The third developer preview of Android Q is introducing a slew of features. One that stands out among the pack are the new gestures, which have been described to be "iPhone-like."
Once the new controls have been enabled, navigating will obviously be different, as the usual home and back buttons are gone.
Now before users can flip the switch on gestures, Android Q beta 3 is required. Installing the update on the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3 XL is easy since owners can just enroll in Google's Android beta program. Still, they can sideload an OTA image if they want to, and the same goes for 15 other devices from 12 other OEMs, such as Nokia and Asus.
For those who don't know how, Tech Times has a guide on how to install Android Q beta 3 on compatible devices.
How To Activate The New Gesture Controls
It takes only a minute to set things up. Here's a step-by-step guide on it:
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Tap on System.
Step 3: Tap on Gestures and then on "System navigation."
Step 4: Here, you can choose from "3-button navigation," "2-button navigation," and "Fully gestural navigation," the third of which is the one you're looking for. At that, just tap on it, and you're ready to go.
Once activated, the navigation buttons will disappear and be replaced by a white line at the bottom of the screen.
Using The New Gesture Controls
As the description under "Fully gestural navigation" reads, users can swipe up to go to Home, swipe left or right from either edge of the screen to go Back, and swipe up from the bottom and hold before letting go to switch between apps.
It might take some time to get used to the new controls, but if nothing else, this makes the transition from an iPhone to a Pixel or any other Android device that supports these controls easier.
Other changes with the new Android Q developer preview include the accessibility feature Live Caption and a new dark theme. It also has improvements in security and privacy.
