Swap back and recent button on Oreo?

[fatphatboy88]

I just bought a Pixel XL Verizon phone yesterday that has been updated to Oreo. I am coming from a Nexus 6 that I rooted and ran PureNexus on for 2 years. I had Samsung Galaxy phones before it. So I have always had my back button on the right and recents on the left. Is there any way to change it on a locked bootloader Pixel XL running Oreo? I have tried searching and everything I have seen says that I need root to do it. And from I can tell so far, there isn't a system UI tuner anymore.

Am I screwed? Should I just sell this Verizon version and get a Google version?

 

[Tulsadiver]

I just bought a Pixel XL Verizon phone yesterday that has been updated to Oreo. I am coming from a Nexus 6 that I rooted and ran PureNexus on for 2 years. I had Samsung Galaxy phones before it. So I have always had my back button on the right and recents on the left. Is there any way to change it on a locked bootloader Pixel XL running Oreo? I have tried searching and everything I have seen says that I need root to do it. And from I can tell so far, there isn't a system UI tuner anymore.

Am I screwed? Should I just sell this Verizon version and get a Google version?

I would buy Google. I'm on Verizon and I did. I'll never buy another phone from them.

 

[xnatex21]

I used this app to make the edit then uninstalled - https://www.xda-developers.com/customise-the-navigation-bar-android-oreo/

If you don’t have root access, you’ll need to download either Minimal ADB & Fastboot or the official Google binaries to enable the required WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission for the application.

To do so, you’ll need to first enable USB Debugging by going to the Developer Options menu. If you don’t see Developer Options, scroll down to “About” and tap “Build number” seven times until the “You are now a developer” toast appears. Back out and above “About” will be the “Developer options” menu. Enter this and enable USB Debugging. Launch adb from your computer by pressing shift + right click in the same folder containing your adb files, then choosing to “open command prompt here” if you’re on Windows. For Mac and Linux users, you’ll need to open terminal then cd to the directory where you downloaded the files. Follow the instructions in the app to grant the appropriate permissions.

 

[fatphatboy88]

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

 

[localfinesse]

Thank you so much! Very easy and no apps to install. Used this method on my Pixel 2 xl

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

 

[silverghozt]

Any risks at all to doing this? I detest the placement of the back and home buttons on the Pixel 2 XL. Am i risking any bricking with this method? I find it to be incredibly annoying that Android doesn't allow this swap via settings. Putting the back on the left is just bad design. Thanks in advance.

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

 

[fatphatboy88]

I don't have a Pixel 2 XL, just a Pixel XL but I am on Oreo. I have had absolutely ZERO issues since doing this. I love my phone after changing the layout. Maybe localfinesse can chime in and let us know if there are any issues on Pixel 2 XL's phones doing this.

 

[catalindobre]

Works very well and very easy to config. Thanks!

 

[fatphatboy88]

Glad it is working for everybody.

 

[silverghozt]

Does this technique void the warranty like rooting would?

 

[GuestK0037]

Does this technique void the warranty like rooting would?

no, it should not... and I do know someone who rooted their pixel and later needed an RMA for other reasons. their warranty wasn't void and they got a replacement...

edit; scratch my other comment / removed. that u were the same user as the pixel 2 Xl user.

 

[DamianDC]

Swap back and recent button

I have found a quick fix to swap the navigation buttons instead of going through the root and downloading, blah blah blah. The only issue is that when you do this, many of your toggles/menus in settings and google apps will be reversed on your screen. This isn't an issue for me because the priority is getting these two buttons reversed more than anything else.

Settings
System
(Tap) 'About Phone' 7 times
"You are now a Developer"
Go back to System menu
Developer Options
Scroll down to 'Drawing'
turn on 'Force RTL layout direction'
Finished

Your navigation buttons are now flipped.
You will now notice when you go into many Google apps, everything will be from right to left now. Your contacts dots will be on the right now. If this is an issue, then go back and switch it back and go through the download process to fix the navigation bar on its own.

 

[bariktanmoy98]

T

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

Thank you so much. I tried the other method but it didnt work for me but your one worked flawlessly and instantly. You helped me a lot.

 

[Kentguy86]

Menu button

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

I am curious if this method could be used to bring back the menu button, since long press on the recent apps button opens multitasking. Thoughts?

 

[clone1008]

There is also an app in Playstore called Custom Navigation Bar that lets you do some cool things.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner&hl=en

 

[Tulsadiver]

I am curious if this method could be used to bring back the menu button, since long press on the recent apps button opens multitasking. Thoughts?

It is a bit wordy and you need a png for your system to point to and use but yes, you can add a menu button this way:

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "key(82:file:///storage/emulated/0/custom/ic_sysbar_menu.png),recent;home;back,space"

My png is in a folder on my internal sdcard in a folder called custom.


Or add dpad left and right

settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "key(21:file:///storage/emulated/0/arrowleft.png),recent;home;back,key(22:file:///storage/emulated/0/arrowright.png)"

 

[Kentguy86]

You have to link to a png because there's no native icon any longer?

 

[stormeking]

You are the man!

Worked like a charm! Thanks a million! It's instant, too.

I figured it out with a lot more searching and trying a lot of different things. Here is what works for me. I have restarted the phone multiple times just to make sure the settings would stick

You have to install the ADB and fastboot
plug you phone into your computer
turn on debugging mode
open up a command prompt window in the adb folder on your computer
these are the following commands I used. I did notice if you have small hands you could type ";home;recent,back" and it will put the home icon in the middle and the other two buttons on the right. What ever button you put the semi colons around will be in the center of the screen.

adb shell
settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

 

[wowthatisrandom]

Anyone tried this on P w the gestures enabled?

 

[Bhai_Jaaan]

settings put secure sysui_nav_bar "space,recent;home;back,space"

i am Confused.
Does Space means we have to press space button before coma .
Or Does it mean we havr to copy paste comand as its written.
I am soory but what doest space means?