Hide Navigation Bar Buttons/Immersive Mode?

[theragtopman]

Hello,

Has anyone found a way to hide the navigation bar buttons or toggle immersive mode? By having the home key buttons slide out of the way when not in use, it makes the bezels appear much smaller and really takes advantage of more screen space. Both LG and Samsung have this feature built into their system options and I've noticed how much better many apps look when it's enabled. Plus, it may help with the apparent screen burn-in issue. I just tried loading the GMD Full Screen Immersive Mode app on a demo Pixel 2 XL at a Verizon store and it kind of worked, but not in all apps. It worked great in Chrome and Maps, but not in Twitter or the NFL Mobile app. In those apps, the buttons hid out of the way, but the black bar stayed. I'm considering purchasing a Pixel 2 XL, but this one feature has been holding me back. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

Have a great day!

 

[enderhexfyre]

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ile-any-nougat-device-no-root-needed-0177342/

 

[henderjr]

I downloaded Nougat / Oreo Quick Settings from the Play Store. Followed instructions in there using ADB commands to get the toggle in quick settings. I also ran the command in post two here https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/help/android-oreo-immersioln-mode-problems-t3666479 which is supposed to help with lag. Works well for me. Like having a full screen. Could help if there really are burn-in issues too

 

[Jeremy8000]

I had read earlier about methods of engaging immersive mode, but that doing so would, for some reason, disable ActiveEdge. Can anyone confirm if any of the above methods leave its functionality intact?

 

[Jeremy8000]

Just tried https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive, no root required, seems to work ok, and not disabling any other functions I've found yet.

HUGE amount more real estate for browsing! That little red bar is a 'trigger' for it, though you can also just swipe top/bottom of screen. Looks like the paid version allows you to make it invisible as well as a number of other options.

 

[theragtopman]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've tried both now and neither are working for me.

The GMD Immersive app only hides the bottom bar in some apps, like Chrome and Maps, and it works great! In most other apps, it only removes the buttons, but leaves the black bar behind, which obviously doesn't help at all.

I also tried Shortcutter but after downloading the Android SDK and the clockwork mod and following all those instructions, I'm getting and error "no devices/emulators found" when connecting the Pixel to my Surface tablet running Windows 10. The computer sees the phone and I'm selecting transfer files on both devices. I noticed in the authors instructions he shows a popup on the phone to allow permissions and I'm not getting that on my Pixel. Not sure how to force it as I've tried rebooting both devices and am having the same error.

It's too bad Google refuses to offer this feature baked into their interpretation of AOSP when other manufactures make it as simple as a toggle in the system settings.

 

[N4Newbie]

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ile-any-nougat-device-no-root-needed-0177342/

It took me a few minutes to work out the details, but I have got this up and running and, so far, I kinda like it.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've tried both now and neither are working for me.

The GMD Immersive app only hides the bottom bar in some apps, like Chrome and Maps, and it works great! In most other apps, it only removes the buttons, but leaves the black bar behind, which obviously doesn't help at all.

I'm getting full screen in both Chrome (as shown in my post above) and Maps... Are you hitting the option to hide both?



You're correct that it does leave the black bar in a lot of others, though... Mostly I like it for Chrome, but guess I'll keep searching too

 

[Jeremy8000]

It's too bad Google refuses to offer this feature baked into their interpretation of AOSP when other manufactures make it as simple as a toggle in the system settings.

I knew I'd seen it somewhere... here's why:
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-2-active-edge-squeeze-immersive-m/

 

[Jonneh]

Just tried https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive, no root required, seems to work ok, and not disabling any other functions I've found yet.

HUGE amount more real estate for browsing! That little red bar is a 'trigger' for it, though you can also just swipe top/bottom of screen. Looks like the paid version allows you to make it invisible as well as a number of other options.

View attachment 272279 View attachment 272280

Works great! Thanks!

However, my red bar/line is huge compared to yours. How did you make it so small in the lower-left-hand corner?

 

[Jeremy8000]

Works great! Thanks!

However, my red bar/line is huge compared to yours. How did you make it so small in the lower-left-hand corner?

Open the app settings, go to "Trigger" - from there, you can adjust the width and position to make it less obtrusive.

 

[sselemanrm]

Niceee.. I wonder if this will actually decrease the chance of the navigation bars to burn in. O-o

 

[N4Newbie]

Niceee.. I wonder if this will actually decrease the chance of the navigation bars to burn in. O-o

Well, if they are never showing, I don't see how they can burn in...

 

[Jeremy8000]

Well, if they are never showing, I don't see how they can burn in...

For those apps under which the black bar is still at the bottom, you'd still have burn-in -- though the truth of it is, it's actually the rest of the screen which is burning in while that portion is left generally untouched (like a piece of carpet under a couch not being faded by the sun).

 

[Jonneh]

Duhhh silly me. Thanks!

 

[Jeremy8000]

Testing some others...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ve&hl=en&rdid=in.omerjerk.fullscreenimmersive

Clean, simple, but has the same issue with black bottom bar on the same apps as far as I can tell. No red 'trigger' line, but does require you to click on a tiny, ever-present floating keyboard whenever you want to use a keyboard. Would prefer it over GMD if not for that.

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https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ullscreen.free&rdid=me.dt2dev.fullscreen.free

Ugh... Back button doesn't work, and no keyboard, unless you deactivate it. Junk compared to either of the above.

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https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.furusawa326.ImmersivePlugin

Same, no keyboard

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I'm sticking with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive for now.

 

[N4Newbie]

Testing some others...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ve&hl=en&rdid=in.omerjerk.fullscreenimmersive

Clean, simple, but has the same issue with black bottom bar on the same apps as far as I can tell. No red 'trigger' line, but does require you to click on a tiny, ever-present floating keyboard whenever you want to use a keyboard. Would prefer it over GMD if not for that.

-----------------------

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ullscreen.free&rdid=me.dt2dev.fullscreen.free

Ugh... Back button doesn't work, and no keyboard, unless you deactivate it. Junk compared to either of the above.

-----------------------
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.furusawa326.ImmersivePlugin

Same, no keyboard

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I'm sticking with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive for now.

This one mentioned above https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ile-any-nougat-device-no-root-needed-0177342/ may be a pain to setup if you do not know how to use the Android SDK, but it does seem to work really well with none of the issues you have noted.

Just sayin...

 

[Jeremy8000]

This one mentioned above https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ile-any-nougat-device-no-root-needed-0177342/ may be a pain to setup if you do not know how to use the Android SDK, but it does seem to work really well with none of the issues you have noted.

Just sayin...

No issue with keyboard? Doesn't disable Active Edge when in immersive mode?

 

[N4Newbie]

No issue with keyboard? Doesn't disable Active Edge when in immersive mode?

No keyboard issues at all that I have seen. Tested with WhatsApp, Hangouts messaging, Chrome, Keep, etc. Keyboard pops every time when it should and disappears when it should.

Yes, it does disable Active Edge, but - according to a post higher up - that is by design and apparently cannot be changed by any of these apps. FWIW, Active Edge still works while the phone (Pixel 2 XL) is sleeping or on the lock screen.

 

[theragtopman]

I just tried reinstalling Shortcutter tonight from my iMac at home and it worked! Immersive mode is easy to toggle on and off with a simple new tile added to the Quick Settings. I even tried it on my original Pixel XL and it makes its screen seem much bigger now too! Thanks again!