How to switch between gestures and buttons on a OnePlus (OxygenOS 16)

Device

Android

Shown on

OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System & update › System navigation

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System navigation

   Go to Settings, System & update. System navigation said Gestures on ours. Tap it.

   Done

2. 

   Gestures settings

   Gestures was selected. Below: Hide gesture guide bar (off), Vibrate on back navigation (on) and Learn gestures.

   Done

3. 

   Choose Buttons

   Tap Buttons. Under Button layout, choose the order of the three buttons.

   Done

4. 

   Check the buttons

   The buttons appear at the bottom of every screen: Recents, Home and Back on ours.

   Done

5. 

   Switch back to gestures

   Choose Gestures again. The phone asks if you want to learn how to use navigation gestures. Tap Learn for a tutorial or Cancel.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Older OxygenOS? OnePlus's OxygenOS 14 manual has System navigation under Settings, Additional settings. On our OxygenOS 16 phone it is under System & update. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
• Circle to Search? With Buttons, the Other section had Circle to Search, on: touch and hold the Home button to search what is on the screen.

If this does not work

• Gestures don't work in games? With Gestures, Mistouch prevention said Game only on ours: the page says navigation gestures then need two swipes.
• Back swipe too sensitive? Under Gestures, scroll to Sensitivity to back gesture. It starts with a Left edge slider.
• Split View swipe not working? The swipe-up Split View shortcut only works with gestures: see Split View and floating windows.

About this guide

Swipe gestures hide the buttons at the bottom of the screen. If you prefer Back, Home and Recents buttons, you can bring them back.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. We switched to Buttons for pictures and back to Gestures.

Good to know

See what the buttons do in multitasking: Split View and floating windows.

In short: Settings, System & update, System navigation, Buttons or Gestures.