Gesture navigation in Samsung’s One UI is very good, however, the constant swipe-back gesture icon—the small circular arrow that appears when you swipe from the left or right edge—can break your immersion and make your display look cluttered. This detailed guide has non-root solutions that work on any recent Samsung device like Galaxy S, A, M, and Fold/Flip series to help you hide the Swipe Back Gesture indicator.
We present several confirmed ways to achieve this goal by resorting to Samsung’s ecosystem apps such as Good Lock, NavStar, and One Hand Operation+. Each method comprises of the detailed steps which are compatible with One UI 4-7.
Why the Swipe Back Gesture Icon Appears
The gesture hint/indicator belongs to Samsung’s accessibility and navigation UI. It shows a visual confirmation that the system has recognized a back-swipe. Although it is useful for new users, lots of experienced ones refuse to have a visual clutter even if it is in the form of a small icon.
Method 1: Hide Gesture Icon via Navigation Bar Settings
This method…
Step-by-Step Instructions
- On your Samsung device, open the Settings.
- Get to Display > Navigation Bar.
- Find Gesture Hint and turn off the toggle.
- Download Good Lock from Galaxy Store and install it.
- In Good Lock, download and open NavStar (NavBar module).
- Enable Transparent Hint or turn off Hide Gesture Hint (if you are using a newer version of One UI).
What This Method Achieves
- This hides the default gesture hint bar that comes with the system.
- The back-swipe visual indicator is reduced or removed.
- The user gets a cleaner edge gesture experience without the gesture functionality being affected.
Method 2: Conceal Back Swipe Icon with One Hand Operation+
One Hand Operation+ (OHO+) is a gesture customization tool that can be used to hide all gesture hints and handles.
Setup and Configuration
- Get One Hand Operation+ from the Galaxy Store.
- Open the app and enable the feature by clicking the Enable toggle.
- Choose Left Handle or Right Handle and go to Gesture Settings.
- Disable the following checkboxes:
- Show Gesture Hint
- Show Handle Hint
- Indicator (this removes the visual swipe icon entirely)
Benefits of OHO+
- Completely hides both left and right gesture icons.
- Supports custom gesture sensitivity and transparency.
- Perfect for minimalists and full-screen users.
Method 3: Hide Back Gesture Indicator Using ADB (No Root)
This is an advanced yet safe ADB command that hides the gesture bar and back hint if you want more control without installing Samsung modules.
Requirements
- PC with ADB installed
- USB debugging enabled on your phone
Command
adb shell settings put global navigation_bar_gesture_hint 0
To revert:
adb shell settings put global navigation_bar_gesture_hint 1
Why This Works
The command changes the system UI flags, turning off the hint overlay that shows the back gesture without the system gesture performance.
Method 4: Theme Changes through Good Lock
With the help of Good Lock’s Theme Park and NavStar, you can make UI changes that either hide the back gesture icon or make it look like it’s merged with something else.
Steps
- Download Theme Park from Good Lock.
- Design a new Navigation Theme.
- Make the gesture hint and indicator fully transparent by setting their values to 100%.
- Use the theme.
Effect
The result is a hidden gesture indicator with the theme from your favorite still intact.
Method Comparison Table
| Method | Difficulty | Requires App | Best For | Removes Icon Completely |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation Bar + NavStar | Easy | Good Lock | Clean UI | Yes |
| One Hand Operation+ | Easy | OHO+ | Full customization | Yes |
| ADB Command | Moderate | No | Power users | Yes |
| Theme Park | Easy | Good Lock | Theming + UI control | Partial/Full |
Recommended Method for Most Users
One Hand Operation+ is the tool that yields the most stable results, especially for the users who desire:
- No visible back-swipe indicator
- Custom sensitivity and gesture zones
- Per-app gesture control
Troubleshooting: Gesture Icon Still Appearing?
Have a go at the steps below:
- Make sure that both Gesture Hint and Indicator toggles are turned off.
- After making the changes in NavStar or OHO+, restart your device.
- Upgrade Good Lock modules to be compatible with the latest One UI version.
- If you are running a third-party launcher, temporarily switch to Samsung’s launcher to apply the configuration.
Final Thoughts
Eliminating the swipe-back gesture icon on a Samsung device improves immersion and makes gesture navigation more fluid, and visually pleasing. The use of Samsung-approved modules like Good Lock and One Hand Operation+ is an assurance of safety, reliability, and root-free customization. Whether your preference is to have full control via OHO+ or to keep it simple with NavStar, the ways mentioned above work in achieving a gesture experience free from the clutter of all the latest Samsung devices.
If you want more personalization or have some problems, don’t hesitate to send me your device model and One UI version.ion.
(VIA)