Gestures in Android 9 Pie: how to enable and configure navigation without buttons

With the release Android 9 Pie in 2018, Google radically revised its approach to navigating the system, offering users an alternative to the classic three buttons - gesture control. The new system, inspired by iPhone X, allowed you to hide the bottom panel and interact with your smartphone using swipes. However, not all manufacturers immediately introduced this function into their shells, and some even limited its availability.

If you are still using a smartphone with a “clean” Android 9 (for example, Pixel 3, Nokia 7.1 or devices running the app Android One) or custom firmware based on this version, then enabling gestures can be a great way to modernize the interface. In this article we will analyze all available methods of activating gestures —from standard settings to hidden commands ADB, and also look at typical problems and their solutions.

What are gestures in Android 9 and why you need them

Gesture control in Android 9 Pie is a navigation system, where instead of the traditional buttons "Back", "Home" and "Recent" the only one swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen is used. Depending on the context and strength of the movement, the system interprets it as:

• 🏠 Return to the main screen (short swipe up with a delay)
• 📱 Opening the list of recent applications (long swipe up)
• 🔙 Return back (swipe to the right or left of the bottom edge)

Main advantages gestures:

• ✨ More usable screen area —the bottom panel disappears, freeing up space for content.
• 🎯 Intuitive —after adaptation, control becomes faster than with buttons.
• 🔄 Compatibility with full-screen applications (games, videos, reading).

However, the system also has disadvantages: for example, not all applications process gestures correctly (especially if they are not optimized for Android 9), and some actions require getting used to. In addition, on devices with hardware buttons (for example, Samsung Galaxy S9 under One UI), gestures may work differently or not work at all.

The standard way to enable gestures through the settings

If your device is working on pure Android 9 Pie (without heavy shells from manufacturers), then you can enable gestures directly in the settings menu. Here are the step-by-step guide:

1. Open the application Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to the section System → Gestures.
3. Select item Swipe up on the "Home" button.
4. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.

After activation, only a thin white stripe will remain at the bottom of the screen - this is the area for gestures. To return the classic buttons, repeat the same steps and disable the switch.

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) the path to the gesture settings may differ:

• 📱 MIUI: Settings → Advanced → Full-screen display → Gestures
• 🤖 EMUI: Settings → System → System navigation

⚠️ Attention: On devices with hardware buttons (for example Samsung Galaxy Note 9) standard gestures Android 9 may be blocked by the manufacturer. In this case, you will need to use ADB or third-party applications.

Enabling gestures via ADB (for locked devices)

If there is no option to activate gestures in the settings of your smartphone, but it works on Android 9 Pie, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method is suitable for devices with shells where the manufacturer has hidden the function (for example, Samsung One UI 1.0 or Oppo ColorOS 5.2).

For this you will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed ADB drivers.
• 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the smartphone (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times, then return to Settings → System → For developers).
• 🔌 USB cable for connection.

Next run the following commands in the terminal (command line):

adb shell
settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 1

After entering the second command restart the device. Gestures should appear in the settings or be activated automatically. If this does not happen, try an alternative command:

adb shell
settings put secure swipe_up_on_home_button_enabled 1

To return the classic buttons, replace in the commands 1 on 0.

⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi) block changes through ADB at the firmware level. In this case, you may need unlocking the bootloader or installing a custom recovery. which will void the warranty.

Comparison of Android 9 gestures with other versions

Gesture control in Android 9 Pie was Google's first step towards abandoning buttons, but it differs significantly from later versions. Below is a comparison table:

Important: gestures in Android 9 do not support “reverse swipe” to go back in some applications (for example, YouTube or Chrome), which can cause inconvenience. In newer versions, this problem was fixed by adding a universal swipe zone.

Problems with gestures in Android 9 and their solutions

Even after successfully activating gestures, users often encounter bugs. Here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Gestures are unstable → Restart the device or reset the gesture settings in Settings → System → Gestures → Reset.
• 🎮 Does not work in games → Enable the "immersive full-screen mode" mode in the game settings or use the virtual "Back" button in the notification shade.
• 📱 Swipe conflicts with application gestures (for example, in Instagram or TikTok) → Disable gestures in the application itself (if there is such an option) or return to the buttons.
• 🔋 The battery is draining faster → Gestures themselves do not affect power consumption, but some shells (for example MIUI) can increase the processor load when processing them. Check the activity of processes in Settings → Battery.

If gestures disappeared after updating the application or system, try:

1. Clear cache Settings → Applications → Settings → Storage → Clear cache.
2. Disable and re-enable gestures in the settings.
3. Install the patch via Magisk (for rooted devices).

Third-party applications for gesture controls

If standard Gestures Android 9 are not suitable for you, you can use third-party utilities. They offer more customization options, but require additional permissions (sometimes - root-access). Here are the top 3 applications:

• 🛠️ Fluid Navigation Gestures - emulates gestures Android 10/11, works without root, but requires ADB for permissions.
• ⚡ Edge Gestures - allows you to configure swipes from any edge of the screen, supports tasks and shortcuts.
• 🎛️ Xposed Edge —a module for Xposed Framework, gives full control over gestures (requires root).

To install Fluid Navigation Gestures:

1. Download the application from Google Play.
2. Connect your smartphone to the PC and execute command:

   adb shell pm grant com.fb.fluid android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

3. Reboot the device and configure gestures in the application.

⚠️ Attention: Third-party gesture applications may conflict with system functions (for example, with Always On Display or Game Mode). Before use, check user reviews with your smartphone model.

How to roll back to classic buttons

If you don’t like the gesture controls, you can return traditional buttons in two ways:

1. Through settings:
   • Go to Settings → System → Gestures.
   • Disable the option Swipe up on the "Home" button.

adb shell settings put global force_fsg_nav_bar 0

On some devices (for example, OnePlus 6T under OxygenOS) after disabling gestures, it may be necessary rebootfor the buttons to be displayed correctly. If the bottom bar becomes transparent or disappears after returning to the buttons, check your theme or skin settings.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about gestures in Android 9