Notification

Our software update is being released in phases. New features will gradually roll out across all regions. Stay tuned for updates.

Get around on your Pixel phone

Important: Some of the steps only work on Android 11 and later. Learn how to check your Android version.

Select a navigation mode

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to System and then Navigation Mode.
  3. Select an option:
    • Gesture navigation: No buttons.
    • 3-button navigation: 3 buttons for Home, Back, and App Overview.

Move between screens & apps

Go back

Open the previous screen you were looking at. You can go back more than once. When you reach the Home screen, you can't go back any further.

  • Gesture navigation: On the screen, swipe left or right.
  • 3-button navigation: Tap Back .
Go to Home screen

From an open app, navigate to your Home screen.

  • Gesture navigation: At the bottom, swipe up.
  • 3-button navigation: Tap Home .
Tip: You can have more than one Home screen. To move between them, swipe right or left. Learn how to change your Home screens.
Find all open apps
  • Gesture navigation: At the bottom, swipe up, hold, then let go.
  • 3-button navigation: Tap Overview .
Close all open apps
  • Gesture navigation:
    1. At the bottom, swipe up, hold, then let go.
    2. Swipe left to right.
    3. On the left, tap Clear all.
  • 3-button navigation: Tap Overview .
Switch between open apps

To select an open app from one you’re currently on:

  • Gesture navigation: At the bottom of the screen, swipe left to right.
  • 3-button navigation:
    1. Tap Overview .
    2. Until you find the app you want, swipe right.
    3. Tap the app.
Find all apps on your phone
  • Gesture navigation: At the bottom or middle of your Home screen, swipe up.
  • 3-button navigation: At the bottom or middle of your Home screen, swipe up.

Select, move, or change the display of items

Select items

Tap to select or type

To select or start something on your phone, tap it. In some apps, to find available actions, you can touch and hold text like when you play a song.

To type something, tap where you want to type. You'll find an open keyboard.

Move items around

Touch & hold

On the screen, touch and hold an item. After the item responds, lift your finger.

Drag

To drag and move apps around your Home screen:

  1. On the screen, touch and hold, then drag an app.
  2. When your app is in the right place, lift it.
Change the size & orientation of items
Zoom in or out of items like images or text on your apps, or change your screen orientation horizontally or vertically.

Double tap an item to change size

On some pages like a webpage or map, tap twice to zoom in.

Pinch open & closed to change size

In some apps, to change the size, put 2 or more fingers on the screen.

  • To zoom in, pinch open.
  • To zoom out, pinch closed.

Turn screen rotation on or off

Most screens can rotate as you turn your phone. To turn rotation on or off:

  1. At the top, swipe down with 2 fingers.
  2. Tap Auto-rotate .

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