Removing the home button on a Huawei device can seem daunting, especially if you’re used to relying on it for navigation. However, with the introduction of gesture-based navigation and other on-screen button configurations, the home button is no longer essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to remove the home button on your Huawei phone, explore alternative navigation methods, and troubleshoot common issues. Whether you’re looking to simplify your screen, enhance your viewing experience, or simply try something new, this article will provide you with everything you need.
## Why Remove the Home Button?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s consider the reasons why you might want to remove the home button:
* **Maximize Screen Real Estate:** Removing the navigation bar, including the home button, allows you to utilize the full screen for apps, videos, and games. This is particularly beneficial on devices with smaller screens.
* **Modern Look and Feel:** Gesture-based navigation offers a sleek, modern aesthetic compared to traditional button navigation.
* **Simplified Navigation:** Some users find gesture navigation more intuitive and faster than using buttons.
* **Reduced Burn-in:** On devices with OLED screens, static elements like navigation buttons can contribute to screen burn-in over time. Removing the buttons reduces this risk.
* **Customization:** Removing the home button allows for greater customization of your device’s appearance and functionality.
## Methods to Remove the Home Button on Huawei Devices
Huawei offers several ways to remove the home button, primarily through navigation settings. The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your device model and EMUI version, but the general process remains consistent. Here are the most common methods:
### Method 1: Using System Navigation (Gestures)
This is the most popular and recommended method for removing the home button. It replaces the traditional three-button navigation (home, back, recent apps) with intuitive swipe gestures.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Settings:** Locate and tap on the ‘Settings’ app icon on your home screen or app drawer. It usually resembles a gear or cogwheel.
2. **Navigate to System & Updates:** Scroll down within the Settings menu until you find ‘System & updates’. Tap on it.
3. **Select System Navigation:** Within ‘System & updates’, look for ‘System navigation’ and tap on it. On some older EMUI versions, this option might be directly under ‘Settings’ or within ‘Smart Assistance’.
4. **Choose Gestures:** You’ll see different navigation options. Select ‘Gestures’. This will activate gesture-based navigation and automatically hide the navigation bar, including the home button.
5. **Learn the Gestures (If Necessary):** After selecting ‘Gestures’, your phone might display a tutorial or animation explaining how to use the new gestures. Familiarize yourself with these gestures:
* **Go Home:** Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
* **Go Back:** Swipe inward from the left or right edge of the screen.
* **Access Recent Apps:** Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold.
**Troubleshooting:**
* **Gestures Not Working:** Ensure that ‘Gestures’ is selected as the active navigation method. Sometimes, a system update can revert the settings. Also, make sure your fingers are clean and dry for optimal touch recognition.
* **Accidental Gestures:** Adjust the gesture sensitivity in the System Navigation settings if you find yourself accidentally triggering gestures.
* **Missing Navigation Bar:** If the navigation bar is still visible, double-check that ‘Gestures’ is selected and that there are no accessibility settings interfering with the navigation.
### Method 2: Using Navigation Dock
The Navigation Dock is a floating button that provides quick access to navigation functions. While it doesn’t completely remove the home button (or the navigation bar), it offers an alternative navigation method and can be positioned anywhere on the screen for easy access.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Settings:** Launch the ‘Settings’ app.
2. **Navigate to Smart Assistance or Accessibility:** Find ‘Smart Assistance’ or ‘Accessibility’ in the Settings menu. The exact location might vary based on your EMUI version.
3. **Select Navigation Dock:** Within ‘Smart Assistance’ or ‘Accessibility’, look for ‘Navigation Dock’ and tap on it.
4. **Enable Navigation Dock:** Toggle the switch next to ‘Navigation Dock’ to turn it on. A small floating button will appear on your screen.
5. **Customize Navigation Dock (Optional):** You can customize the actions assigned to the Navigation Dock. Typically, tapping the dock acts as the home button, swiping left acts as the back button, and swiping right acts as the recent apps button. You might be able to customize these actions in the settings.
**Troubleshooting:**
* **Navigation Dock Not Appearing:** Make sure the ‘Navigation Dock’ is enabled in the settings. Also, check if any accessibility settings are interfering with its visibility.
* **Navigation Dock Obstructing Content:** You can drag the Navigation Dock to any position on the screen to prevent it from obstructing content. You can also adjust its size in the settings on some devices.
* **Navigation Dock Not Responding:** Restart your device. If the issue persists, try clearing the cache and data of the ‘Settings’ app (though this might require reconfiguring some of your settings).
### Method 3: Using Three-Key Navigation (Hiding the Navigation Bar)
This method involves using the standard three-key navigation (home, back, recent apps) but hiding the navigation bar when not in use. This gives you more screen real estate while still providing access to the familiar buttons when needed.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Settings:** Launch the ‘Settings’ app.
2. **Navigate to System & Updates:** Go to ‘System & updates’.
3. **Select System Navigation:** Tap on ‘System navigation’.
4. **Choose Three-Key Navigation:** Select ‘Three-key navigation’.
5. **Find and Enable the Option to Hide Navigation Bar:** Look for an option like ‘Hide navigation keys’ or ‘Navigation bar can be hidden’ and enable it. The exact wording may differ depending on your EMUI version. A small downward arrow or dot will appear on the navigation bar.
6. **Hide the Navigation Bar:** Tap the downward arrow or dot on the navigation bar to hide it. To bring it back, swipe up from the bottom of the screen where the navigation bar was located.
**Troubleshooting:**
* **Option to Hide Navigation Bar Missing:** This feature might not be available on all Huawei devices or EMUI versions. If you don’t see the option, consider using gesture navigation instead.
* **Navigation Bar Not Hiding:** Ensure that the ‘Hide navigation keys’ or similar option is enabled. Also, make sure there are no accessibility settings preventing the navigation bar from hiding.
* **Difficulty Swiping Up to Reveal Navigation Bar:** Practice the swiping gesture. Make sure you’re swiping from the very bottom edge of the screen. If you’re using a case, it might be interfering with the swipe. Try removing the case temporarily.
### Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps (Not Recommended)
While there are third-party apps available on the Google Play Store that claim to remove or customize the navigation bar, using them is generally not recommended. These apps often require excessive permissions, can be unstable, and may pose security risks. It’s always best to rely on the built-in navigation options provided by Huawei.
## Customizing Gesture Navigation
Once you’ve enabled gesture navigation, you can further customize it to suit your preferences. While the customization options are limited compared to some other Android devices, you can still adjust certain aspects.
* **Gesture Sensitivity:** Some Huawei devices allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the swipe gestures. This can be helpful if you find yourself accidentally triggering gestures or if the gestures are not registering reliably. You can usually find this setting within the ‘System navigation’ settings.
* **Tutorials and Tips:** Huawei often provides built-in tutorials and tips to help you learn and master gesture navigation. Take advantage of these resources to get the most out of the new navigation method.
## Reverting to Button Navigation
If you decide that you don’t like gesture navigation or any of the other alternative navigation methods, you can easily revert back to the standard three-button navigation.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Settings:** Launch the ‘Settings’ app.
2. **Navigate to System & Updates:** Go to ‘System & updates’.
3. **Select System Navigation:** Tap on ‘System navigation’.
4. **Choose Three-Key Navigation:** Select ‘Three-key navigation’. This will restore the navigation bar with the home, back, and recent apps buttons.
5. **Customize Button Layout (Optional):** You might be able to customize the order of the buttons in the three-key navigation settings. For example, you can swap the back and recent apps buttons.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some common issues you might encounter when removing the home button and using alternative navigation methods, along with troubleshooting tips:
* **Accidental Gestures:** This is a common problem when first switching to gesture navigation. Try adjusting the gesture sensitivity in the settings. Also, be mindful of how you hold your phone.
* **Difficulty Accessing the Keyboard:** In some apps, the keyboard might overlap with the gesture navigation area. Try swiping up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the keyboard or adjust the keyboard’s position in the keyboard settings.
* **Incompatibility with Certain Apps:** Some older apps might not be fully compatible with gesture navigation. If you encounter issues, try using the navigation dock or reverting to button navigation when using those apps.
* **System Lag or Freezing:** If you experience system lag or freezing after switching to gesture navigation, try restarting your device. If the problem persists, clear the cache and data of the ‘System Launcher’ app.
* **Navigation Bar Sticking on the Screen:** Ensure that you’ve correctly configured the settings to hide the navigation bar and that no accessibility features are interfering. Restarting your device can also help.
## Conclusion
Removing the home button on your Huawei device is a simple process that can enhance your user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can switch to gesture navigation, use the navigation dock, or hide the navigation bar to maximize screen real estate and enjoy a more modern look and feel. Remember to experiment with the different navigation methods and customization options to find what works best for you. And if you ever encounter any issues, the troubleshooting tips provided in this article should help you resolve them quickly. Enjoy your newly optimized Huawei device!
## Additional Tips:
* **Explore EMUI Features:** Huawei’s EMUI is packed with features. Take some time to explore the settings and discover other ways to customize your device.
* **Keep Your Device Updated:** Regularly update your device’s software to ensure you have the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes.
* **Join Online Communities:** Join online forums and communities dedicated to Huawei devices. You can find helpful tips, troubleshooting advice, and connect with other users.
* **Back Up Your Data:** Before making any major changes to your device’s settings, it’s always a good idea to back up your data to prevent data loss.
By embracing these tips and tricks, you can truly unlock the full potential of your Huawei device and create a personalized mobile experience that meets your unique needs.