You can interact with your phone using gestures. You can turn some gestures on and off.
Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Turn gestures on or off
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap System
Gestures.
- Tap the gesture that you want to change.
Gestures.Tip: For accessibility gestures, learn about TalkBack gestures or magnification.
Check notifications
- Swipe fingerprint for notifications
If your Pixel phone has a fingerprint sensor, when your phone is unlocked, you can check your notifications by swiping down on the sensor. - Tap to check phone
When your phone is locked, you can check your notifications by tapping your screen. - Lift to check phone
When your phone is locked, you can check your notifications by picking it up.
See how to lift to check your phone
Tip: Learn how to control your notifications.
Find your apps
- Find recent apps
From the bottom of your screen, swipe up slightly, then hold. When you feel a vibration, let go. Learn how to get around on your phone. - Find all apps
From the bottom of your screen, swipe up to the top. Learn how to get around on your phone.
Quick Tap to open an app or complete a task
Important: This feature only works on Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones.
You can take a screenshot or play and pause media with two taps on the back of your phone. You can also show notifications or open an app. To change your settings:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Go to System
Gestures
- Turn on Use Quick Tap.
- Choose an action.
- To open an app, select Open app. Next to 'Open app', tap Settings
. Then select an app.
- To open an app, select Open app. Next to 'Open app', tap Settings
Gestures
. Then select an app.To complete the action, tap twice on the back of your phone.
Open or switch between cameras
- Jump to camera
You can open your camera from any screen by pressing your phone's power button twice. - Flip camera
With your camera open, you can switch between your front and rear cameras by twisting your phone twice.
See how to switch between cameras
Quickly silence your phone
- Turn on vibrate or mute
To turn on vibrate or mute and prevent ringing, press the power and volume up buttons.
Tip: Learn how to change what happens when you press power and volume up. - Squeeze for silence (Pixel 2–4)
To silence incoming calls, snooze alarms and dismiss timers, squeeze the bottom half of your phone.
To change how hard to squeeze, open your Settings app - Flip to Shhh (Pixel 2 and later)
To quickly turn on Do Not Disturb, place your phone face down on a flat surface.
Tip: Find out how to change your Do Not Disturb settings.See how to place your phone face down - Silence interruptions (Pixel 4 only)
To snooze an alarm, turn off a timer or mute a call, wave your hand once over your phone. Learn how to turn on Quick Gestures.
Listen to music (Pixel 4 only)
To skip a song, or go back to a song that you just played, wave your hand over your phone. Learn how to turn on Quick Gestures.
See how to skip songs
Talk to your Assistant
- Swipe from the corner
If you're using gesture navigation, to open your Google Assistant, swipe from the right or left corner of your screen. Find out how to get around on your phone. - Squeeze your phone (Pixel 2–4)
To use your Google Assistant, you can squeeze the bottom half of your phone. On Pixel 1 and 4a, instead of squeezing, say "Hey Google". Find out how to talk to your Google Assistant.
Tip: To change how hard to squeeze, open your Settings app - Press and hold the power button
On Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, to use your Google Assistant, press and hold the power button.
On Pixel 3 to Pixel 5a (5G), change your settings to use the power button to talk to your Assistant:
- On your phone, open the Settings app.
- Tap System > Gestures > Press and hold power button.
- Turn on Hold for Assistant.