TheGalaxy S24series was the first set of phones to getCircle To Search, a Google Now On Tap-style feature that introduces a new way to search what’s on your screen. It’s pretty great, but the addition led Samsung to remove one of the most popular features in One UI: hiding the navigation bar. We found thatyou could still force it to disappearif you were willing to use a workaround, but now Samsung has updated the NavStar Good Lock module, adding new features and restoring old ones.
NavStar adds a new feature
The update to NavStar adds one new feature and restores two others. The latest addition is the ability to change the color of the back gesture handle, with the option to set different colors for the handle itself and the arrow that sits within it. It’s a nice touch, but the restoration of two other well-loved features matters most in this update.
NavStar restores old features
Before Google added gesture navigation to Android 10, Samsung had its own system. It added three lines to the bottom of the screen, each mapped to serve the function of the old three-button navigation. While Google’s system made it obsolete, a lot of people loved it and were sad to see it go in One UI 6.1 on the S24 series. Likewise, Samsung has long allowed people to hide the navigation or gesture bars, an option that was also missing from the S24 series at launch. Thankfully, you can get it back.
Here’s how to hide the navigation bar — or re-enable Samsung’s unique gesture navigation setup — using NavStar in Good Lock.
With that, you may use whichever navigation method you wish and choose for yourself if you want the navigation bar to be displayed. Even better, Circle To Search still works as before: press and hold the place where the gesture handle would usually be, and it’ll appear as intended.
Samsung Galaxy S24
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series comprises the company’s first phones to launch with Circle to Search, a new visual search feature developed with Google and accessed by holding your finger down on the home button or navigation bar. A recent NavStar update lets you hide the navigation bar at the bottom of your S24’s display — without impacting Circle to Search.
