How to remove the bottom bar on Android: 5 working methods

The bottom line on the Android screen is the navigation bar with Back, Home and Recent buttons, which takes up precious display space. For many users, it interferes with watching videos, playing games, or working with applications where every pixel of the screen area is important. Fortunately, it can be removed - completely or partially, depending on the version of the operating system and the smartphone model.

In this article we will look at all the current ways to hide the bottom panel: from standard Android settings to advanced methods using ADB and third-party utilities. Please note that on some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy with a shell One UI) the interface may differ - we took these nuances into account and provided alternative solutions. We will also look at how to get the panel back if it suddenly disappeared after an update or reset.

Before you begin, check the version of your Android: path Settings → About phone → Android version. The choice of method depends on this. On Android 10 and newer, navigation gestures are available that completely replace the bottom panel, and on older versions you will have to use workarounds.

1. Standard Android settings: gestures instead of buttons

The easiest and safest way to remove the bottom line is to enable gesture navigation. This method works on all smartphones with Android 9 Pie and newer, including Xiaomi, Google Pixel, Realme and others. Gestures allow you to control your phone by swiping along the edges of the screen, freeing up space at the bottom.

Instructions for most devices:

📱 Open Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.
🔄 Select the option "Gesture navigation" (on some phones - "Full screen gestures»).
✅ Confirm the change and test the new gestures (for example, swipe up to return to the main screen).

On Samsung Galaxy the path is a little different:

📱 Go to Settings → Display → Navigation panel.
🔄 Select "Gestures" instead of "Buttons».
⚙️ If necessary, adjust the sensitivity of gestures in the additional parameters.

If after switching to gestures the bottom panel is still visible in some applications (for example, in YouTube or Chrome, this is normal - it becomes translucent and disappears when scrolling. You can completely remove it only using the methods from the following sections.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei c EMUI) gesture navigation may conflict. with proprietary functions. Before changing the settings, check whether your model supports this mode.

2. Hiding the panel through the developer: USB debugging

For advanced users, there is a way to remove the bottom line permanently using ADB (This method works on most). devices, but requires connecting to a computer and enabling developer mode. Suitable for Android 7.0 and newer.

Steps to hide the panel:

Enable developer mode: Go to Settings → About phone and click on "Build number. a new section will appear “For developers».
Activate USB debugging: In the section for developers, enable "USB debugging» and confirm permission.
Connect the phone to the PC: Install drivers ADB (for example, via Minimal ADB and Fastboot) and run the command in terminal:
```
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*
```
Reboot the device: After executing the command, the bottom panel will disappear. To return it, use the command:
```
adb shell settings put global policy_control null
```

Developer mode is enabled

ADB drivers are installed on PC

USB debugging is activated

The phone is connected via the original cable-->

This method does not work on devices with MIUI shell (Xiaomi) and some Samsung models - there the panel will return after a reboot. For them you will need to use alternative commands or third-party applications.

⚠️ Attention: ADB commands change system settings. If after execution the phone starts to glitch (for example, does not respond to gestures), reset the settings via adb shell settings put global policy_control null.

3. panels: Nacho Notch and others

If standard methods do not help, you can use third-party utilities. They do not require root access, but may conflict with some applications. Let's consider the top 3 proven apps:

Application	Functions	Cons	Compatibility
Nacho Notch	Hides the panel and notch in the screen, adjusts the margins	Paid version for full functionality	Android 7.0+
Full Screen Immersive	Automatically hides the panel when launching applications	Does not work with some games	Android 8.0+
Hide Navigation Bar	Flexible hiding settings, gesture support	Requires ADB command to activate	Android 9.0+

Instructions for Nacho Notch (the most popular solution):

📱 Install the application from Google Play.
🔧 Launch and select "Hide Navigation Bar».
🎯 Set up touch zones for calling the panel (for example, swipe from the bottom edge).
⚡ Enable the "Auto-Hide» to auto-hide.

For Full Screen Immersive you will need to provide permission to use Special). capabilities (path: Settings → Special features → Full Screen ImmersiveThis is necessary to work in the background.

💡

If after installing the application the panel disappears, but does not return when you swipe, check the sensitivity settings in the “Gestures” section of the application. Sometimes increasing the activation zone to 10-15 mm helps.

4. (MIUI) and other custom firmware

Devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with a shell MIUI have their own navigation settings, which do not always coincide with standard Android. Here the bottom panel can be removed in two ways:

Method 1: Full screen mode in MIUI

📱 Go to Settings → Display → Full screen mode.
🔄 Select "Full screen gestures" (option “No buttons»).
✅ Adjust the sensitivity of swipes in additional settings.

Method 2: ADB command for MIUI

If the standard method did not work, use the modified command:

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

After execution, restart the phone. To return the panel, use:

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 0

On Samsung Galaxy c One UI path to gesture settings: Settings → Display → Navigation panel → Full screen gestures. Here you can select the style of gestures (Samsung or Android) and adjust their behavior.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, Redmi Note 10) after updating the system, navigation settings are reset. Check them after each update.

5. Manual editing of system files (for root only)

If your phone has root access, you can edit the system file build.propto permanently remove the bottom panel. This method is suitable for experienced users and can lead to unstable operation of the system in case of errors.

Instructions:

📱 Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
🔍 Follow the path /system/build.prop and open the file in a text editor.
✏️ Add the line at the end of the file:
```
qemu.hw.mainkeys=1
```
🔄 Save the changes, set the rights 644 and reboot the phone.

If after After reboot, the panel disappeared, but the touch buttons do not work, which means your device does not support hardware navigation buttons. In this case, return the changes back or use gesture navigation.

What to do if after editing build.prop the phone does not boot?

If the system does not start, boot into recovery-mode (usually by holding down the power + volume up button) and restore the backup copy of build.prop. If there is no backup copy, download the original file for your model from the 4PDA forum and replace it via ADB Sideload.

On devices with Magisk you can use the module "Hide Navigation Bar", which automates this process. Install it via Magisk Manager and reboot your phone.

6. If the panel itself disappeared: how to get it back

Sometimes the bottom line disappears after updating the system, resetting the settings, or installing third-party themes. You can return it in the following ways:

For standard Android:

🔄 Switch back to button navigation in Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation.
📱 If the panel does not appear, run the ADB command:
```
adb shell settings put global policy_control null
```

For Xiaomi (MIUI):

📱 Go to Settings → Display → Full screen mode and select "Buttons».
🔧 If the item is not there, reset the launcher settings: hold down an empty space on the main screen → "Home screen settings» → «Reset».

For Samsung (One UI):

📱 Open Settings → Display → Navigation bar and select "Buttons».
🔄 If the panel does not return, restart the phone in safe mode (hold the power button → "Safe mode") and check if it appears there.

If none of the methods helped, the problem may be a system file failure. In this case, a factory reset will help (don't forget to back up your data!).

💡

Before resetting, check to see if the panel is accidentally hidden by an immersive viewing mode in an app (such as YouTube or games). Often it is enough to swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to temporarily return it.

7. Alternative solutions: virtual buttons and launchers

If you can’t remove the bottom panel, you can use alternative control methods:

🎮 Virtual buttons in games: Applications like Octopus or Game Tools allow you to create floating navigation buttons that do not take up space on the screen.
🏠 Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher support gesture control and can hide the system panel.
🖥️ Desktop mode (DeX): On Samsung You can connect your phone to the monitor and use a mouse/keyboard where the bottom panel does not interfere.

For Nova Launcher setting up hiding the panel:

📱 Install the launcher and do its main one.
🔧 Go to launcher settings → "Gestures and buttons» → «Hide navigation panel».
✅ Enable the option and configure the swipe zone to call the panel.

These methods do not remove the panel completely, but make it less noticeable and disturbing. For example, in Lawnchair you can adjust the transparency of the panel to 30%, which will visually free up space on the screen.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about hiding the bottom panel

Is it possible to hide the panel on Android 6.0 and below?

On older versions of Android (up to 7.0) it is almost impossible to remove the panel without root access. The only working way is to use applications like GMD Full Screen Immersive, but they require ADB commands and may be unstable. An alternative is to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), which has support for gestures.

Why do swipes in applications not work after hiding the panel?

This is a common problem, especially in games and social networks (for example, TikTok or Instagram). Solution:

Configure exceptions for problematic apps in the application to hide the panel (Nacho Notch).
Use the ADB command to partially hide: adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.status=*.
Enable the "Show the panel in full-screen applications» (if available).

How to hide the panel only in specific applications?

An application is suitable for selective hiding Full Screen Immersive:

Add the problematic application to the list exceptions.
Configure the rule “Hide the panel at startup».
Specify a delay (for example, 2 seconds) so that the panel does not disappear immediately.

For YouTube or Chrome You can use the built-in settings: swipe up in the application - the panel will temporarily hide.

Is it safe to use ADB commands to hide the panel?

Yes, the ADB commands given in this article are safe - they only change the interface settings without affecting system files. However:

Do not use commands from unverified sources.
Before experiments, make a backup copy of your data.
If after the command the phone starts to fail, reset via adb shell settings put global policy_control null.

Why does the panel come back on my Samsung after a reboot?

On devices Samsung s One UI some navigation settings are reset due to security policy. Solutions:

Use the application Hide Navigation Bar with the option "Launch on boot».
Run the ADB command after each reboot (can be automated via Tasker).
Update firmware - in new versions One UI (4.0+) the problem is solved.

How to remove the bottom line on Android: hiding the navigation bar forever