Customizing the Android navigation bar involves adjusting how you interact with your device’s core navigation elements, including buttons and gestures. While Android offers built-in options to switch between gesture-based and button-based navigation, deeper customization—such as rearranging buttons or changing their functions—often requires additional tools or manufacturer-specific settings. Samsung devices, for example, provide more flexibility through settings like "Navigation Bar" in the display menu, while other Android phones may rely on third-party apps or accessibility features. Gesture navigation, now the recommended default on newer Android versions, eliminates on-screen buttons entirely, replacing them with swipe actions for a cleaner interface.

Key findings from the sources:

• Android supports three primary navigation modes: gesture navigation (no buttons), 2-button navigation, and 3-button navigation, accessible via Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation ^[1].
• Samsung devices offer additional customization, such as button rearrangement, through Settings > Display > Navigation Bar ^[8][10].
• Third-party tools like Goodlock (for Samsung) or accessibility menus can further modify navigation behavior, including disabling the bar for specific apps ^[6][9].
• Android 13 introduces adjustable gesture sensitivity and refined navigation options under Accessibility settings ^[7].

Customizing the Android Navigation Bar

Built-in Navigation Options and Settings

Android provides native settings to switch between navigation styles, though the extent of customization varies by device manufacturer and OS version. The most universal method involves selecting a navigation mode, while some brands like Samsung include additional tweaks.

For most Android devices, the primary navigation modes are:

• Gesture navigation: Swipe-based controls with no visible buttons. Swipe up from the bottom to go home, swipe up and hold for recent apps, and swipe from the left/right edge to go back ^[1][5].
• 2-button navigation: A hybrid approach with a back button and a pill-shaped home button that doubles as a recent apps gesture ^[1].
• 3-button navigation: Traditional layout with back, home, and recent apps buttons ^[1][7].

To change these settings:

1. Open Settings and navigate to System > Gestures > System Navigation (or Display > Navigation Bar on Samsung devices) ^[1][8].
2. Select your preferred mode. Gesture navigation is Google’s recommended default for newer devices ^[5].
3. On Samsung phones, tap Navigation Bar to rearrange button order or adjust button transparency ^[8].

Limitations of built-in customization:

• Non-Samsung devices typically lack options to reorder or resize buttons without third-party tools ^[2].
• Gesture sensitivity can be adjusted in Android 13 via Accessibility > System Navigation, but this only applies to swipe-based interactions ^[7].
• Older Android versions (pre-Android 10) may not support gesture navigation or offer fewer customization options ^[1].

Advanced Customization with Third-Party Tools

For users seeking deeper control—such as remapping buttons, adding custom actions, or disabling the navigation bar selectively—third-party apps and manufacturer-specific tools are required. Samsung’s Goodlock module and accessibility features provide the most robust solutions, while other brands may need alternative approaches.

Samsung-Specific Customization

Samsung devices running One UI (Android 9+) support advanced navigation bar tweaks through:

• Goodlock app: A Samsung-exclusive tool that includes the NavStar module for:
• Reordering buttons (e.g., swapping back and recent apps buttons) ^[6].
• Adding extra buttons or gestures (e.g., a screenshot button) ^[6].
• Adjusting button size, opacity, and animation speed.
• Native settings: Under Settings > Display > Navigation Bar, users can:
• Choose between button and gesture navigation ^[8].
• Enable button combinations (e.g., double-tap home to open camera) ^[10].

Steps to use Goodlock:

1. Download Goodlock from the Galaxy Store (not available on Google Play).
2. Install the NavStar module within Goodlock.
3. Open NavStar to access button remapping and visual customization options ^[6].

Disabling the Navigation Bar for Specific Apps

For apps where the navigation bar interferes with usage (e.g., games or full-screen media), Android’s Accessibility Menu or Immersive Mode can hide it temporarily:

1. Enable Accessibility Menu via Settings > Accessibility > Interaction Controls ^[9].
2. Open the target app and tap the Accessibility floating button to hide the navigation bar.
3. Alternatively, enable Immersive Mode in Developer Options (requires enabling Developer Mode first) to auto-hide the bar during full-screen activities ^[5].

Third-Party Apps for Non-Samsung Devices

While most non-Samsung devices lack native button remapping, apps like Nacho Notch or Fluid Navigation Gestures (for gesture customization) can provide partial solutions:

• Fluid Navigation Gestures: Replaces the navigation bar with customizable swipe gestures (requires ADB permissions) ^[4].
• Button Mapper: Remaps hardware buttons (e.g., Bixby button) but has limited support for software navigation keys ^[2].
• ADB commands: Advanced users can disable the navigation bar entirely via ADB, though this may break app compatibility:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

Key considerations for third-party tools:

• Root access is often required for full button remapping on non-Samsung devices ^[2].
• ADB methods carry risks, including potential system instability or voided warranties ^[4].
• Manufacturer restrictions: Some brands (e.g., Xiaomi, OnePlus) lock navigation bar customization behind proprietary settings apps ^[6].