How to switch to 3-button navigation on Android
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Open Settings, tap System, then Navigation mode, and choose 3-button navigation. On phones from other makers the path is Settings, System, Gestures, Navigation mode. The Back, Home and Recents buttons return to the bottom of the screen.
New Android phones are set to gesture navigation, where you swipe from the edges instead of pressing buttons. If you prefer the three classic buttons, they are one setting away, and you can switch back at any time.
Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the screen, not screenshots.
Step by step
Open Settings and tap System
System is near the bottom of the list.
Tap Navigation mode
On a Pixel it is directly under System. On other phones, tap Gestures first and then Navigation mode.
Choose 3-button navigation
The bar with three buttons appears at the bottom of the screen straight away.
Learn the three buttons
Back returns to the previous screen. Home opens the Home screen. Recents shows all open apps, where you swipe an app up to close it.
Change the order of the buttons
Tap the settings icon next to 3-button navigation and choose between Back, Home, Recents and Recents, Home, Back.
Good to know
To go back to gestures, choose Gesture navigation in the same place. Then you swipe up from the bottom for Home, swipe in from the left or right edge for Back, and swipe up and hold to switch apps.
If Back does not react well with gestures because of a phone case, tap the settings icon next to Gesture navigation and raise the Left edge and Right edge sensitivity.
On Samsung phones the setting is under Settings, Display, Navigation bar, where the choice is called Buttons or Swipe gestures.
In short: Settings, System, Navigation mode, 3-button navigation.
- Android Help: Get around on your Android phone
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