Pixel | Settings → System → Gestures | The smoothest implementation, minimal number of settings. |
Device owners Xiaomi should pay attention to the function "Hide Gesture Tips." Even with gestures enabled, a small indicator bar may remain at the bottom. In the navigation settings menu there is often a separate toggle switch to turn it off, which makes the screen completely clear.
On devices Samsung in the gesture navigation mode, you can also adjust the sensitivity area of the edges of the screen. This is useful if you often accidentally swipe away from the edge while just trying to scroll through your social media feed. The setting is in the same menu as selecting the navigation type.
Always check for firmware updates: manufacturers often add the ability to hide buttons with new software versions, without requiring third-party solutions.
Compatibility issues with older applications
Switching to full-screen mode or gesture mode navigation may reveal compatibility issues with older apps that were designed solely to have a physical or on-screen Home button. In such cases, the application may not scale correctly, leaving black bars around the edges or being occluded by system elements.
To fix this, there is an option in the developer settings that forces applications to change their behavior. Go to Settings → For developers and find the item Compatibility with full-screen applications (or a similar name). Here you can select a specific application and set its display mode.
Sometimes manually launching the application in compatibility mode helps. To do this, you need to hold down the task switch button (square) and select the application icon at the top of the list, if such an option is available in your version Android. This will force the system to launch the app in emulation mode of the old screen proportions.
⚠️ Attention: The interface of the “For Developers” menu may change depending on the version of Android. If you do not find the item you need, use the search inside the settings menu for “full screen.”
Common errors and how to fix them
Even if the instructions are followed correctly, users may experience that the buttons do not disappear or reappear after a reboot. This is often due to the fact that some kind of accessibility mode or special application is activated that intercepts navigation control.
Check the list of applications with special rights. Go to Settings → Accessibility. If services are activated there that draw on top of other windows (for example, blue light filters, voice recorders with a floating window), they may block hiding the system tray. Try disabling them temporarily.
Another reason may be a failure in the system process SystemUI. In this case, clearing the cache of this application helps. Go to Settings → Applications → Show system processes → SystemUI → Memory → Clear cache. After that, restart the device.
☑️ Diagnosing a problem with buttons
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to remove buttons on Android 8 or 9 without root access?
On versions of Android 8 (Oreo) and 9 (Pie), there is no standard function of completely hiding buttons through the menu. However, you can activate experimental gestures through the ADB console with the command adb shell settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "back,home,recent" (parameters may vary), but this does not guarantee that the panel will completely disappear on all devices.
Does hiding the buttons affect the operation of the fingerprint scanner?
No, hiding the soft navigation buttons does not affect the operation in any way biometric sensors, be it an in-screen scanner, on the back panel or in a side button. This is a purely visual change to the interface.
How can I get the buttons back if I have forgotten the settings?
The easiest way is to restart the phone in safe mode (usually by holding down the power button, then long pressing the “Power Off” icon on the screen). In safe mode, third-party launchers are disabled, and you can go into settings and return to standard navigation. If you used ADB, just connect the phone to the PC and enter the reset command.
Why did the battery drain faster after hiding the buttons?
Hiding the buttons itself does not consume energy. However, if you used a third-party application for this, it may be running in the background and consuming resources. Gesture navigation built into the system, on the contrary, is often better optimized and can even save battery due to the lack of constant rendering of button graphic elements.