Nova Launcher Soft Keys Jun 2026

Nova Launcher does directly modify, hide, or remap the system soft keys (Back, Home, Recent). That’s handled by your Android system UI or a separate app. However, Nova gives you powerful tools to change how you navigate and reduce reliance on soft keys.

The dock sits right above the soft keys. In Nova, you can add multiple pages to the dock or allow it to be hidden entirely for a truly minimalistic setup. Replacing Soft Keys with Gestures nova launcher soft keys

By installing an app like or "Fluid Navigation Gestures," you can hide your soft keys entirely. You can then configure Nova Launcher as follows: Nova Launcher does directly modify, hide, or remap

Most modern Android phones (Android 9 Pie and later) allow you to switch from the traditional 3-button soft keys to Gesture Navigation. The dock sits right above the soft keys

– that’s system territory – but it offers the best environment to replace them with gestures, immersive mode, and custom docks. For total soft key control, pair Nova with a dedicated navigation app.

Even without system soft keys, you can mimic their functions using Nova’s dock: