This Galaxy S20 guide explains the differences between Galaxy S20 navigation buttons and Galaxy S20 navigation gestures, the two types of navigation gestures on Galaxy S20, and how to switch between navigation buttons and Galaxy S20 navigation gestures.
The navigation buttons or gestures are identical on Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. This guide applies to all of these three Galaxy S20 models.
Traditionally, Android phones used hardware navigation buttons (3 buttons), then switched to software navigation buttons until Android Oreo (Android 8). In Android 9 (Android Pie), Google partially introduced navigation gestures (2-button navigation) and removed the Back button.
In Android 10, Google removed all three navigation buttons and evolved into full-screen navigation gestures, as explained in this guide.
Samsung adopted different navigation gestures in Galaxy phones with Android Pie (Android 9) since Galaxy S10. It was ported to all Galaxy phones with Android 9 (e.g., Galaxy S9 and Note 9)
In Galaxy S20, Samsung still uses the navigation buttons as the default setting. You can switch to Galaxy S20 navigation gestures at any time.
As explained in this guide, Galaxy S20 navigation buttons include Home, Back, and Recents buttons. You need to tap one of the buttons to navigate among pages.
If you switch to Galaxy S20 navigation gestures, there will be no buttons. You will have to use gestures to return to the previous screen (Back), to jump to the Home screen, or access the Recents screen.
Please note, Galaxy S20 Assistant Menu can still offer navigation button even after you switch to navigation gestures. You may check this guide for details of Assistant Menu on Galaxy S20.
The differences between using Galaxy S20 navigation gestures and navigation buttons are substantial, for example:
It depends on the individual owner, whether the Galaxy navigation gestures or navigation buttons is the better choice.
Generally speaking, you should consider the default navigation buttons, if:
Of course, some owners may prefer Galaxy S20 navigation gestures, if
As mentioned, by default, Galaxy S20 uses the navigation buttons. You can also customize the button layout of the Galaxy S20 navigation bar.
If you want to switch to Galaxy S20 navigation gestures, you may follow these steps.
You can start Galaxy S20 Settings, then tap Display.
In the Display settings page, tap Navigation bar as shown below.
As shown in the screenshot above, in the Navigation bar settings page, tap Full-screen gestures to switch from navigation buttons to gestures.
By default, you are now using the Google-style navigation gesture (Android 10 navigation gestures).
Optionally, you can switch to Samsung-style navigation gestures (read on).
Once you switch to the full-screen gestures on Galaxy S20, you have the option to use one of the two sets of navigation gestures:
As shown below, when you switch to the navigation gesture, one short line (in grey colour) appears at the bottom of the page. This indicates you are using the Android 10 Google-style navigation gestures on Galaxy S20.
If you prefer the old Samsung-style Android 9 navigation gestures, you can tap More options as shown below.
Now, you can see the two options.
Swipe from sides and bottom means Google-style navigation gestures. Swipe from the bottom means Samsung -style navigation gestures.
For example, as shown in the screenshot above, when you switch to Samsung-style gestures, you will see 3 short lines at the bottom of the screen. Swiping upwards from these lines corresponds to tap the Recents, Home and Back button, respectively.
The gestures for Google-style (Android 10) navigation gestures and Samsung-style navigation are different.
So, we list them here separately.
Please note, this list is just a summary. You can find detailed explanations and illustrations here.
Gesture | Behaviour |
Swipe up | Open the Apps screen |
Swipe up and hold | View recent apps |
Swipe down | Home screen: View Notifications panel Apps screen: Exit Apps screen to Home screen |
Swipe down twice | Home screen: Open quick settings panel Apps screen: View Notifications panel |
Swipe to left | Switch to Home screen panel on the right |
Swipe to right | Switch to Home screen panel on the left |
Swipe to the right & upwards from the bottom left corner | Launch Google Assistant |
Swipe to left & upwards from the bottom right corner | Launch Google Assistant |
Gesture | Behaviour |
Swipe up | Exit to Home screen |
Swipe up and hold | View recent Apps (access Galaxy S20 Recents screen) |
Swipe down | View Notification panel |
Swipe down twice | Access quick settings panel |
Swipe to left | Return to the previous screen |
Swipe to right | Return to the previous screen |
Swipe to the right at an angle | Open App (Hamburger) menu |
Hold then swipe to the right | Open App (Hamburger) menu |
Swipe left/right from the white bar/line | Switch between previously used apps |
As explained in this guide, there are 5 gestures in the Samsung-style full-screen navigation gestures:
Please note, the lines corresponding to your button order settings.
Yes, you can customize the sensitivity of the navigation gestures and the appearance of the hint bar with NavStar, as explained in this guide.
The customization is available in NavStar (Good Lock) regardless of the Android version (Android 12 or Android 13) of your Galaxy S20.
If you have any questions about using Galaxy S20 navigation gestures on Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, please let us know in the comment box below.
The community will help you get the answer.
If you have any questions about Galaxy S20, you may check other Galaxy S20 guides:
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