S8 How to get bottom bar (buttons) to always stay visible

[Dave3d]

Hello.
I have tried to find this on google, and other forums, but I can only find partial solutions.

Does anyone know how to get the bottom buttons (Apps, Home, Back) buttons to ALWAYS stay there, even when gaming or with an app open?
I can only get it to stay open on the 'desktop' home screen and in a couple apps.
Other than that, it auto hides the buttons.
I hate using the swipe up because it always ends up launching something instead of giving me the Back Home Apps bar.

You guys have been so helpful, I hope you can help me with this also (please provide steps if you know how to do it? I have been on the Note 4 since the day it came out, and its like learning a whole new operating system jumping from 2014 os to new os, trhey hide everything now like windows 10 does. Sigh).

Thanks.

 

[no one]

Settings>display>navigation bar>show and hide button

 

[adamgahagan1]

Settings>display>navigation bar>show and hide button

There is a small circle on the far left, tap it twice to make the navigation bar stay visible.

 

[Dave3d]

Nope, doesnt work. It changes to some other button.
And, I installed NovaLauncher, and it has a setting to always make the bar stay, and it works a bit.
But, while gaming, the bar ALWAYS goes invisible and hides, and this is where I need it the most, because lots of older games and even newer ones rely on that BACK button, they have no ingame button to go back or to exit (exit NOONE has a button for).
So, every time I try to exit a game, it launches something in the game, and I end up having to do this 2-3-4 times to get to the 'Exit?' option.
It is just killing my gameplay, and making it frustrating as heck.
And, since I am disabled, and bedriddin most of the time, this is what I do: Play games on my phone and ailing tablet.

 

[JAy3001]

There is a small circle on the far left, tap it twice to make the navigation bar stay visible.

@adamgahagan1 is spot on with this one. What he is referring to is Samsung's (immersive) full screen mode they added in an update to take advantage of the infinity display.

However as you have found out the new operating system has full screen functions built in by default so long as the app itself supports it IE is running the correct API level.

In this case the developer can decide from 3 different full screen modes, all of which hide the nav bars unfortunately.

Have a read here:
https://developer.android.com/training/system-ui/immersive

However, if you go into your display settings you will find a page detailing which apps are locked in full screen mode and which you can toggle. I've attached an image for you to see. You may find some of your older apps can be toggled.

 

[Dave3d]

Thanks for the info Jay.
I will def check that out tonight.
I hope it works on the games I play.


EDIT:
Nope, I already had all my apps disabled from your screenshot, the FullScreen mode.
And only a couple apps actually dont go into fullscreen, but my games automatically do.

Does anyone know any app that can FORCE this bar to be on all the time? Nova was really my last shot.
I miss my Note 4 SO bad.
I cant believe this is actually a 'feature'.

 

[JAy3001]

That's ok, I did think that you would not have much luck there unfortunately. At the time I had a good look around for such an app and there just isn't any that I could find. Lots to do the oppersite tho!

However I believe I have found an option that will solve your issue @Dave3d

• Go into settings and selected Accessibility options,
• Now select Dexterity and interactions,
• Then turn on Assistant menu.

This will create a floating options button much like the nav bar only fully customisable to your configuration, you can also drag the floating button anywhere you like on screen. I've tested it on a full screen game and it works a charm.

I forgot the mention, once active if you click on the Assistant menu description if will take you into a page to customise the options.

Check the screen shots.

 

[Dave3d]

WOW, thank you VERY much Jay!
This actually works, although when NOT gaming it gets in the way, as it wont go down to the navbar, but it works GREAT in games.
Thank you VERY much for this solution!

 

[JAy3001]

Not a problem @Dave3d .

You know you can solve that quickly too? Once your done with the floating button hit the Menu Settings from within the floating button and it will take you back directly to where you can switch it off.

 

[Merih]

Here is how i managed to disable immersive mode:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/co..._apk/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share