Google Likely to Kill the Back Button in Next Android Version

It is a known fact that Google has been working on the next Android version, likely to be named Android Q. The software upgrade will likely be announced at the Google I/O 2019 conference.

Though Google itself has not confirmed any feature of Android Q, XDA Developers found a leaked version of the next Android OS.

The biggest update in the previous Android version (Pie) was – letting go of the three navigation buttons, in order to replace them with two – one back button and a home button, which was called a gesture pill.

Gestures on Android Pie

Clicking on the gesture pill/home button took you to the recent apps while a long upward swipe opened the app drawer; this change was welcomed by users and manufacturers alike – although confusing initially, it did actually turn out to be the more efficient use of fingers and screen space.

Gestures in Android Pie. Source: Google.

The XDA Developers report says there are chances that Google will let go of the back button in Android Q.

Before going on to explain the gestures on the next Android version, XDA clarified first that it was a pre-release version of the software that it is demonstrating, and is not to be confused as the final upgrade.

No Back Button, Only Gesture Navigation

In Android Q, Google is making two major changes to Android Pie’s gestures – it will kill the back button and one will no longer be able to disable gestures to go back to the two navigation buttons.

Now, the report says that the back button wasn't removed in Android Pie as a sudden removal would have been confusing for the users, who had become too accustomed to the back button. Now, the report adds, since people have got used to the gesture pill, they are expecting this move.

With the experimental version that XDA has got its hands on, one can swipe left on the gesture pill to go back.

Saying that Google might adapt to more of Apple-like gesture animations, XDA also added that swiping right on the gesture pill lets one go back to the previous app. You will be able to scroll through all of your recent apps by continuing to swipe right on the pill.

Here is how you might have to navigate in Android Q:

• Tap pill: Go home
• Long press pill: Launch Google Assistant
• Short upward swipe on the pill: Open horizontal recent apps overview
• Long upward swipe on the pill: App drawer
• Slide pill to the right: Scroll through recent apps
• Quick slide pill to the right: Open last app
• Slide pill to the left: Go back

Now, all of this cannot be considered conclusive, since even Android Pie's first leaked version didn’t hint at gesture control while the Android P that was showcased during the Google I/O had that feature.