topic Re: Back button? in 5 Series

Back button?

annatmlh — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:57:53 GMT

Just got my new Xperia 5 upgraded to Android 10. Where is the back button gone? It's my fifth Xperia phone so I'm very familiar using them, but how the heck do I go back to previous pages without a back button? The Home button is also gone, but that is kind of replaced so you instead swipe up for the app menu so that any a big problem. Please help!

Re: Back button?

MikkoK — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:23:48 GMT

You need to swipe from left side of screen to right, those are new Android 10 gestures.

Re: Back button?

Jonas — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:28:11 GMT

Hi @annatmlh, welcome to our forum!

In Android 10, you have a feature to only navigate the device using gestures called "Gesture navigation", on top of the 2-button navigation and 3-button navigation.

When navigating the device only using gestures, you swipe from the right or the left at the edge of the screen to go back, instead of having a button for it.

If you prefer to have a back button, but you still want to be able to swipe up to get the home screen and so forth, the 2-button navigation is the best one for you to use. If you go to Settings > System > Gestures, you can freely choose if you want gestures only, gestures with a back button or the old school way of doing it with a back, home and recent apps button.

I hope that helps!

Re: Back button?

annatmlh — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:13:52 GMT

THANK YOU!!! Back to normal now, I almost threw the phone away 🤣😂

Re: Back button?

Jonas — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:38:07 GMT

@annatmlh, you're very welcome and I'm glad I was able to stop you from throwing the device away, haha!

Let me know if you have any other questions regarding Android 10 and the functionality and have a great day!

Re: Back button?

ForzaDan — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 03:08:56 GMT

I hate the fact that the Back button can't be moved to the right hand side of the display. This is a major fail when most folk are right handed they can't reach the back button with it being on the left side of the display. Makes this narrow phone a two handed phone. Samsung and LG have the ability to change it please Sony add this.

Re: Back button?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:49:45 GMT

Yes true Samsung and LG could have this option, but as I'm a right handed person as well , i don't feel any struggle with having the back button on the left side myself. I mean smartphones these days are more tall and thin shaped that makes you able to reach most of the sides of the phone with only one hand.

Re: Back button?

ForzaDan — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 22:37:03 GMT

Hi you must have big hands then. My other phone is easier to use than this Sony and it's a Samsung note 9 which is much bigger. I see this a major flaw in not having the option of changing the buttons after all why go for the slimmer profile if not to try make it a more compact one handed phone? The other option they give is definitely not intuitive to use either. Hopefully Sony will fix this and low light performance on the camera with software updates.

Re: Back button?

Strampke — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 11:20:45 GMT

You might want to try One-handed mode.

You will find it in the manual.

Besides, there are many features that users are often not aware of.

Search for example for split screen, smart call handling, ending a call by pushing the power button and more.

Enjoy your device more by wandering through the manual.

Easy access to the manual is in the Support app on your device.

Re: Back button?

ForzaDan — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 14:54:14 GMT

Hi did you read what I said? The other option i.e the one handed option is rubbish and very annoying to use. I have spoken to several people that sent the phone back for this very reason. This is why Samsung and LG have the option to change the back button to either side. Sony will not grow in the phone market when they don't make simple options like this available and poor automatic camera app. It's almost like they want to be a niche product.

Re: Back button?

Strampke — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 01:19:45 GMT

If 'rubbish' is your sentiment about one-handed mode, you might consider using another launcher.

Maybe Nova launcher offers the desired option, you'll have to find out yourself.

Another option might be to switch from the back/home/recent layout to the gesture navigation.

You can find it in Settings; just type <gesture > and you're there.

It has an option with back both left and right, just a bit different.

Re: Back button?

Strampke — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 11:14:54 GMT

Hey @annatmlh did you find it?

It's got everything you need and is more versatile than the former 3 button navigation.