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Action Notch can turn an Android phone’s camera cutout or notch into a shortcut button: touch or swipe over the area to trigger an action. In a September 6, 2026 hands-on report, Android Authority’s Yash Wate used its free tier to scroll to the top or bottom of a page and take a screenshot. The app is a likely match for the idea in this article’s title, but the report does not establish compatibility with every Android phone.
What Action Notch does
Action Notch listens for configured taps and swipes over the notch or camera cutout, then runs the action assigned to that gesture. It is a software shortcut, not a change to the phone’s hardware. Wate’s report says the app offers more than 50 actions, including flashlight controls, app shortcuts, and integrations with Tasker or MacroDroid. Actions that change according to context or rules require Pro, according to the report.
The app can also be configured to use the full status bar rather than only the cutout, and the report describes a haptics setting. That gives users a way to adapt the trigger area and feedback to their device and preferences.
How to set up a practical three-gesture layout
The setup described in the report is to install Action Notch from Google Play, grant the permissions it requests, choose a gesture, and assign an action. Its example layout uses three gestures that were available in the free version at the time:
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| Gesture | Assigned action | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Single touch | Scroll to top | Returning to the start of a long page or feed |
| Double touch | Scroll to bottom | Jumping to the end of a long page or feed |
| Long touch | Screenshot | Capturing what is currently on screen |
Those actions are examples, not requirements. If you would rather reach a flashlight control, open a shortcut, or run an existing automation, choose an action that the app offers and assign it to a gesture you can reliably perform.
What the free version and ads mean
Android Authority reported on September 6, 2026 that the free tier included three gestures and that the app displayed ads, including full-screen ads that could interrupt setup. Treat those details as a dated description of the build the author tried, not a guarantee of the current feature limit or ad experience; check Action Notch’s current Google Play listing before installing.
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Prevent accidental triggers
Gestures on the status bar can conflict with normal phone use, so the report recommends adjusting when and where Action Notch is active. In particular, Wate suggests disabling it during calls and on the lock screen, and blacklisting apps where top-bar gestures could interfere. Use those controls to avoid having a shortcut fire when you are trying to use another app or interact with the phone normally.
Check compatibility and permissions on your own phone
Wate says Action Notch can work beyond Pixel phones, but the report does not provide a complete supported-device list or an Android-version matrix. Before relying on it, confirm that the current app listing and the app itself support your phone and Android version; the available reporting does not justify a claim that it works on every Android device.
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Action Notch is described as running in the background to listen for gestures, and its setup involves granting requested permissions. Android’s accessibility-service documentation explains that an accessibility service can operate in the background and interact with apps. That platform explanation is not evidence that Action Notch collects particular data or is unsafe. Review Action Notch’s own current permission prompts and Google Play data-safety information before deciding whether to enable it. A data-safety disclosure for Notch Touch, another app, does not describe Action Notch.
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