Android Q beta includes hidden custom gesture navigation

The beta version of Android Q running on Pixel phones also hides changes related to gesture navigation. These are further extended from the existing gestures in Android P.

Swiping right already brought users back to the previous app, but swiping left now doubles as a forward button. In addition, swiping up from the main menu leads to the home screen and swiping up and holding is for recent apps. Swiping up from the home screen brings up the app drawer. If you’re in the launcher and swipe down, you’ll see the notification panel regardless of how high on the screen you swipe down. In this latest release of Google’s gesture navigation, animations have also been improved over Android P. The back button is still there, despite rumors of its disappearance.

XDA Developers writes that a developer found the hidden settings in the Pixel Launcher. They can be unlocked with a Magisk module that XDA made for them. That does mean it’s only available on the Pixel and Pixel 2 at the moment, as Magisk doesn’t yet work on the Pixel 3 running Android Q, although it does. seems to arrive.

The navigation gestures are known from what Apple is doing in iOS on the iPhones. They have been in the Google OS since Android P, but must also be enabled there manually. Google doesn’t seem so satisfied with the gestures yet that they have become the standard.

Tip: The changes are easier to see at a slower playback speed