cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34248249

I’m looking for some advice, recently my pixel 6a and a pixel 8a both have the same annoying behaviour, periodically the three bottom buttons stop working or lag to an extreme degree, so the back button, home button and app switcher.

I suspect it’s related to 3rd party launchers, I use Action Launcher but was able to replicate it on Lawnchair as well.

I’ve currently got the default Pixel/Nexus launcher selected as a test (I hate it), so far it seems to be immune from this issue. Are 3rd party launchers all suffering from the same issue? Anything I can do?

  • Brokkr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    Absolutely, there’s no way I’m leaving the 3 buttons by choice. The navy gestures conflict with too many other actions.

  • baatliwala@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    7 days ago

    I have the same problem with Nova. That said, have you tried updating to the latest version?

    https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/362911257/google-pixel-update-august-2025?hl=en

    Fix for issues with 3-button navigation and gesture navigation in certain conditions*[1]

    *[1] Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a

  • Brokkr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    7 days ago

    I’m on a pixel 9 now and still have problems, it’s inherent to Android. They are less on this phone, but the 3 buttons are longer part of Google vision for how to use our phones. They are going the Apple direction.

    • misery mansion@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      6 days ago

      Ah yeah you may be right there, gesture nav has been a thing for so long, the 3 buttons just work (when they work!)

  • Brokkr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    7 days ago

    I had this problem on a pixel 6 and was advised by Google support to switch to a 3rd party launcher.

  • soooph@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    6 days ago

    This issue popped up for me with the June update. After updating to the August update I haven’t seen it happen again.

      • soooph@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        4 days ago

        Looks like they didn’t fully fix it… had the same issue happen twice today. Still better than before when it was multiple times every hour though. Hopefully it doesn’t get worse and go back to that.