This app was mentioned in 89 comments, with an average of 2.90 upvotes
This is for Rooted users only with an on-screen navigation bar who want more screen real estate.
For all of those with navigation bars who haven't done it, I really recommend Swipe Navigation.
I've tried many things like Pie Control, immersive mode etc but I've never liked them because of the loss of functionality (really slow and quite a hassle), then I discovered Swipe Navigation. I like my phone so much better now.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
I use this on my S8 with the navbar disabled. Works flawlessly. Swiping up from the left goes back, swiping up from the middle is home, and swiping up from the right opens up the app switcher.
I tried this one and it's beautiful but swiping up isn't instant and requires a short hold to initiate the action.
I've been using swipe navigation with the navbar hidden. And the actions happen instantly when you swipe from the bottom.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
I want to recommend an alternative to the navigation bar: Swipe Navigation (root). I don't like the look of pie controls. This is sort of the same navigation, but much more clean and simple. Has options for two-, three- and four-finger swipes. Even has a very well-made app dock, if you're into that.
I've been using swipe navigation for over a year now. It was definitely slower initially than the navigation bar but now that im completely used to it I don't think I lose any time. It helps that swipe navigation lets you customize everything so I was able to separate things like recents and back to last app into discrete swipes.
I run immersive mode with swipe navigation 24/7 so that my screen is always 100% being used by whatever app is open. Looks and feels really good imo.
If anyone's curious here's my custom setup, these are all swipes up or swipe ups and hold.
Left - back
Left hold - kill app
Middle - home
Middle hold - assistant
Right - recents
Right hold - split screen view
Far right (far right edge of screen only) - back to last app
Works really well for me after getting used to swiping accurately in the right spot for each action.
I'm gonna recommend another app since that one hasn't been updated since 2016: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
I've been using this for a few months now (with the pro version) and it's magnificent. I've disabled my navbar on my Pixel XL (because I was starting to notice the burn in) and it looks so clean now.
I'm pretty sure you need to use xposed or a custom ROM.
FWIW, I had the same concern. Somebody in this sub pointed me to Swipe Navigation which is a brilliant little tool that allows you to disable to nav bar altogether and use simple gestures to replace it. More screen real estate and less risk of burn-in.
Might not be your thing, just throwing it out there.
I don't think that makes it unintuitive, though. Android navigation has always been at the bottom of the screen, so a gesture navigation based at the bottom of the screen IS intuitive. I do agree that it's a bit of a long reach at times, which is why I am using Swipe Navigation to make the whole right edge of the phone a back swipe.
I'm an avid user of removing the Nav bar myself ever since I got the S8 a year ago, and Swipe Navigation in conjunction with Swiftly Switch really takes it to the next level! Never had any problems with either app, and after setting up Swiftly Switch's Quick Actions to trigger it's Grid Favorites, man, it's a blast!
Kinda a lame excuse not to update, however this app is pretty good, and you can make it exactly like the OOS navigation gestures with the pro version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation&hl=en_US
I use SwipeNavigation for swiping up from the bottom for home. I use EdgeGestures to have swipe right from the bottom edge takes me back, and swiping from the left bottom edge gives me multitask.
Also, for permanent nav bar delete add qemu.hw.mainkeys=1 to the end of your build prop after setting up your swipe gesture app and reboot. Then you can get immersive keyboard and all apps immersive ��. I use THIS app for swipe gestures. (Gesture sensitivity: 25, Gesture distance:6, long press hold length:200)
GOODBYE NAV BAR BURN IN!
I've been using this app for over a year now as a nav bar replacement and find it extremely intuitive and useful. It essentially gives you 10 customizable swipe actions, long press actions for each of those, and a customizable/optional application dock. Think pie controls but no visual popups.
To each his own, but that just seems like silly logic to me. I can see what a stock version of a device has to offer in 5 minutes. If I purchased a $400-$700 device, and the ability to root it and make it more useful by whatever means(custom ROM's, kernels, etc.) available than I'm going to do it.
For example on my Nexus 6P, I rooted immediately and flashed Cataclysm ROM & ElementalX kernel. The ROM gives me the ability to tweak the UI more to my liking with little details like moving the clock in the status bar to the center, moving around and adding/removing quick settings tiles, having the volume buttons switch orientation when I switch to landscape so clicking "volume down" increases volume and vice-versa, quick PIN unlock(which is now obsolete with the finger-print scanner, but in the past was great), the ability to hide the nav-bar and use Swipe Navigationto navigate eliminating the possibility of burn-in and freeing up screen real-estate, adding the famous clear-all recent's button, and many other things from just the custom ROM aspect of rooting. Oh, and don't forget Layers(although I believe Layers is built into stock as of 6.0 marshmallow.
Custom kernels like elementalX can increase battery life, performance, however on my Nexus 6P the best part of the custom kernel is the ability to tweak the calibration of this gorgeous screen and make it even better with custom color profiles.
Viper4Android increasing sound quality
That's just the stuff I had on the top of my head...not to mention it is all very fun!
Also back in the day when I used Galaxy devices(I had the Galaxy s2, s3, s4) rooting allowed me to tweak that nasty TouchWiz, or even completely get rid of it and run AOSP or in the galaxy s4's case Google Play Edition ROM on my non-google play edition device!
I was initially using Swipe Navigation, with the premium add-on, and I have to say it works really nicely. However, I was getting a bit bored, and when I saw this thread, I decided to look for some other app.
I tried XDA's Navigation Gestures, but honestly it did not feel fluid.
Then I found Pie Controls - Swipe Navigation Gestures, and wow, this is a really nice alternative. It almost feels native with how smoothly it runs, and it looks really nice as well.
I recommend giving both apps a try and pick your favourite.
Permanently disabled.
I use Swipe navigation for gesture control. I get full screen everything and if you want to hit home or back just swipe up from their old locations.
Setup with left with home/recents, center with home/recents, right with back/kill application and gesture setting with Gesture sensitivity: 25, Gesture distance:6, long press hold length:200. After you get that setup and tested add qemu.hw.mainkeys=1 to the end of your build prop for permanent nav bar delete.
I love Swipe Navigation ! I always root, so I'm not sure how great it is without. I completely remove my NavBar to avoid burn-in and reclaim that real estate. It's completely intuitive because you can set it up to perform the same actions as the on-screen buttons, complete with long press functionality.
Huh good stuff. It's like a no-root-required version of what I do to maximize screen space, which is to use the Swipe Navigation app and a build prop editor to remove the navbar. Granted it doesn't remove the status bar but I like having it always present.
You could add a single line to the build prop to hide the nave bar, and use Swipe Navigation to elegantly and invisibly replace the functionality without requiring some shitty unintuitive interface like PIE or whatever. All in all a VERY simple mod that will clean up your screen real estate and make you feel like you're taking advantage of root without feeling like you've gone full nerd customizing mode.
Another option that I have seen mentioned in a couple of threads recently is Swipe Navigation Root. Basically it replaces the nav bar completely with swipe gestures. It takes a few minutes to get used to the swipe gestures and you need to buy the unlocker to be able to customize the gestures beyond the default settings. Keyboards still work and the full version comes with basically a customizable app launcher that you can use. The only thing it doesn't do currently that I wish it did is auto-hide the status bar.
i don't know why this hasn't caught on. basically faster simpler invisible pie controls. one of the few apps i paid for.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation&hl=en
i have a nexus 4 so every bit of screen i can get out of it is good.
I recently found Swipe Navigation, which replaces the stock navigation bar with gesture controls so you don't waste that screen space. It's a better and simpler alternative than Pie Controls IMO, since it activates actions in one motion rather tan sliding out and choosing an action. You just swipe up from where each navigation button usually is to activate that corresponding action, so you get used to it pretty fast. It's very fast and accurate (in that you don't end up tapping UI elements instead of gesturing or vice versa), and I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone with a small screen.
I use swipe navigation and it's gives full screen . Gesture based navigation feels more normal than pill.
Immersive mode + swipe navigation. Blessed.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Also use custom navigation to add power button in navigation bar and another custome button for media volume. So I'm never touching buttons ever again.
I tried all the iPhone X like app on Play Store, none of them works better than those. There are some other choices actually, but it appear to be more laggy and Swipe Navigation. Here is my choice to replace the crappy X Home Bar (sorry je1992): - Swipe Navigation (Free or Pro): This app is litereally the best navigation hider app ever, you can customize whatever you want ( with pro) or stick with the default setup, which is swipe up (mid) to go home, swipe up (left) to go back and so on.. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation&hl=en
Thats enough, but if you want to swipe from the rear edge of the screen like the iPhone does, download this ( - (All in One Gesture: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phoenixstudios.aiogestures
Hope this help someone.
Wait for oneplus's swipe navigation implementation or root and download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
That's what I've been using from the day I bought it. Works better than oneplus's version imo
I use Swipe navigation for gesture control. I get full screen everything and if you want to hit home or back just swipe up from their old locations.
Setup with left with home/recents, center with home/recents, right with back/kill application and gesture setting with Gesture sensitivity: 25, Gesture distance:6, long press hold length:200. After you get that setup and tested add qemu.hw.mainkeys=1 to the end of your build prop for permanent nav bar delete.
I'll just post it here
Download swipe gestures first and set it up how you like: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Then download this APK and reboot once it's installed. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8DTpyUdT0UAaHBCTHpfY1FsNWs/view
You need root. I have already moved completely away from the nav bar to get immersive keyboard, all apps immersive, no burn in, and iphone x like gestures. I use THIS app for swipe gestures. (Gesture sensitivity: 25, Gesture distance:6, long press hold length:200) And for permanent nav bar delete add qemu.hw.mainkeys=1 to the end of your build prop.
EDIT: non-root version, I've never tried this method.
Well, there is an app to replace button navigation bar with swipes. Basically, it divides bottom of screen to 3 parts, then you swipe up on one of this part and it triggers action. Supports multitouch, longpress, and more. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation I used it year ago last time on my Nexus, don't know about current status but it was super useful and clean.
Even though we have the option to auto hide nav bar on s8, I have mine completely disabled.It can be done on rooted or unrooted phones.
Instead I have been using an app called Swipe navigation:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation .Works nicely.
Maybe remap the Bixby button. But you'll obviously loose Bixby. I've also used https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation in the past. Mostly on my Nexus 6P. Worked great too.
it is, and it causes the home button on the on-screen navbar to bug out
it wouldn't be a problem at all if the on-screen bar could be permanently disabled (without rooting)
then I can finally go back to using Swipe Navigation... I miss that :(
Not sure if it's something you'd be interested in, but I used this app called Swipe Navigation because I didn't have capacitive buttons and losing screen space to on-screen buttons annoyed me. It took a day or two to get used to it but eventually I found I liked it better than on-screen AND capacitive buttons. Just a suggestion. Maybe worth trying out anyway (it's free).
Edit: there are probably other apps that are similar, I just linked the one I used 'cause I could easily find it in my playstore history or whatever
I removed the navbar via GravityBox, and use Swipe Navigation.
Buttons are still in the same place, you just swipe them from off screen. More screen space + no burn in. So far it's much more intuitive than pie control.
The app is medieval looking, but it's kind of awesome. You can define many hot spots and swipe+hold actions.
Oh cool. It seems awesome, and you can do almost anything with it, but I think I'm just gonna stick with swipe navigation, the amount of options available seem almost comparable, and I don't have to worry about manually adding apps to a black list
A little off topic, I use the exact same gestures as /u/wrprt mentioned below, but as a big fan of gesture control I recently started using the app: Swipe Navigation. I love being able to get rid of the nav bar and using swipes for back, home, and recent. Additonally the app allows for long "press" options which are killer once i got used to them. Long "press" recent to switch to last used, long press back to kill app. The edges also have separate functions and even multi finger swipes as well. The extra real estate is awesome even on the huge screen.
The app requires root, but there is a non root version I don't have any experience with.
Definitely recommend!
It actually works with the side of the screen, but for some reason you're only allowed to choose one or the other, never together. There is also a Dock feature that is more versatile iirc, but I haven't tried it. It was previously used to access apps with a swipe, but a recent update added the ability for system actions.
You can download Swipe Navigation from the Google Play Store to restore the swipe up functionality of FireOS, hope this is what you were looking for!
I'm using swipe navigation app to hide it completely and control phone with swipes. Nice to have full screen size for apps. Can recommend.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Swipe Navigation is a root app that I've been using lately as a replacement nav bar (there is also a recently developed non-root version here that I have no experience with). Basically it replaces the nav bar with a swipeable area a la pie controls but there are no visual popups. It's been a while since I used the free version and I don't rightly recall the exact limitations but the pro version allows you to customize 10 swipe gestures and then long press actions for each gesture as well as use of a customizable application dock.
The dev recently overhauled the app and has been pretty responsive to user reviews and on his xda thread here. The only issue I've had with it myself is that the dock's icon support still seems pretty rudimentary as every time my icon set gets updated the dock icons change.
Swipe Navigation with navbar hidden by Magisk FTW.
I posted a related thread at XDA where people posted the root apps that they find useful.
I would like to go full stock. Nearly all the reasons rooting used to be necessary since 2010 have been integrated into Google Experience releases (e.g. Nexus, Android One, GPE, and so forth). At this point, Google Experience is still not perfect, but it's "good enough" to make benefits of rooting negligible. I feel that people who were hacking OG Android phones back in the day can relate to this mindset. Nowadays I see hacking as more of a hassle to gain one or two clutch features, rather than a fun way of modernizing an otherwise broken, cluttered release.
For now, I still root, for ONE reason. This is the first Nexus phone that doesn't have display imperfections, meaning I can disable the Nav Bar and not see yellow tinting or blotches that would otherwise be hidden by the black Nav Bar. At the same time, this is the first year where an app I've been asking for since 2012 actually exists. Now, I can hide the Nav Bar to gain full screen real estate, and replace the functionality invisibly. Unlike shitty nav bar replacements that have been popularized in the past, it doesn't have a UI. You simply swipe up where the Nav button would be. Doesn't matter how far or fast you swipe, you don't have to end the swipe on a UI element, there's no minimum millisecond requirement for the functionality to engage, it's just perfectly intuitive and invisible and incredibly lightweight. Since Swipe Navigation requires root, it's worth it.
HOWEVER, since I'm already committed to root for this one clutch feature, I figured I might as well install Franco Kernel for the High Brightness Mode. And Adaway. To me these are nice conveniences, but not critical. Having my full display and a navigation method that I've been preaching about for years is critical.
All in one gesture- Good app but you can't disable some permissions. Privacy issues.
Edge gestures- Not free. But doesn't ask unnecessary permissions. Best app.
Most apps have an option for switching between last apps. But I don't think that right/left gesture to switch between all opened apps is possible without root.
Your friend has lenovo Zuk phone???
I use Swipe Navigation to completely negate the need for a nav bar (I miss the hardware keys on OPO/HTC One M7).
Pure Nexus Project is what I use now to disable the nav bar entirely (previously with other ROMs, I just used GravityBox to remove it instead). Expanded desktop also lets you pick and choose which apps you want to hide it on. Also has multi-window.
Used to use stock kernel, now using franco kernel.
Stock Android is a much smoother experience that I think you'll like.
I personally use PureNexus ROM along with B14CKB1RD kernel because they both give me a balance of performance and battery life which I found perfect after a few tweaks, and they are extremely stable for me. You should find one that works for you, though.
As for a root app that you may not have heard, I removed the navigation bar and use Swipe Navigation because I'm not used to software buttons taking up screen space. The gist of the app is to swipe up on where the navigation button would be, and it would act like it's been pressed.
You could use Swipe Navigation to accomplish it system wide.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
I use swipe navigation.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Swipe Navigation and Gesture Control would be my top two currently. Navigation Gestures hasn't added the same level of shortcut, activity, and Tasker support as the other two yet, but it's supposedly in the works. So, I'd say definitely try out those three.
I like Tasker, Action Launcher, Swipe Navigation (I always hide nav bars on all my phones)
The ones I can vouch for are these two apps: Swipe Navigation and Edge Gestures
Swipe navigation has a dock included:
https://i.imgur.com/6YrE0nR.png
On any screen I can just swipe up and hold from the right bottom of the screen to have access to the dock (you can customize the background color, the size of the icons, the place from where you swipe up in the bottom edge [left, center, right, left corner, right corner], the apps and shortcuts of course and several other things).
This is the one I use, because I disabled the navbars and I use it to navigate around the phone. So, I haven't tried it along with the nav bar, and it just occurred to me that it might be annoying having the nav bar pop up every time you use the dock.
Edge Gestures doesn't interfere with the nav bar since this one only covers the left and right edges of the screen. It doesn't have a dock, but you can open a crap ton of apps by swiping in many different ways, now it takes a while setting it up (getting the edge distance and position right so it doesn't interfere with edge buttons in other apps, and assigning the right gestures to the right apps). Again, it's a bit more difficult to set up, but once you do it, you can access any app with just a swipe left or right or down or up or up and down or down and up, a double tap, a triple tap, a hold, one single tap, you can change brightness, volume by sliding... The way I hold my phone I can access all three navigation bar actions with minimal movement from my thumb, as opposed to having to move all the way down to access the nav bar or using a second hand.
So in my phone I have lots of gestures in both apps covering 3 edges of the screen which allows me to open all the apps I want and open split screen, music search, the assistant... whatever.
These two are the ones I use. They're the ones that fit me. They might not fit you. Since they're paid apps, you could try them out for an hour and see if you like them, but I don't think an hour is enough to get a real feel for them. Personally, I don't like buying apps unless I know they're of good quality and their developers aren't shitty, so that's why before I bought these apps, I downloaded the APKs and tested them for a few weeks. I cannot suggest you do this, because I don't know if you're savvy with download sites for paid apps. So, your call.
Now, apart from these apps, there are several others. If you click my links, they'll take you the play store page, and there you can see related apps, which are simpler and might be more to your taste if you don't like tweaking settings so much.
Just to give you a start: All in One Gestures, Finger Gestures, Swiftly Switch, Assistive Touch, and many more. These are all different styles and all free, and each of them has similar apps which might suit you better than the ones I've linked.
Happy hunting.
And don't forget Nova launcher also has support for gestures in the home screen.
An alternative is this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
it's slightly newer, but it hasn't been updated in a while.
An alternative is this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
it's slightly newer, but it hasn't been updated in a while.
Here you go. I can't live without this app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Is what I've been using on my 6P. I hate wasting screen space with the software keys.
Use Swipe Gestures. You do need to be rooted to use it.
Yeah, Swipe Navigation was a dream come true for me.
Of course there is. This app provides a vastly superior experience over oneplus's gestures.
You gotta be rooted though:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
I use Swipe Navigation, I always keep my nav bar hidden and it's a single swipe from the bottom to use the keys
That is a standard warning when enabling accessibility services for any app.
I think it functions better than many of the similar apps, but the fact the app refuses to launch when denying even a single permission led to me uninstalling—trustworthy or not. If privacy was a concern, I'd get one of the similar apps that didn't require data permission.
What do you need the app to be able to? Just back, home, and recent? Or, are you looking for button mapping and shortcuts? I use Swipe Navigation (and the unlocker), but it is fairly worthless without the unlocker. Permissions. If you do not assign one of the functions that require accessibility services, it doesn't even need to be switched on.
Gesture based navigation is so much better than on-screen buttons! I run a similar setup on my OG Pixel XL, but it requires root. I use either of these mods to remove the navbar: Method 1 or Method 2. Then I use Swipe Navigation which is dead simple, since you just swipe up from the bottom of the screen in the same places the buttons on the navbar were. So you swipe up from the bottom left to go back, swipe up from the bottom center to go home and from the bottom right to bring up the recents menu.
Lol that's not even the app's correct name, it's Swipe Navigation.
True, swipe navigation works great too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Use jOnePlus tools to disable the navbar
Swipe navigation, the best solution to this problem.
Bonus: more screen real estate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
Swipe Navigation gets pretty close. Otherwise you could try All-in-one gestures or T Swipe Gestures.
What about this app?
Try swipe navigation . I find it best.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suphi.swipenavigation
for anyone looking to try swiping without paying first, there's always Swipe Navigation which has served me well for many phones over the years (from my OnePlus One when it came out to my current Pixel 2 XL) :)
It isn't the same motions for me, but Swipe Navigation works really well on my 5T.
You can customize how big your swiping area is, how long you have to hold for secondary actions, how far you have to drag to initiate, etc.
High brightness and static images (icons, keyboards, etc) will lead to quicker burn-in elements. However, all AMOLED screens will gradually degrade and take on a yellow/red tint as they age. When this becomes noticeable on your device depends on your usage and luck—some panels seem to be more resilient over time. They will typically warranty exchange the phone for you if it happens while still under warranty, though.
Immersive mode hides the status and navigation bars. They stay hidden until you swipe from the top or bottom of your screen, which makes them appear for 3 seconds (if not touched—if touched, they'll hide after 3 seconds of inactivity). While this helps prevent visible burn-in, it can be annoying if using an app that requires a lot of navigation bar use. To help with the annoyance factor, you can use an edge gesture/pie control app: Swipe Navigation, Pie Control, Swiftly Switch, Gesture Control,, etc. Another option would be remapping hardware buttons, like volume up or down, to function as back, home, and recent buttons—while convenient, I might worry about wear and tear on the button, though.
If you decide you want immersive mode, the easiest way to get it is with System UI Tuner—since it will give you a toggle to use. You will also need the ADB tool on your computer to enable the permission one time.
Install System UI Tuner. Enable USB debugging in the Developer Options section of your phone's settings (settings, about phone, software information, tap build number 7 times to unlock developer options). Install ADB on your computer, open up the command prompt on your PC (from the right click menu within the folder with ADB in it if you haven't added it to System Path), type "adb devices" (no quotes) and confirm the prompt that shows up on your phone. Open up the Play Store page for System UI Tuner and copy each command line—paste and hit enter after each one.
adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS
adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.DUMP
Disconnect your phone and you're done. It's much easier than it seems and you could have the whole thing done in five minutes. This link gives more in-depth directions and includes some helpful pictures, including adding to System Path (which lets you give ADB commands in Command Prompt without opening it from the ADB folder). Personally, I'd take the extra 5 minutes and add it to the System Path, but it's not necessary.