Modern smartphones based on Android offer flexible options for personalizing the interface, but sometimes standard controls interfere with the full perception of content. Users often look for ways to remove the three-button navigation menu at the bottom of the screen or get rid of the annoying floating menu that covers part of the display in games and applications. This is especially true for owners of devices with small screens, where every pixel of free space plays a role.
The process of disabling interface elements depends on the version of the operating system and the shell installed by the manufacturer. While on “pure” Android it is enough to switch to gesture control, in custom firmware like MIUI or One UI additional steps may be required to hide the auxiliary buttons. In this article, we will look at all the legal and safe methods for removing unnecessary menu items without the need to obtain superuser rights.
It is important to understand the difference between the system navigation bar and third-party utilities. If the Back, Home, and Application Drawer buttons are built into the system, they can be replaced with gestures. If there is a translucent ball with tools hanging on the screen, this is most likely an accessibility feature or a third-party application that requires a different approach to disabling.
Switching to gesture controls instead of buttons
The most common type of “menu” that users want to remove is the classic navigation bar with three buttons at the bottom of the screen. Since Android 9 and especially in Android 10-14Google has been actively promoting gesture controls, which free up usable display real estate. To activate this mode, you need to go to the system settings.
The path to the desired section may vary slightly depending on the brand of your smartphone. Usually you need to go to Settings → System → Gestures or Settings → Screen → Navigation. Here you will see a toggle between the Buttons and Gesture Controls option. Selecting the second option will instantly remove the bottom panel.
- 📱 On smartphones Samsung the option is in the section
Display → Navigation panel. - 🤖 On devices Xiaomi i Poco look for the item
Full screen modein the settings of additional functions. - 🔍 On “pure” Android (Pixel, Motorola) the section is called simply
System navigation.
⚠️ Attention: After enabling gestures, the “Back” button may disappear visually. Swiping from the edge of the screen now performs its function. If you are used to the tactile response of buttons, adaptation may take a couple of days.
Using gestures not only removes visual noise, but also prevents accidental clicks while playing games or watching videos. However, it is worth remembering that on some older models with capacitive buttons (not on-screen, but touch buttons under the display), you cannot programmatically disable them - they are part of the hardware design of the device.
Disabling the floating menu and access balls
Often users confuse system navigation with the “Accessibility Menu” or “Assistive Touch” function. This is a translucent round icon that hangs on top of all windows and allows you to emulate pressing physical buttons. This menu is often turned on accidentally when quickly setting up a new phone or installing applications for people with disabilities.
To remove this element, you need to find the accessibility section. In most shells it is hidden deep in the settings. Go to Settings → Accessibility. Here you should look for subsections with names like “Accessibility Menu,” “Assistive Touch,” or “Accessibility Button.” Inside, you need to move the switch to the position Off.
Sometimes such a menu is installed by third-party applications for screen recording or gesture control. If you don't find a switch in the system settings, check the list of installed apps. Removing suspicious utilities that require the "On top of other windows" permission usually solves the problem.
If the floating menu does not disappear after turning it off in Settings, try rebooting your device in Safe Mode. This will help determine whether a third-party application is the culprit.
On devices Samsung this feature is called Menu Assistant, and on Xiaomi it is called “Quick Ball”. The logic for disabling is the same: find the item in a special section and deactivate it. You should not ignore this element, as it can overlap important interface elements in banking applications or games.
Immersive mode for games and videos
Even after disabling navigation buttons, in some usage scenarios, interface elements may pop up automatically. To achieve the maximum “full screen” effect, when even the status bar with the clock and the navigation bar (if it remains) are hidden, there is an immersive mode. It does not disable the menu forever, but hides it while actively working with content.
Many modern games and video players automatically activate this mode. However, if the application does not support it natively, you can use the built-in shell functions. For example, in game modes Game Turbo or Game Launcher there is an option to lock the navigation bar and status bar.
| Manufacturer | Function name | Where to find | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Game Booster | Settings → Games | Automatically hides panels in games |
| Xiaomi | Game Turbo | Security application | Allows you to block gestures |
| OnePlus | Pro Gamer Mode | Settings → Utilities | Disables notifications and panels |
| Pixel | Game Dashboard | Settings → Screen | Basic hiding of the interface |
Activating immersive mode through third-party applications requires caution. apps like Immersive Mode Manager may require permissions to be issued through the computer using ADB. This is a more complex method, but it gives full control over the visibility of all system bars.
How to enable immersive mode via ADB?
To do this, connect the phone to the PC, enable USB debugging and enter the command: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=* . This command will hide all system panels, but will return after a reboot.
Hide the status bar and notifications
The top part of the screen, where the clock, battery level and notification icons are displayed, is also part of the system “menu”. It is not always possible to remove it completely using standard means, but you can significantly limit its functionality. This is useful when watching movies, when pop-up notifications distract from the plot.
In the notification settings, you can prevent the display of icons in the status bar for specific applications. Go to Settings → Notifications → Status bar. Here you can disable the display of icons for instant messengers, social networks and other apps. The clock and battery usually cannot be hidden without deep modification of the system.
Some launchers (desktop shells) allow you to hide the top panel on the main screen. If you use Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, their interface settings often have a “Hide status bar” checkbox. This creates the effect of an edge-to-edge display even on devices with notches or notches.
⚠️ Attention: Hiding the status bar completely may cause you to miss an important call or low battery message as the indicators will be invisible.
You can temporarily hide the top bar while using a specific app use the Do Not Disturb feature. It does not remove the clock visually, but prevents the appearance of pop-up banners and sound signals, which is often the main goal of the user.
Use of third-party launchers
If the manufacturer's standard settings do not allow removing all unnecessary interface elements, third-party launchers come to the rescue. These applications completely replace the desktop and window management system, offering advanced customization tools. With their help, you can change the appearance of buttons, their transparency, or completely move the control panel.
Popular launchers, such as Nova Launcher Prime, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher, have built-in settings for hiding the dock panel (the bottom panel with application icons). This is not a system navigation menu, but often it is the dock bar that takes up extra space. In the launcher settings, find the section Dock panel and disable its display.
Advanced users can use launchers that support plugins. For example, plugin Nova Settings allows you to fine-tune the indents and sizes of elements. This makes it possible to “hide” the navigation bar off the edge of the screen or make it completely transparent, merging with the wallpaper.
☑️ Preparing to install the launcher
It is worth considering that installing a third-party launcher may slightly increase RAM consumption. On older devices with 2-3GB of RAM, this may cause background apps to close more frequently. Weigh the benefits of a clean screen against the potential loss in performance.
Advanced methods via ADB and Root
For those who are ready to go beyond the standard settings, there are methods for disabling system components through the debug bridge ADB or obtaining superuser rights Root. These methods allow you to remove or freeze the system application responsible for the navigation bar (SystemUI), replacing it with a modified version.
Use ADB is safe if you know the commands exactly. You can disable specific interface components without voiding the warranty (until the first reset). To do this, connect your phone to the computer, enable USB debugging and in the command line enter the command to hide the panels:
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.navigation=*This command will force the system to hide the navigation bar in all applications. To return everything as it was, use the command with a value null instead of an asterisk. Methods with Rootrights, such as using modules Magisk or applications SystemUI Tunergive even more control, but carry the risk of turning the phone into a “brick” if there is an error.
Modifying system files via Root gives maximum freedom, but voids the warranty and may disrupt the operation of banking applications due to security protection being triggered.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and settings names may change with Android updates. If you do not find the described item, use the search inside the settings menu using the keywords “navigation”, “gestures” or “buttons”.
Remember that deep intervention in the system requires technical literacy. Before experimenting with commands ADB be sure to back up your important data. An error in the command can lead to an endless reboot of the device (bootloop), exit from which is only possible through flashing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to remove the navigation buttons on Android 6 or 7?
On older versions of Android (up to 9 Pie) There was no full gesture control. You can remove buttons only using third-party applications that require root access, or through special themes that change the transparency of the panel. This cannot be done using standard means.
Why did the buttons appear again after a firmware update?
Smartphone manufacturers sometimes reset interface settings during major system updates. You need to go into the navigation settings again and switch the mode from buttons to gestures. This is a common practice to implement new interface standards.
Is it safe to hide the status bar for banking applications?
Yes, it is safe. Banking applications control their own interface and often forcefully hide system panels to protect data from screenshots. Manually hiding the status bar does not affect the encryption or security of the application.
How to return the menu if I accidentally hid everything and don’t know how to open the settings?
Swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and hold your finger for a second - this will bring up the recent applications menu or the main screen, from where you can get to the settings. If Full Immersion Mode via ADB is enabled, restarting the phone will usually reset the temporary settings, or connecting to a keyboard/mouse will help.
Does disabling navigation buttons affect the speed of the phone?
No, visually disabling buttons or switching to gestures does not affect processor performance or application speed. This is a purely cosmetic change to the interface, which may even slightly reduce the load on the GPU, since it does not need to render unnecessary elements.