
For years, users migrating from Samsung Galaxy devices to stock Android phones—like the Google Pixel—faced a minor but persistent hurdle: the navigation bar layout. Fortunately, Google is finally addressing this friction point. New code confirms that Android is implementing a native user setting that allows people to customize and reorder the buttons in the three-button navigation bar on Pixel phones.
Both platforms—Pixel’s Android implementation and Samsung’s One UI—offer the classic three-button navigation system (Back, Home, and Recents). However, Samsung places the Back button on the right, whereas stock Android defaults to placing it on the left. This seemingly small difference often forces users to retrain years of muscle memory or switch entirely to gesture controls. The upcoming change aims to make the transition between different Android manufacturers significantly smoother.
Android to finally get navigation button reordering, Google Pixel fans rejoice
Rumors about this customization option first surfaced in August. Now, those Android Authority findings are becoming a reality: the feature has appeared live and functional in the latest Android Canary build (version 2510). This long-awaited change introduces a new “button order” menu, which lets users select between two layouts. The first is the standard stock Android configuration: Back, Home, and Recents (Back button on the left). The second flips the configuration, mirroring Samsung’s layout: Recents, Home, Back (Back button on the right).

Rollout timeline
The new button order menu is now operational within the Canary build. You can find it under the Settings > System > Navigation mode > 3-button navigation menu. This progress suggests the feature is moving steadily toward a public release. Given its current presence in this early development track, the feature will likely move to the Beta channel next.
The setting may not make it into the immediate Android 16 QPR2 update this December. However, Pixel users could get it with the larger Android 16 QPR3 release around March.
The post Pixel Phones Will Soon Let You Flip Navigation Buttons Like Samsung’s appeared first on Android Headlines.