Button "Home" (or Home) is one of the key controls on smartphones Android, without which it is difficult to imagine comfortable use of the device. It returns the user to the home screen, closes applications, and often serves as a starting point for gestures. However, its appearance and location can differ radically depending on the phone model, operating system version and even firmware.
If you just got acquainted with the world Android or switched from iPhone, finding this button may be difficult. In old versions Android it was physical, in new ones it was virtual or completely replaced by a gesture. In this article, we will look at what the button "Home" looks like on different devices, where to look for it and what to do if it suddenly disappears or does not work.
Physical "Home" button: what it looks like and where it is located
Before release Android 7.0 Nougat (2016), most smartphones were equipped with physical "Home" button. It was a separate key, usually located centrally under the screen. Externally, it could be:
- 📱 Round or oval button (for example, on Samsung Galaxy S5/S6), often backlit.
- 🔘 Rectangular key with a house icon (like on HTC One M8 or LG G4).
- 🔄 Touch button without mechanical pressing, but with tactile feedback (for example, on Xiaomi Mi 5).
Physical buttons were often combined with two adjacent keys: "Back" (left arrow) and "Recent" (square or three lines). Together they formed the classic three navigation buttons On some models (for example, Samsung Galaxy Note 4) button. data-i="60">"Recent" "Home"** also served as a fingerprint scanner.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with a physical button "Home"** its replacement or repair may require disassembling the case. If the key. stopped working, first check the settings in System → Gestures → Navigation buttons —it may be disabled by software.
| Brand/Model | Home button type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S7/S8 | Physical (touch) | With backlight, supports press and hold to start Google Assistant. |
| HTC U11 | Touch (without mechanics) | Responses to touch, but is not pressed physically. |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 | Physical | Classic circular button with white backlight. |
| LG V30 | Physical | Located to the right of the "Back" button (non-standard order). |
Virtual button “Home”: what it looks like in different versions of Android
With the transition to Android 9 Pie (2018) and later, many manufacturers abandoned physical buttons in favor of virtual. They are displayed on the screen at the bottom and can change shape, color and even arrangement order. Here is how they look in popular shells:
- 🤖 Stock Android (Pixel, Motorola): a white circle with a house icon, centered between the "Back" (triangle) and "Browse" (square) buttons.
- 📱 Samsung One UI: a thin white stripe with a house icon, sometimes with animation when pressed.
- 🍎 Xiaomi MIUI: round icon with a house, can be black or gray in a dark theme.
- 🔄 Huawei EMUI: button in the form of a line with a house in the middle, supports gestures.
In Android 10+ virtual buttons can to completely hide, giving way to gestures. For example, Google Pixel 4 or Samsung Galaxy S21 instead of buttons, a swipe from bottom to top is used. However, even in such cases, the “Home”** button can be returned. settings:
Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation → Navigation buttons (3 buttons)Gestures instead of the Home button: how it works in modern Android
Starting with Android 9 Pie, Google active promotes gesture navigationwhere the "Home" button** is replaced by a swipe. Here's how it is implemented in different firmware:
- 📱 Stock Android (Pixel, Android One): swiping from bottom to top in the center of the screen returns to the main screen. screen. Holding a swipe opens Google Assistant.
- 🌐 Samsung One UI: a swipe from the bottom up with a pause shows recent applications, a quick swipe returns home.
- ⚡ Xiaomi MIUI: a swipe from the bottom left or right - back, a swipe up - home, holding - recent.
Switching to gestures may confuse new users, but this approach has advantages:
- More space on the screen (no permanent button bar).
- Less wear and tear on physical keys.
- Smoother animation of transitions.
How to return buttons if you don’t like gestures?
In most firmwares, this is done via Settings. → System → Gestures → Navigation type. Select the "Navigation buttons" option (3 buttons). On some devices (for example, Xiaomi), you may need to enable developer mode and activate the option force_fullscreen_output via adb.
Where is the Home button on popular Android models
The location of the button depends on the brand and model. Below are the current diagrams for popular devices (for 2026):
| Model | Button type | Location | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Gesture/virtual | Swipe from bottom to top | Virtual buttons are enabled in the settings gestures. |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 | Virtual/gesture | Center of the bottom panel | Supports color and size customization. |
| Google Pixel 7 | Gesture | Swipe from the bottom edge | There is no option to return to the buttons. |
| Huawei P50 | Virtual | Central button with a house | The order of the buttons can be changed in the settings. |
On some devices (for example, Sony Xperia) button "Home"** may be on the right from the "Back" button, which is not typical for most Android smartphones. If you cannot find the button, try:
- Check the bottom of the screen for presence of a strip with icons.
- Swipe from bottom to top - gesture navigation may be enabled.
- Go to settings and look for the section
Navigation buttonsorGestures.
What to do if the "Home" button does not work
If the button stops responding to presses, the reasons can be both software and hardware. Here is the diagnostic algorithm:
☑️ Checking the Home button
Software. failures most often solved by resetting the interface settings or updating the software. For example, on Samsung you can reset the navigation panel settings through:
Settings → Device maintenance → Reset → Reset interface settingsHardware. problems (for example, failure of the sensor or cable) require repair. If the button physical, try:
- 🛠️ Carefully clean the area around the button with alcohol (dirt may have gotten under it).
- 🔧 Check if the battery is swollen (this may put pressure on the button cable).
- 📱 Connect the phone to the PC and check the response to pressing through ADB (if the button does not work even in recovery mode, the problem is hardware).
⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED screens (for example, Samsung Galaxy S22) Holding the virtual Home button for a long time can cause burn-in (pixel burnout). To avoid this, enable automatic hiding of the navigation bar in the settings.
How to customize the Home button for yourself
Many firmwares allow you to customize the behavior of the button Home. Here are some useful settings:
- 🔄 Double tap: on some devices (for example, Xiaomi) you can assign the launch of the camera or another application.
- 📱 Hold: default opens Google Assistant, but in MIUI or ColorOS this can be changed to launch voice search or menu.
- 🎨 Changing the appearance: in One UI or MIUI You can change the color, transparency or animation of the button.
On rootdevices the possibilities are even wider: using applications like Button Mapper or Xposed Framework You can reassign the button to any action, including:
- Launch a specific application.
- Activate Do Not Disturb mode.
- Open the notification panel.
If you often drop your phone, disable double pressing the "Home" button - this will reduce the risk of accidental operation and wear of the mechanism (relevant for physical buttons).
Differences between the "Home" button on Android and iPhone
Users switching from iPhone to Android, Buttons are often confused due to their different locations and functionality. Here are the key differences:
| Characteristics | Android | iPhone (up to iPhone X) | iPhone (with iPhone X) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button type | Physical/virtual/gesture | Physical (round) | Gesture (swipe) |
| Location | Center of the bottom panel | Under screen, in the center | Swipe from bottom to top |
| Additional functions | Hold - Google Assistant, double tap - camera | Hold - Siri, double tap - scroll up | Hold swipe - multitasking |
On iPhone button “Home”** historically was physical and served as a scanner Touch ID. On Android the fingerprint scanner is often placed on the back panel or on the screen, and the button remains a separate element.
⚠️ Attention: On some Androiddevices (for example, Samsung Galaxy A-series) the “Home” button can Vibrate when pressed - this is normal and indicates the sensor is triggered. If there is no vibration, check the settings in Sound and vibration → Vibration when touched.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Home button on Android
Is it possible to remove the button “Home” at all?
Yes, if you use gesture navigation. On most modern devices, the button can be hidden via Settings → System → Gestures → Navigation type. However, on some budget models (for example Nokia 2.4), the gesture option may not be available.
Why is the Home button blinking or backlit?
This may be:
- 📳 Notification (for example, about unread messages in MIUI).
- 🔋 Low battery (on some Samsung).
- 🔄 Firmware failure - try rebooting the device.
How to get the Home button back if it disappeared after the update?
Update the firmware to the latest version or reset the interface settings. If the button disappeared due to gestures, get it back through:
Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation → Navigation buttons (3 buttons)On Xiaomi you may need to disable the option Full screen mode in the display settings.
Is it possible to reassign the Home button to another action without root?
On most devices, no. However, some brands (for example, ASUS or OnePlus) allow you to assign additional actions through branded settings. For complete customization, you will need it. root-rights and applications like Button Mapper.
Why is the Home button on my phone on the right and not in the center?
This is a feature of the firmware of some brands (for example, Sony or LG).The order of the buttons can be changed in the navigation settings. On Samsung this is done through:
Settings → Display → Navigation panel → Button orderIf the Home button stopped working after the phone fell, do not try to disassemble the device yourself - contact a service center. Damage to the cable can lead to a complete loss of screen functionality.