I've had a phone with the soft home/back/recent buttons before but I don't remember having trouble with them. On this phone, they're driving me bonkers. For example, I like to use the camera zoom app so I can touch the screen to take a picture. But when I have the camera app open, and want to close it and go to the home screen, when I drag up to get the soft keys to show I inadvertently take a picture. Then when I hit the home button, I take another. It takes several tries to get the app to close, and then I have to go and delete all the pictures I accidentally took. When I'm playing homescapes on my phone, when I drag up to get the buttons to show i drag the map all over. Not a huge deal, I guess, but it bothers me. I've only been using the phone for a day so I can only imagine the other apps that will give me issues. Are there any controls for the soft keys? Or tips to make using them easier?
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Help Soft keys driving me crazy. help.
- Thread starter gale65
- Start date
Apps get to choose whether or not the software navigation bar should be hidden, and the system then has to obey those wishes. I'd suggest reaching out to the developers of the affected apps to let them know about the UX issues you're encountering when trying to access the navigation bar.
Upvote
0
You'll figure it out. I remember the transition from physical keyboards to on screen typing. Was fighting it mentally. Now I would never consider a physical keyboard. Even use onscreen keys kn my home computer.
Upvote
0
That's exactly where the shutter button is and I can't disable it.
The app actually has an exit button but it doesn't work, plus I'm so used to hitting that home button. I will probably have to switch to a different camera app but I'm so used to touching the screen to take a pic and I haven't found a really good camera app that allows that.
Upvote
0
I had the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 5 before my last phone (S7) so I'm very used to using soft keys. Those never seemed to interfere with the camera app so I don't understand why this one is.
Upvote
0
I'll try that-thanks. Even if I could just disable the shutter button when the setting to touch the screen to take a pic is active that would be great. But right now I can't find that option.
eta: even the stock camera has the same issue. The home/back/recent buttons disappear and I have to swipe or tap to bring them back up. I am having the same problem of accidentally taking pictures with it too, but not quite as bad. I honestly don't think I'll remember to be super careful every time I try to close the app so both apps are not great with the soft keys.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
After some playing, if I can get used to swiping at the sides of the screen instead of the middle to bring up the soft keys I have a better chance of not taking a picture. It still does about 1/2 of the time when I hit the home button but that's better than 3 or 4 every time.
Upvote
0
Hmm, the stock camera app on my phone doesn't use immersive mode, so there's no need to swipe to get the navigation keys. Of course when reviewing photos it will go immersive if you tap the picture, but then there's no shutter button.
Now I am running Android 9 with the gestures turned on, so have the pill rather than the 3 buttons, but it behaves the same when I switch to the traditional interface. And I don't recall it being any different in Android 8 either. So I'm a little puzzled by what's going on with your camera.
Now I am running Android 9 with the gestures turned on, so have the pill rather than the 3 buttons, but it behaves the same when I switch to the traditional interface. And I don't recall it being any different in Android 8 either. So I'm a little puzzled by what's going on with your camera.
Upvote
0
Yeah, same here. The Google Camera app does not switch to immersive mode. I wonder if there's another app hijacking that behavior?
Upvote
0
here's a screen shot of my camera app (the stock app).
eta: I just realized this is the samsung camera. I bet it transferred when I did the initial transfer of data from my old phone to the new. I don't have the google camera so I'll download it now.
eta again: it won't let me download the google camera. It says there are no eligible devices for app install. I can't find it in my list of apps. what now?
ok when I go into the camera app shown in the screen shot and go to the help file, it says it's google camera. I'll try uninstalling and reinstalling it from the play store. Scratch that-I don't have the option to uninstall it. Guess I'm stuck with it.
eta: I just realized this is the samsung camera. I bet it transferred when I did the initial transfer of data from my old phone to the new. I don't have the google camera so I'll download it now.
eta again: it won't let me download the google camera. It says there are no eligible devices for app install. I can't find it in my list of apps. what now?
ok when I go into the camera app shown in the screen shot and go to the help file, it says it's google camera. I'll try uninstalling and reinstalling it from the play store. Scratch that-I don't have the option to uninstall it. Guess I'm stuck with it.
Attachments
Last edited:
Upvote
0
Have you tried adding or removing a button to the desktop to throw off the button placement?
Upvote
0
The Google camera app is just called Camera on the phone, and should be pre-installed. And your screenshot looks a lot like the stock camera app on my Pixel 2, which is definitely the Google app (see attached).
The only difference I can see is that your navigation buttons are hidden. Are you certain you don't have some app that controls or changes the immersive behaviour? There are plenty of them, I have 2 on my phone with that capability (but ensured both were off before confirming the navigation bar behaviour with the camera).
The only difference I can see is that your navigation buttons are hidden. Are you certain you don't have some app that controls or changes the immersive behaviour? There are plenty of them, I have 2 on my phone with that capability (but ensured both were off before confirming the navigation bar behaviour with the camera).
Attachments
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
The only app that I could think of that would do it is Nova Launcher. I can't find any settings in it that have anything to do with the soft keys except what the home button does when it's pressed. Changing that to different options didn't change anything.
eta: I switched to pixel launcher and it's the same. the keys disappear in the camera.
Upvote
0
Nothing stands out to me as a UI customisation app. Nova doesn't change the nav bar behaviour (I use it myself).
And at least on mine I can see nothing in the developer options, system UI tuner (hidden in Android 9 but still findable with a little research), nor in the Camera app's own settings, that affects immersive behaviour. So it's a mystery to me why your camera app hides the buttons.
And at least on mine I can see nothing in the developer options, system UI tuner (hidden in Android 9 but still findable with a little research), nor in the Camera app's own settings, that affects immersive behaviour. So it's a mystery to me why your camera app hides the buttons.
Upvote
0
Try rebooting into Safe Mode, opening the stock Camera app, and let us know if the navigation controls still get hidden.
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
I'm running out of ideas. What you're seeing is not normal behavior.
When you set up the Pixel 2, did you copy/transfer/restore your apps and settings from another Android device or cloud backup?
When you set up the Pixel 2, did you copy/transfer/restore your apps and settings from another Android device or cloud backup?
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
I wonder if something might have gone wonky in that process. You might try going to Settings > System > Advanced > Backup > Back up now to make sure you've got a good cloud back up of your current configuration, Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) to completely wipe the phone, and then set up the phone again fresh. You can choose to restore your apps and data from the cloud backup but I'd recommend not restoring any settings in case something got messed up in the background.
Upvote
0
I'm hoping to avoid resetting so I went to the play store and clicked uninstall on the camera app from there. It didn't uninstall the camera, but it uninstalled the latest update. After that the soft keys didn't hide. To test it I updated it and they are hiding. On my phone, anyway, the last update is causing the problem. I might just uninstall the last update again for now. I really really really hate resetting my phone. Even with the backup it doesn't go back to the same, and I have to re-add all of my pictures that I keep on my phone for reference and have to reset my ringtones and all of my custom notifications and restore my sms and mms messages, which I have to do over cell data because my wifi is too slow (I used to use the sd card for that but of course this phone doesn't give me that option, and for some reason I can't transfer the restore file from my pc to my phone).
Last edited:
Upvote
0
I just looked at the reviews in the play store for my device and at least a couple of others said something about the buttons not staying on top. It must be the update.
eta: other reviews are pretty bad after the update for other reasons. I set it to not automatically update and I'll wait and hope they fix it in a future update.
eta: other reviews are pretty bad after the update for other reasons. I set it to not automatically update and I'll wait and hope they fix it in a future update.
Upvote
0
BEST TECH IN 2023
We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.
Smartphones
Best Android Phones
See All- Google Pixel 8 Pro Check Price
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Check Price
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Check Price
- Google Pixel 8 Check Price
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Check Price
Upcoming
See All
Best iPhones
See All- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Check Price
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Check Price
- Apple iPhone 15 Plus Check Price
- Apple iPhone 15 Check Price
- Apple iPhone SE (2022) Check Price
Upcoming
See AllTablets
Best Tablets
See All- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Check Price
- Apple iPad Pro (2022) Check Price
- Apple iPad Air (2022) Check Price
- Apple iPad Mini (2021) Check Price
- Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Check Price
Upcoming
See AllLaptops
Best Laptops
See All- Apple Macbook Pro Check Price
- Apple Macbook Air (2023) Check Price
- Dell XPS 13 Check Price
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714 Check Price
- Dell Alienware m18 (2022) Check Price
Upcoming
See AllTelevisions
Best TVs
See All- Samsung The Frame TV Check Price
- Samsung Neo QLED 4K QN90C Check Price
- LG G3 OLED Check Price
- LG A2 OLED Check Price
- ROKU Plus Series Check Price
- Samsung S90C OLED Check Price
- SunBriteTV Veranda 3 Check Price
Upcoming
See AllGame Consoles
Best Game Consoles
See All- Nintendo Switch OLED Check Price
- Microsoft XBOX Series X Check Price
- Sony Playstation 5 Check Price
- Microsoft XBOX Series S Check Price
- Nintendo Switch Lite Check Price
Upcoming
See AllWearables
Best Wearables
See All- Oura Ring 3 Check Price
- Apple Watch Series 9 Check Price
- Google Pixel Watch 2 Check Price
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Check Price
- Fitbit Inspire 3 Check Price
- Amazfit Amazfit Band 7 Check Price
- Apple Watch SE Check Price
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 Check Price
