Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks ShopApple GuidesAndroid GuidesiPhone GuidesMac GuidesPixel GuidesSamsung GuidesTweaks & HacksPrivacy & SecurityProductivity HacksMovies & TVSmartphone GamingMusic & AudioTravel TipsVideography TipsChat Apps
Home
Android

Get the iPhone's 'AssistiveTouch' Virtual Home Button on Android

Jan 27, 2017 07:04 PM
Apr 13, 2017 12:46 AM
Navigation app interface with menu options displayed on a smartphone.

The iPhone has a handy feature called AssistiveTouch that lets you quickly adjust volume, lock your screen, rotate your display, and even navigate through the phone's interface using a virtual home button. In a way, it's a lot like the on-screen navigation bar that you'll find on some Android devices, but with a lot more functionality, and bundled together in a floating bubble interface.

Not wanting Android users to feel left out, the freestudio development team created an app that almost perfectly mimics the iPhone's AssistiveTouch feature on Android. To sweeten the deal, they've even made it to where you can customize the functionality of the floating interface, so it's a great way to access extra controls and system functions from any screen, or use whenever your phone's buttons/keys are acting all wonky.

Install Assistive Touch

To get this one going, start by installing freestudio's app, which is aptly titled Assistive Touch.

636208788933357987.jpg

Adjust Theme Options

Open the app and tap the button in the middle of the screen to make sure the service is enabled. At this point, you should see the Assistive Touch floating button on the right edge of your screen. If you'd like, you can tap "Background" on this same menu to change the background color of the pop-up interface.

636208789188377784.jpg
636208789314325039.jpg
636208789188377784.jpg
636208789314325039.jpg

Next, head back out to the main menu and select "Icon." From here, you can choose a new look for the floating bubble that will reside on every screen and give you access to Assistive Touch features.

636208789533092023.jpg
636208789703886536.jpg
636208789533092023.jpg
636208789703886536.jpg

Add or Remove Items from the Assistive Touch Menu

Aside from just theming, you can change the shortcuts provided by Assistive Touch if you head to the app's settings menu, then select the "Panel" option.

636208790508792720.jpg
636208790677243284.jpg
636208790508792720.jpg
636208790677243284.jpg

From here, if you'd like to replace an item with a different one, simply tap it, then select an action from the list. Assistive Touch is capable of launching tons of useful shortcuts, so make sure to look through the full list to see everything it can do.

636208790864757844.jpg
636208790996799342.jpg
636208790864757844.jpg
636208790996799342.jpg

Navigate Your Phone with a Virtual Home Button

Once you've got everything set up, using Assistive Touch is incredibly easy. For starters, you'll see the floating button on top of every screen, so when you need to access a function, just tap it and a window will pop up. From here, you can do things like navigate your phone's interface with back, home, and recent apps buttons, and you can also access your bookmarked sites, favorite apps, system settings, or capture a screenshot, among other things. Then, if you tap the search field at the top of this interface, you can type in an app's name to quickly launch it from any screen.

636208792065007195.jpg
636208792237520575.jpg
636208792390657464.jpg
636208792065007195.jpg
636208792237520575.jpg
636208792390657464.jpg

Overall, it's almost identical to Apple's AssistiveTouch interface, but the Android version actually has a few more features that you can't get on an iPhone. And really, this app would help a lot if you want to disable your on-screen navigation keys, since it's similar to Pie Controls in that it lets you navigate your phone without taking up much screen real estate.

Cover image and screenshots by Dallas Thomas/Gadget Hacks

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find updated Apple Intelligence capabilities, new wallpapers, and enhancements to Calculator, PDF cropping, and Live Voicemail, among other useful features. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 18.3 update.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!