Why can I no longer get to my home screen without closing all open apps?

[AC Question]

Got Nougat last night. Now when I press the home button(square) and it shows the open apps, I have to close any open app before I can get to where I can open an app. Used to be it would show the open apps, but you could tap around the edges to get back to the home screen and open something else. Now I have to close everything first.

 

[hallux]

On my Nexus 6P the square button is the recent apps button, the round one takes you direct to the home screen.