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On most Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, change navigation gestures at Settings > Display > Navigation bar, then select Swipe gestures. The exact gesture layout and available options depend on your One UI version, device model, and sometimes carrier or region, so use the instructions shown on your own Navigation bar screen.
Switch from navigation buttons to swipe gestures
- Open Settings.
- Tap Display.
- Tap Navigation bar.
- Select Swipe gestures.
- If the screen offers More options, open it to review available gesture controls.
Samsung documents both button navigation and swipe gestures. To go back to the familiar three-button layout, return to Settings > Display > Navigation bar and select Buttons. Menu names and choices can vary by wireless provider, software version, and model (Samsung Support, US).
How the swipe-up gesture works
The meaning of a swipe from the bottom depends on your gesture layout. On devices running One UI 6.1 or later, swipe up from the bottom to go Home; swipe up and hold to open Recents. To go Back, swipe inward from either side of the screen. Samsung Support states: “You cannot change the swipe direction on devices with One UI 6.1 or later” (Samsung Support, US).
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Devices using One UI 6.0 or older may offer a Swipe from bottom option. In that layout, the bottom edge is divided into three zones: swipe up from the left for Recents, the center for Home, and the right for Back. This option is not guaranteed to appear on every device; check Navigation bar for the choices available on yours (Samsung Support, Canada).
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Review gesture controls and hints
If More options appears after you select Swipe gestures, open it to see which controls your device supports. Samsung lists options that may include gesture hints, a keyboard-hide button, gesture sensitivity, and blocking gestures when using the S Pen. The available controls vary by model and software version (Samsung Support, US; Samsung Support, Canada).
If the gesture style or setting is missing
First, check the One UI version and the choices on your phone’s own Settings > Display > Navigation bar screen. Samsung’s Canadian guidance says older versions may offer the three-zone bottom layout, while One UI 6.1 or later uses side swipes for Back and bottom swipes for Home and Recents. Available options may differ by device and release.
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Samsung New Zealand describes an optional route through Good Lock’s NavStar module for additional settings, including Swipe from bottom and gesture hints: open Galaxy Store > Good Lock > Make up tab > NavStar. Good Lock and NavStar availability depends on device and region, so this is not a guaranteed option for every Galaxy user (Samsung Support, New Zealand).
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Choose the navigation style that suits you
| Navigation style | How you use it | Where to check availability |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tap the visible navigation buttons. | Choose Buttons on the Navigation bar screen. |
| Side-and-bottom gestures | Swipe inward from either side for Back; swipe up from the bottom for Home; swipe up and hold for Recents. | Samsung documents this layout for One UI 6.1 or later. |
| Three bottom swipe zones | Swipe up from the left zone for Recents, center for Home, or right for Back. | May be available on devices using One UI 6.0 or older; check Navigation bar, or check whether NavStar offers it for your device. |
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