Navigation buttons on the screen Samsung Galaxy is a useful interface element, but not always convenient. They take up precious display space, especially on compact models like Galaxy S23 or Galaxy A54, and accidental presses can be annoying when playing games or watching videos. Fortunately, Samsung offers several ways to hide them - from standard settings to advanced methods using One UI Samsung offers several ways to hide them - from standard settings to advanced methods using ADB.

In this article you will find 5 proven methods remove navigation buttons: from simple hiding with gestures to completely disabling through the developer. We will also look at which methods work on One UI 5/6and which are suitable for older versions of the shell. If you want to free up space on the screen or just experiment with the interface, read on.

Why navigation buttons get in the way and when to remove them

Touch buttons Back, Home and Recent (or their software analogues) take up to 10-15% of the bottom of the screen on Samsung smartphones. This is critical for:

  • 🎮 Gamers —buttons can be triggered when you press the screen in games with virtual joysticks (for example, Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact).
  • 📺 Video lovers — when viewing in landscape mode, navigation buttons may appear on top of the player (YouTube, Netflix).
  • 📱 Owners of low-budget models — on Galaxy A14 or Galaxy M33 every pixel counts.
  • 🖌️ Designers and artists - buttons interfere when working in Adobe Fresco or Krita.

However completely disabling navigation buttons has risks:

  • ⚠️ Without an alternative control method (gestures or hardware buttons), you will not be able to exit applications.
  • ⚠️ Some system functions (for example Split screen) may become unavailable.
  • ⚠️ On One UI below version 4.0, hiding buttons may lead to glitches in animations interface.
⚠️ Attention: On models Samsung Galaxy with physical buttons (for example, Galaxy S8 or Note 8), software disabling the touch navigation pad may lead to input conflictBefore making changes, check whether your model supports it. gestures.
📊 How do you usually control your smartphone?
Gestures
Navigation buttons
Hardware buttons
Depends on the application

Method 1: Navigation gestures in standard settings (One UI 5/6)

The safest and recommended method by Samsung — replacing buttons with gestures. It works on all devices with One UI 2.0 and higher (including Galaxy S22, S23, A73 and later). Gestures take up minimal space on the screen and are intuitive.

To enable them:

  1. Open Settings → Screen.
  2. Select Navigation panel.
  3. Tap on Gestures (or Full screen gestures on older versions).
  4. Select gesture style: Samsung (with a bar at the bottom) or Android (swipe from edges).

Advantages of the method:

  • ✅ Does not require rights root or ADB.
  • ✅ Maintains access to all functions One UI (including DeX i Split screen).
  • ✅ Works on all current models (from Galaxy S10 to Galaxy S24).
⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Galaxy Z Fold), gestures may conflict with multitasking. If, after enabling gestures, applications begin to minimize spontaneously, return to the buttons.

☑️ Preparing to switch to gestures

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Method 2: Hiding buttons through developer mode

If gestures are not suitable for you, but you just want hide navigation buttons (leaving their functionality), you can use hidden settings One UIThis method works on most devices, but requires activation developer mode.

Instructions:

  1. Activate developer mode:
    • Go to Settings → Phone information → Software information.
    • Tap 7 times on Build number (a notification "You have become a developer" will appear).
  • Return to Settings → Developer Mode (will appear at the bottom of the main menu).
  • Find the option force_fullscreen_gestures or Full screen gestures (the name may vary).
  • Turn it on and reboot the device.

    • What this method gives:

    Parameter Effect Note
    force_fullscreen_gestures The buttons are hidden, but remain accessible when you swipe up Works on One UI 3.1+
    qemu.hw.mainkeys=1 Completely disables software buttons (only for devices with hardware buttons) Requires a reboot
    debug.overlay.ui.enable=0 Hide system interface elements (including the navigation bar) May cause bugs in some applications

    If after changes the buttons disappeared completely and do not appear even when swiping, return the settings to their original state or reset the developer settings (Settings → General → Reset → Reset settings).

    💡

    Before experimenting with developer mode, take a screenshot of the current settings. This will help you quickly return everything back if something goes wrong.

    Method 3: Disabling buttons via ADB (for advanced users)

    For For those who are ready to go beyond the standard settings, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge). It allows completely disable the navigation bar, but requires a connection to a computer and basic knowledge of the command line.

    Step-by-step guide:

    1. Install ADB on PC:
      • Download Platform Tools from the Android website.
      • Extract the archive to the root of the disk C:\ (for example, C:\platform-tools).
  • Enable USB debugging on your phone:
    • Settings → Developer mode → USB debugging.
    • Connect your phone to the PC and confirm trust device.
    • Open Command Line (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and enter:
    adb shell

    settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

    To return the buttons back, do:

    adb shell

    settings put global policy_control null

    Warnings:

    • ⚠️ After disabling the buttons the only way to get them back - repeat the command or reset the settings.
    • ⚠️ On some firmware (for example, One UI 4.0 on Galaxy S21) the command may not work correctly, leaving a "dead zone" at the bottom of the screen.
    • ⚠️ Method incompatible with some launchers (for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher).
    What to do if ADB does not recognize the device?

    1. Check if Samsung USB drivers are installed (download from the official site).
    2. Try another USB cable (original from Samsung).
    3. Enable the "Allow USB debugging (safe mode)" option in developer mode.
    4. Restart your phone and PC.

    Method 4: Third-party applications for hiding buttons

    If you don’t want to mess with ADB or developer settings, you can use applications from Google PlayThey offer flexible settings for hiding buttons, but require overlay permissions (which may affect performance).

    Top 3 applications for Samsung:

    Application Functions Cons
    Nacho Notch Hides navigation buttons and a notch in the screen, supports One UI Paid version required for full functionality
    Full Screen Immersive Mode Automatically hides the navigation bar in selected applications May conflict with gestures Samsung
    GMD Full Screen Immersive Full hiding of buttons with support for exceptions for individual applications Complicated interface for beginners

    How to set up (using an example Nacho Notch):

    1. Install the application from Google Play.
    2. Run and grant permission to Overlay on top of other applications.
    3. Enable option Hide Navigation Bar.
    4. Add exception applications (for example, YouTube or Chrome), where the buttons should remain.
    ⚠️ Attention: Applications for hiding buttons can increase battery consumption by 5-10%, since they constantly work in background. On weak devices (for example, Galaxy A12) this can lead to slowdowns.

    Method 5: Manually editing system files (for root only)

    If your Samsung Galaxy has root access, you can completely remove the navigation bar by editing the system files. This method risky can lead to loss of warranty or system failure, but gives the maximum. control.

    Instructions (for experienced users):

    1. Install Root Explorer or Solid Explorer with root support.
    2. Go to the path: /system/usr/keylayout/.
    3. Find the file Generic.kl (or qwerty.kl for some models).
    4. Open the file in a text editor and find the lines: 
      key 158 BACK

      key 172 HOME
      

      key 139 MENU

    5. Comment them out by adding # at the beginning of each line: 
      #key 158 BACK

      #key 172 HOME
      

      #key 139 MENU

    6. Save the file, set the rights 644 (r-w-r--r--) and restart the device.

    Consequences:

    • ✅ Navigation buttons will completely disappear (including gestures).
    • ❌ It will be impossible to go back in applications without alternative methods (for example, gestures in the application itself).
    • ❌ Samsung Pay and other protected applications may stop working.
    💡

    Editing system files without a backup can lead to a “brick” of the device. Always create a backup via TWRP before. changes.

    Frequent problems and their solutions

    When hiding or disabling navigation buttons on Samsung errors may occur. Here's how to fix them:

    Problem 1: The buttons are gone, but the gestures do not work.

    • 🔹 Check if gestures are enabled in Settings → Display → Navigation bar.
    • 🔹 Reboot your device - sometimes One UI does not apply changes immediately.
    • 🔹 If you used ADB, run the command: 
      adb shell settings put global policy_control null

    Problem 2: After disabling the buttons it does not work Samsung DeX.

    • 🔹 DeX requires a standard navigation bar. Return the buttons through the settings. or ADB.
    • 🔹 Use external keyboard to control an DeX.

    Problem 3: In games, navigation buttons appear on top of the interface.

    • 🔹 Enable the game mode Immersive Mode (if supported).
    • 🔹 Use applications like Full Screen Immersive Mode to force hiding.
    • 🔹 On some models (Galaxy S22+) helps disabling Game Launcher.
    ⚠️ Attention: On devices with One UI 6.0 (for example, Galaxy S24) some methods of hiding buttons may conflict with the new system interface animationsIf lags appear after the changes, return the default settings.
    Is it possible to remove navigation buttons on Samsung without root?

    Yes, there are several ways without root:

    • 🔹 Use navigation gestures (standard function One UI).
    • 🔹 Apply ADB-command to hide the panel.
    • 🔹 Install third-party applications (for example, Nacho Notch).

    Root is required only for complete removal buttons through editing system files.

    Why do some applications not work after hiding the buttons?

    Some applications (for example Samsung Pay or Secure Folder) check the integrity of the system. If navigation buttons are disabled in a non-standard way (via ADB or root), they can:

    • 🔹 Block access to functions.
    • 🔹 Give an error "The device is not certified".
    • 🔹 Require a reset.

    Solution: return the default navigation bar settings.

    How to return the buttons navigation, if they disappeared after experiments?

    Recovery methods:

    1. If you used ADB: 
      adb shell settings put global policy_control null
    2. If you edited system files:
      • Restore the original file Generic.kl from backup.
      • Or reset via TWRP.
  • If the problem is after a third-party application:
    • Delete the application.
    • Disable permission Overlay on top of other applications.
    • Extreme option: Settings → General → Reset → Reset settings (does not delete data).
    Do these methods work on Samsung tablets (Galaxy Tab)?

    Yes, but with reservations:

    • 🔹 On Galaxy Tab S8/S9 navigation gestures work stably.
    • 🔹 ADB-commands are also applicable, but may conflict with DeX.
    • 🔹 On tablets with One UI 4.0 and below, hiding buttons can lead to crashes in multi-window mode.

    For tablets, it is recommended to use gestures or applications like Full Screen Immersive Mode.

    Is it possible hide buttons only in certain applications?

    Yes, these are suitable for this:

    • 🔹 Full Screen Immersive Mode — allows you to set up exceptions.
    • 🔹 GMD Full Screen Immersive —supports a “white list” of applications.
    • 🔹 Manually via ADB (advanced method): 
      adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=com.package.name

      (replace com.package.name with the application ID, for example, com.android.chrome).