10 Easy Method to Fix Android 14 Navigation Swipe Gesture Not Working

Fixing the issue and finding a solution will be much easier if you fully grasp these possible causes. So, let’s look at some of the most common ones first.

Software Bugs: Bugs and glitches in the software may prevent swipes from functioning as intended in Android 14.
Unoptimized Apps: Apps not designed for the latest version of Android may cause problems with the system’s gesture recognition. Swipe gestures may not function as intended if there are any conflicts.
Insufficient Hardware Resources: Some older or lower-end devices may have difficulty smoothly executing gesture commands due to insufficient processing power or memory. Because of this, swipe gestures may not respond immediately or at all.
Accidental Misconfiguration: If a user messes with the gesture settings, it could result in unwanted behavior. When user preferences are at odds with the intended system gestures, the swipe gestures may not work as expected.
Accessibility Settings: Accessibility features may cause problems for those who rely on swipe gestures. Some accessibility options may interfere with or prevent the use of certain gestures.
Corrupted Cache: Cache and data accumulated while using an older version of Android can prevent the gestures from working as intended with the latest Android 14.
Screen Protector: You might be using a thick or misaligned screen protector that’s causing the gestures not to work as expected.

Make Sure Swipe Gestures Are Enabled

First, you need to make sure that you have the correct swipe gestures enabled. If you are trying to use the navigation swipe gestures but they are disabled, you will clearly not be able to use them. In other words, simply double-check your swipe gesture settings and make sure they are right.

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap on System.
Look for the Gestures option here. If you can’t find it here, simply go back to the main menu of the Settings page and tap on Display.
Then, tap on System navigation.
Finally, select Gesture navigation from here.

Note: The exact steps may vary, depending on the Android skin (One UI, Pixel UI, ColorOS, OxygenOS) you are using. If you are unable to find the option, simply search for “navigation” and then tap on the relevant setting.

Now that we have seen the reasons behind this issue as well as enabled the navigation swipe gestures, we can proceed with the troubleshooting. If the navigation swipe gestures are still not working on your Android 14 device, you can try the following troubleshooting steps. We will start with the basics and then move on to the more advanced troubleshooting steps.

Fix 1: Remove the Screen Protector

Screen Protector

Screen protectors can reduce responsiveness to touches if placed incorrectly or if they are of poor quality. They could make it harder for the device to detect when your finger is touching the screen. If you’re having trouble getting swipe gestures recognised, try taking off the screen protector and touching the screen directly.

Fix 2: Restart your Phone

When confronted with a technical issue, restarting is often the first line of troubleshooting. This can resolve minor software problems on your phone. If the failure of the gesture system is connected to a background process, this can be helpful. Follow the steps below to restart your phone:

Press and hold just the Power button or both Power and the Volume Up buttons together for a few seconds, depending on your device.
Tap on Restart or drag the slider to restart your phone.

Fix 3: Use Gestures Properly

Properly mastering the gesture controls on your device is a must. Different Android versions and even different manufacturers may implement gestures differently. Check that you are using the right gestures for your devices.

Learn the different types of gestures. Android 14’s gestures include swiping up and holding, swiping in from the sides, and swiping from the bottom of the screen. Learn the appropriate gesture to use at the appropriate time.

For the recent apps screen, swipe up from the bottom and pause. Swiping up from the bottom will take you to the home screen. For this to work, your swipes must be accurate and precise.

If your device allows edge gestures, use them correctly by beginning swipes at the proper angle from the edges. Each edge gesture may have a different origin; learn these in advance to avoid any misunderstandings.

Swipes that are too fast or sluggish may not have the desired effect. Find the optimal combination of duration and pace through trial and error.

Keep your screen clean for easy swiping and a responsive touch experience. Problems with touch responsiveness and gesture recognition could result from a cracked or otherwise damaged screen protector or display.

Take away anything that might be preventing your smartphone from sensing touches. If you’ve made many changes and gestures still aren’t responding as expected, move on to the next solution.

Fix 4: Clear System Launcher Cache

The System Launcher is a system app that runs your phone’s several functions, including the swipe gestures. The launcher’s cache can become cluttered with temporary data over time, negatively impacting gesture detection.

That’s why it is recommended to clear the cache of the System Launcher. After clearing this cache, the launcher may become more sensitive to the swipe gestures. Follow the steps below to clear the cache:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
Tap on See all apps.
Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and select “System Launcher” or something similar. For Samsung users, this might be labeled “One UI Home.”
Now, tap on Storage or Storage & cache.
Tap on Clear cache and then OK.
Try using the navigation swipe gestures again and see if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 5: Update your Phone’s Software

Updates to software typically include both bug fixes and new features. If the problem with the swipe gesture is a known bug, the fix may be available in a future software update. If you’re experiencing issues with gestures, updating your device’s software will ensure you receive the latest fixes and enhancements. Follow the steps below to update your phone’s software:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap on System > Software updates. Some devices might have this option under the About phone page.
Tap on Check for updates.
Your phone will now check for any updates that need to be installed.
If any available updates are there, tap on Download.
Restart your device once the update has been installed.
Check to see if the swipe gestures are now working as expected.

Note: If no updates are available, you will see a message saying, “Your system is up to date.”

Fix 6: Uninstall Suspicious Apps in Safe Mode

It is possible for third-party apps to impede fundamental features, such as gestures, on a device. By starting up in Safe Mode, which does not load any additional software, you can determine if a certain app is responsible for the problem. You can find and delete any app interfering with gesture detection by removing newly added or suspicious apps. Follow the steps below:

Press and hold the Power or both the Power and the Volume Up buttons together for a few seconds, depending on your device.
Tap and hold the Restart or Power off option to enter safe mode.
If prompted, tap on OK.
You should see a small text on the screen’s bottom left corner saying, “Safe Mode.”
If the swipe gestures work well in the safe mode, then a third party is likely causing the issue.
Restart your phone again to exit safe mode and uninstall any suspicious apps.
If the issue is resolved after uninstalling an app, it means it was causing the issue.

Fix 7: Check Accessibility Settings

The accessibility settings on your phone have some specific gestures that allow you to trigger certain accessibility features. These gestures can sometimes coincide or interfere with the navigation swipe gestures. So it’s better to turn these off. Follow the steps below:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Scroll down and tap on Accessibility or Accessibility settings.
Turn off any settings that could be interfering with the navigation swipe gestures.

Fix 8: Reset All Settings

Resetting all settings will return your phone’s settings to its factory defaults without losing any data. This can help fix the gesture problem if an incorrect configuration or setting is to blame. It’s not as dramatic as starting from scratch but may help fix gesture detection issues. Follow the steps below to reset all settings:

Note: All your saved network settings will be reset, including Wi-Fi passwords, VPNs, and Bluetooth devices.

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap on System or General, depending on your device.
Tap on Reset options.
Tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
Tap on Reset settings.
Then, enter your lock screen’s PIN, password, or pattern.
Finally, tap on Reset settings again.

Fix 9: Use a Third-party Launcher

Changing to a different launcher from the Play Store may solve the swipe gesture issue if the default launcher is the culprit. Many of these launchers also allow you to tailor your experience using gestures and other settings. If you’re having trouble with gestures on your device, you might be able to fix the problem by switching to a different launcher.

Here are some of the launchers that we recommend:

Nova Launcher
Pixel Launcher
Action Launcher
Niagara Launcher

Once you have installed your favorite launcher from the Google Play Store, it’s time to enable it in the settings. Follow the steps below:

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
Tap on Default apps.
Next, tap on Home app.
Select the launcher that you just installed.
Set up the launcher by following the on-screen instructions.

Fix 10: Factory Reset your Phone (Optional)

An absolute last resort is a factory reset. It’s like starting from scratch, as it deletes everything on your device, including apps and settings. If all troubleshooting steps have failed, a factory reset can fix any underlying software issues that are preventing gestures from working as intended. Before performing a factory reset, you should make a backup of any data you deem crucial. Follow the steps below:

Note: Make sure you have a backup before proceeding.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on System or General, depending on your device.
3. Tap on Reset options.
4. Tap on Erase all data (factory reset).
5. Tap on Erase all data.

Then, enter your lock screen’s PIN, password, or pattern.
Finally, tap on Erase all data again.
Set up your device again and see if the swipe gestures work.

Fix 11: Contact Customer Support

If none of those solutions work, contact your device’s manufacturer for further assistance. Based on your device and the nature of the issue you’re experiencing, they can provide you with personalized troubleshooting steps, specific solutions, or additional steps. If this is a software bug, you must wait until the developers fix this in the next patch.

Final Words

That’s how you fix the navigation swipe gestures not working issue on your Android 14 device. Just make sure that you have the gestures enabled to begin with. If that doesn’t work, you should restart your device to clear out any software bugs or glitches causing the problem.

It would be best to try updating the software and uninstalling any suspicious apps. After doing all of this, the navigation swipe gestures should work flawlessly on your Android 14 device.

However, you can contact your device manufacturer for further assistance if the issue persists. Which one of these solutions worked for you? Do you know of any other troubleshooting steps that could fix the issue? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading till the end!