Android 16 QPR2 could allow you to flip your Pixel’s navigation bar like on Samsung telephones

For years, Samsung telephones have defaulted to a three-button navigation format the place the again button is on the suitable and the recents button is on the left. In distinction, Google’s Pixel telephones use gesture navigation out of the field however supply a three-button possibility with the standard Android format — the place the again button is on the left. The issue is that there’s by no means been a strategy to flip the button order on Pixels. This poses a problem for Samsung customers switching to a Pixel, as they need to retrain their muscle reminiscence or swap to gesture navigation. Thankfully, Google is lastly including an choice to reverse the buttons within the navigation bar.

Final month, we reported that Google is making ready to let customers flip the navigation bar on Pixel telephones. Though we beforehand noticed code for this function, we didn’t understand how Google would current it to customers. Now, after digging by means of the current Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 launch, we’ve found new code that particulars how the choice will work.

For starters, we discovered code within the Settings app pointing to a brand new web page known as “Button navigation” underneath Settings > System > Navigation mode. This web page will likely be accessed by tapping a settings cog icon subsequent to the “3-button navigation” possibility. On this new web page, a “Button order” header will seem above two selections. The default order is “Again, House, Recents,” whereas the brand new possibility, “Recents, House, Again,” mirrors the format on Samsung telephones.

We don’t have screenshots of the brand new “Button navigation” web page but, nevertheless it’s not tough to think about how the function will work. Right here’s what the navigation bar ought to seem like as soon as this feature turns into out there:

Whereas we noticed the code for this setting in QPR2 Beta 2, its look within the steady launch isn’t assured. With another beta left within the cycle, the setting might want to present up in Beta 3 to make the ultimate lower for December’s public launch.