When you’ve handled Samsung devices as long as I have, through firmware quirks, hardware overhauls, and UI reinventions, you start to appreciate the little things that most users overlook. One of the most underrated, yet most impactful features on any Galaxy phone? Navigation. It’s not just about how you move from app to app, it’s how you experience the phone itself. And with the Samsung Galaxy S25, we’re looking at navigation done right, but more importantly, navigation done your way.
Whether you’ve grown comfortable with the classic three-button layout or you’re ready to embrace the sleek minimalism of gesture-based control, the S25 gives you the freedom to switch between the two in seconds. The real beauty? It’s not just a cosmetic tweak, it’s a change that affects speed, ergonomics, battery behavior, and even how you multitask.
In this guide, I’m not just going to tell you how to flip a switch in the settings menu. I’m going to walk you through how to make this adjustment intelligently, like someone who knows their device. not just uses it.
If you want your Galaxy S25 to feel like an extension of your own workflow, not just another screen in your pocket, then you’re in the right place.
Understanding Your Options on the Galaxy S25
Let’s clear the air, navigation isn’t just some “optional” feature tucked away in settings. It’s the backbone of how you interact with your phone from the moment you unlock it. And with the Galaxy S25, Samsung’s given us two polished, battle-tested options. Both work brilliantly. The key is knowing when to use them, and why one might suit your flow better than the other.
1. Navigation Buttons: Old School, but Gold Standard for Precision
The three-button layout, Back, Home, and Recents, has been around long enough to earn respect. I’ve had power users, field technicians, and even enterprise clients stick with buttons just because of how deliberate and fail-proof they feel.
Why? Because buttons are muscle memory. They’re predictable. You can use them without thinking, even with gloves, wet hands, or when your screen protector is throwing tantrums. For folks who prioritize precision or simply prefer a visible layout, buttons are rock-solid.
2. Gesture Navigation: Fluid, Clean, and Surprisingly Powerful
Now, if you’re after a more modern, immersive experience, gestures are where it’s at. Swiping up to go Home, pulling from the sides to go Back, these actions turn the S25’s 6.2-inch display into a seamless canvas. No distractions. No wasted pixels.
Samsung’s One UI has matured these gestures beautifully. There’s none of that laggy, inconsistent behavior you might’ve seen back in the early Android 10 days.
With the Galaxy S25, gestures feel intentional. Snappy. Thoughtful. It’s like shifting from manual transmission to a performance-tuned automatic, once you adjust, you don’t look back.
3. One UI 7+ Customization: It’s Not Just Either/Or
Here’s where most guides stop, but I won’t. With One UI 7 and above, Samsung didn’t just give us two lanes to choose from. They gave us customization within those lanes.
You can:
- Flip the Back button to the left or right
- Toggle gesture hints if you like a visual guide
- Adjust gesture sensitivity depending on how aggressive or light your swipe style is
- Enable gesture blocker zones for edge cases (pun intended)
This level of control is what sets the Galaxy experience apart. Samsung’s not guessing what you want, they’re handing you the tools to build it exactly how you like it.
Step-by-Step: Switching Between Navigation Gestures and Buttons
Let’s get to the hands-on part. You didn’t come here for fluff, you want to get it done, and done right. Switching between navigation gestures and buttons on the Galaxy S25 takes less than a minute, but knowing where to look and what each setting means? That’s what separates a casual user from someone who actually understands their device.
Follow this like I’ve taught it in training rooms and repair benches alike:
1. Jump into the Right Menu
- Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.
- Tap the gear icon (Settings).
- Scroll until you see Display, go ahead and tap it.
- Now tap Navigation bar.
- This is your command center for navigation controls. Everything you need is here.
2. Choose Your Style: Buttons or Gestures
You’ll see two main options:
Buttons
- Choose this if you prefer the classic Recents trio – Home – Back.
- Want to flip the position of the Back button? Just tap Button order. You’d be surprised how many left-handers breathe easier after this tweak.
Swipe Gestures
- Select this if you want that modern, edge-to-edge feel.
You’ll also get options for:
- Gesture hints: a little bar at the bottom to remind you where to swipe (can be turned off if you like a cleaner look).
- Swipe from sides and bottom vs. Swipe from bottom only – pick based on what feels natural.
3. Fine-Tune for Comfort
Here’s where the pros play. Once you’ve chosen Gestures, scroll down a bit and look for Gesture sensitivity.
This is crucial, especially if you’re using a case with raised edges or have a tempered glass screen protector.
- High sensitivity = responds to light swipes (great for fast users).
- Lower sensitivity = reduces accidental inputs (great for accuracy).
You’ll also find options to block gestures in certain areas, which is a lifesaver if you’re constantly triggering them by mistake while gaming or multitasking.
4. Test It Out in Real Use
Switching the setting is one thing, adapting to it is another.
After making the change, give yourself a day or two to really feel it out:
- Try multitasking.
- Open your most-used apps.
- See how it plays with your typing flow and notification handling.
- Remember, this isn’t about following trends. It’s about what fits you and how you use your phone.
There you go. No app installs, no hidden developer tricks, just clean, built-in tools that Samsung made for users who know what they’re doing. Disable Greyscale in Sleep Mode on Samsung Galaxy S25
Final Thoughts
By now, you’ve not only learned how to switch between navigation gestures and buttons on the Galaxy S25, you understand why it matters. That’s the difference between tinkering and mastering.
Look, I’ve worked on everything from early Galaxy S models to enterprise-grade Knox-encrypted setups. And let me tell you, navigation isn’t just about taste. It’s about optimizing your interaction with the hardware in your hand. If your navigation setup slows you down, causes mis-taps, or just doesn’t feel natural, it means you’re fighting your phone instead of flowing with it.
With the S25, Samsung has given users something we technicians always hoped for: flexibility without compromise. You can run classic buttons for stability and muscle memory, or lean into gestures for a cleaner, more immersive feel. And the beauty is, the phone doesn’t judge. You can swap between them whenever your needs, or your hands-change.
My advice? Don’t just copy what someone else does. Try both styles for a full day each. Load your regular apps, multitask like you normally would, game, text, swipe, scroll. Then ask yourself which one feels more effortless. That’s your answer.
The Galaxy S25 isn’t just another flagship, it’s a tool that adapts to you. Learn it. Customize it. Own it. And if you ever feel like your setup isn’t working for you, don’t hesitate to revisit that navigation menu. It’s not about setting and forgetting. It’s about tuning the machine until it works like a natural extension of your hand.
Because at the end of the day, when you truly understand your phone, you don’t just use it. You command it.