How to hide navigation bar permanently in android activity?

Question

I want to hide navigation bar permanently in my activity(not whole system ui). now i'm using this piece of code

getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION);

It hides the bar but when user touches the screen it showing again. is there any way to hide it permanently until activity onStop();

Cosenza

possible duplicate of Permanently hide navigation bar on activity – Goldiegoldilocks

A lot of good and specific details are laid out here, in this official Google/Android link: Enable fullscreen mode. – Scholasticate

The flag automatically cleared when user touched the screen according to the documentation. You have to made changes to your UI design to hide navigation bar all the time. – Namangan

Answer 1

Snippets:

FullScreenFragment.java

HideNavigationBarComponent.java

---

This is for Android 4.4+

Try out immersive mode https://developer.android.com/training/system-ui/immersive.html

Fast snippet (for an Activity class):

private int currentApiVersion;

@Override
@SuppressLint("NewApi")
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

    currentApiVersion = android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;

    final int flags = View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE
        | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
        | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN
        | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
        | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
        | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY;

    // This work only for android 4.4+
    if(currentApiVersion >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT)
    {

        getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(flags);

        // Code below is to handle presses of Volume up or Volume down.
        // Without this, after pressing volume buttons, the navigation bar will
        // show up and won't hide
        final View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
        decorView
            .setOnSystemUiVisibilityChangeListener(new View.OnSystemUiVisibilityChangeListener()
            {

                @Override
                public void onSystemUiVisibilityChange(int visibility)
                {
                    if((visibility & View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN) == 0)
                    {
                        decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(flags);
                    }
                }
            });
    }

}


@SuppressLint("NewApi")
@Override
public void onWindowFocusChanged(boolean hasFocus)
{
    super.onWindowFocusChanged(hasFocus);
    if(currentApiVersion >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT && hasFocus)
    {
        getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);
    }
}

If you have problems when you press Volume up or Volume down that your navigation bar show. I added code in onCreate see setOnSystemUiVisibilityChangeListener

Here is another related question:

Immersive mode navigation becomes sticky after volume press or minimise-restore

Wilde

When user swipes top/ bottom of the screen,that will display the Semi-transparent navigation bars temporarily appear and then hide again. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HIDE THAT TOO ? – Scarper

@KarthickRamu I found a way, just look at my answer down :) – Mechanician

@MuhammedRefaat Your hint needs a rooted device :( – Scarper

yeah, sry about that :( – Mechanician

I get this exception: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void com.android.internal.widget.ActionBarContainer.setAlpha(float)' on a null object reference at com.android.internal.app.WindowDecorActionBar.doHide(WindowDecorActionBar.java:822) – Screeching

Thanks for the gist, will the navigation bar hide permanently? And i think i need to put all my activity logic in the fragment and show it in the activity? – Screeching

@DawidDrozd Thank you, but I have a problem, My activity root layout is RelativeLayout, and it has a child view that is set android:layout_alignParentBottom="true", the navigation bar disappear but the child view doesn't move to bottom edge of the screen, as if the navigation bar is set to invisible not gone, could you help? – Aromatize

@Aromatize Probably you need remeasure whole view but not sure. Try to invalidate like here: #6946978 – Wilde

If you want to make use of the space that the navigation bar occupied, you have to remove all occurrences of android:fitsSystemWindows="true" from your views. Android Studio includes this attribute when generating some layouts. See https://mcmap.net/q/205983/-navigation-bar-hides-but-leaves-space-when-using-navigation-drawer-in-android-5 – Mildredmildrid

Hmm, that works, with one caveat: when in my app I press any button that causes a new window to appear on the screen ( 'window' - i.e. a DialogFrament, a PopupWindow, or simply a Spinner's selecttion list window) - then the navigation bar re-appears and stays there until the window in question gets dismissed. Any cure for that? – Hadsall

That works but I used only oncreate(){... } part. I didn't integrate the function onWindowFocusChanged and all is working perfectly. – Redon

can we do it for whole application? – Argillite

Answer 2

Do this.

public void FullScreencall() {
    if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT > 11 && Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < 19) { // lower api
        View v = this.getWindow().getDecorView();
        v.setSystemUiVisibility(View.GONE);
    } else if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 19) {
        //for new api versions.
        View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
        int uiOptions = View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY;
        decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(uiOptions);
    }
}

This works 100% and you can do same for lower API versions, even if it's a late answer I hope it will helps someone else.

If you want this to be permanent, just call FullScreencall() inside your onResume() method.

Undergraduate

I recommend taking a look at developer.android.com/training/system-ui/immersive.html, which explains that your method simply hides the bar until there is interaction and again shortly after interaction is complete. – Homogenous

It doesn't hide navigation bar (andriod 10 home gesture navigations) – Batsman

Answer 3

For people looking at a simpler solution, I think you can just have this one line of code in onStart()

  getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION|
            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);

It's called Immersive mode. You may look at the official documentation for other possibilities.

Mosaic

I am getting err ( cannot find symbol View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);) ``` @Override protected void onStart() { getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility( View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION| View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY); super.onStart(); }``` – Combust

This was what worked for me on React Native. https://mcmap.net/q/204630/-how-to-hide-navigation-bar-permanently-in-android-activity was complex + hides the software menu bar leaving a black bar behind blocking the rest of my app. I used it like this @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION|View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);} in MainActivity.java under public class MainActivity extends ReactActivity with import android.view.View; import android.os.Bundle; – Neuter

Answer 4

Try this for all android version including Android 30(R).

For more check this class: https://github.com/fiftyonemoon/Rapid/blob/main/rapid/src/main/java/com/fom/rapid/app/UI.java

Show/Hide all system bars:

 public void hideSystemUI(Window window) { //pass getWindow();

    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {

        window.getInsetsController().hide(WindowInsets.Type.systemBars());

    } else {

        View decorView = window.getDecorView();

        int uiVisibility = decorView.getSystemUiVisibility();

        uiVisibility |= View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE;
        uiVisibility |= View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN;
        uiVisibility |= View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION;
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT) {
            uiVisibility |= View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE;
            uiVisibility |= View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY;
        }

        decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(uiVisibility);
    }
}


public void showSystemUI(Window window) { //pass getWindow();

    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {

        window.getInsetsController().show(WindowInsets.Type.systemBars());

    } else {
        View decorView = window.getDecorView();

        int uiVisibility = decorView.getSystemUiVisibility();

        uiVisibility &= ~View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE;
        uiVisibility &= ~View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN;
        uiVisibility &= ~View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION;
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT) {
            uiVisibility &= ~View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE;
            uiVisibility &= ~View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY;
        }

        decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(uiVisibility);
    }
}

Psychological

Answer 5

The other answers mostly use the flags for setSystemUiVisibility() method in View. However, this API is deprecated since Android 11. Check my article about modifying the system UI visibility for more information. The article also explains how to handle the cutouts properly or how to listen to the visibility changes.

Here are code snippets for showing / hiding system bars with the new API as well as the deprecated one for backward compatibility:

/**
 * Hides the system bars and makes the Activity "fullscreen". If this should be the default
 * state it should be called from [Activity.onWindowFocusChanged] if hasFocus is true.
 * It is also recommended to take care of cutout areas. The default behavior is that the app shows
 * in the cutout area in portrait mode if not in fullscreen mode. This can cause "jumping" if the
 * user swipes a system bar to show it. It is recommended to set [WindowManager.LayoutParams.LAYOUT_IN_DISPLAY_CUTOUT_MODE_NEVER],
 * call [showBelowCutout] from [Activity.onCreate]
 * (see [Android Developers article about cutouts](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/display-cutout#never_render_content_in_the_display_cutout_area)).
 * @see showSystemUI
 * @see addSystemUIVisibilityListener
 */
fun Activity.hideSystemUI() {
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {
        window.insetsController?.let {
            // Default behavior is that if navigation bar is hidden, the system will "steal" touches
            // and show it again upon user's touch. We just want the user to be able to show the
            // navigation bar by swipe, touches are handled by custom code -> change system bar behavior.
            // Alternative to deprecated SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE.
            it.systemBarsBehavior = WindowInsetsController.BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE
            // make navigation bar translucent (alternative to deprecated
            // WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_TRANSLUCENT_NAVIGATION)
            // - do this already in hideSystemUI() so that the bar
            // is translucent if user swipes it up
            window.navigationBarColor = getColor(R.color.internal_black_semitransparent_light)
            // Finally, hide the system bars, alternative to View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
            // and SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN.
            it.hide(WindowInsets.Type.systemBars())
        }
    } else {
        // Enables regular immersive mode.
        // For "lean back" mode, remove SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE.
        // Or for "sticky immersive," replace it with SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY
        @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
        window.decorView.systemUiVisibility = (
                // Do not let system steal touches for showing the navigation bar
                View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE
                        // Hide the nav bar and status bar
                        or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                        or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
                        // Keep the app content behind the bars even if user swipes them up
                        or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                        or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN)
        // make navbar translucent - do this already in hideSystemUI() so that the bar
        // is translucent if user swipes it up
        @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
        window.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_TRANSLUCENT_NAVIGATION)
    }
}

/**
 * Shows the system bars and returns back from fullscreen.
 * @see hideSystemUI
 * @see addSystemUIVisibilityListener
 */
fun Activity.showSystemUI() {
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {
        // show app content in fullscreen, i. e. behind the bars when they are shown (alternative to
        // deprecated View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN)
        window.setDecorFitsSystemWindows(false)
        // finally, show the system bars
        window.insetsController?.show(WindowInsets.Type.systemBars())
    } else {
        // Shows the system bars by removing all the flags
        // except for the ones that make the content appear under the system bars.
        @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
        window.decorView.systemUiVisibility = (
                View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                        or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN)
    }
}

Frolicsome

I tried your codes with the BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE flag on the emulator, but the navigation bar will pop up and remain displayed when i touch the screen. Any idea what else i should set to get the STICKY functionality on Android 11? – Colwell

@AngelKoh You have to call hideSystemUI() manually if you want to hide it. Check the article mentioned in my answer, it contains all these details. Sticky mode means the bars will be transparent if the user swipes them up and the app will receive the touch events as well (see developer.android.com/training/system-ui/…). – Hirudin

yes hideSystemUI() is called and the Ui got hidden the first time. however when i touch the screen afterwards, the navigation bar pops back out and stays displayed. – Colwell

The purpose of BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE is to prevent the system stealing touches and displaying the bars. So I am not sure what could cause this without seeing / debugging the real app. – Hirudin

@AngelKoh did you found the solution? As you mentioned BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE react to click, not just swipe – Whither

Answer 6

Use:-

view.setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION);

In Tablets running Android 4+, it is not possible to hide the System / Navigation Bar.

From documentation :

The SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION is a new flag that requests the navigation bar hide completely. Be aware that this works only for the navigation bar used by some handsets (it does not hide the system bar on tablets).

Gerdy

Answer 7

According to Android Developer site

I think you cant(as far as i know) hide navigation bar permanently..

However you can do one trick. Its a trick mind you.

Just when the navigation bar shows up when user touches the screen. Immediately hide it again. Its fun.

Check this.

void setNavVisibility(boolean visible) {
int newVis = SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN
        | SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION
        | SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE;
if (!visible) {
    newVis |= SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE | SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
            | SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION;
}

// If we are now visible, schedule a timer for us to go invisible.
if (visible) {
    Handler h = getHandler();
    if (h != null) {
        h.removeCallbacks(mNavHider);
        if (!mMenusOpen && !mPaused) {
            // If the menus are open or play is paused, we will not auto-hide.
            h.postDelayed(mNavHider, 1500);
        }
    }
}

// Set the new desired visibility.
setSystemUiVisibility(newVis);
mTitleView.setVisibility(visible ? VISIBLE : INVISIBLE);
mPlayButton.setVisibility(visible ? VISIBLE : INVISIBLE);
mSeekView.setVisibility(visible ? VISIBLE : INVISIBLE);
}

See this for more information on this ..

Hide System Bar in Tablets

Gratin

Answer 8

It's my solution:

First, define boolean that indicate if navigation bar is visible or not.

boolean navigationBarVisibility = true //because it's visible when activity is created

Second create method that hide navigation bar.

private void setNavigationBarVisibility(boolean visibility){
    if(visibility){
        View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
        int uiOptions = View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN;
        decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(uiOptions);
        navigationBarVisibility = false;
    }

    else
        navigationBarVisibility = true;
}

By default, if you click to activity after hide navigation bar, navigation bar will be visible. So we got it's state if it visible we will hide it.

Now set OnClickListener to your view. I use a surfaceview so for me:

    playerSurface.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
        @Override
        public void onClick(View v) {
            setNavigationBarVisibility(navigationBarVisibility);
        }
    });

Also, we must call this method when activity is launched. Because we want hide it at the beginning.

        setNavigationBarVisibility(navigationBarVisibility);

Archpriest

Answer 9

Its a security issue: https://mcmap.net/q/66737/-how-to-hide-system-navigation-bar-in-tablets

therefore its not possible to hide the Navigation on a tablet permanently with one single call at the beginning of the view creation. It will be hidden, but it will pop up when touching the Screen. So just the second touch to your screen can cause a onClickEvent on your layout. Therefore you need to intercept this call, but i haven't managed it yet, i will update my answer when i found it out. Or do you now the answer already?

Cupellation

Answer 10

I think the blow code will help you, and add those code before setContentView()

getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_DRAWS_SYSTEM_BAR_BACKGROUNDS, WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_DRAWS_SYSTEM_BAR_BACKGROUNDS);

Add those code behind setContentView() getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE);

Hurleigh

Field requires API level 21+ – Iroquois

Answer 11

You can hide Navigator Bar using this:

    @Override
    public void onWindowFocusChanged(boolean hasFocus) {
        super.onWindowFocusChanged(hasFocus);
        View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
        if(hasFocus){
            decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(
                    View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION|
                    View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LIGHT_STATUS_BAR
            );
        }
    }

This way you can hide Navigation Buttons without hiding Status bar

Olmstead

Answer 12

Try this:

View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
int uiOptions = View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
          | View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN;
decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(uiOptions);

Tollefson

NO it's give me same result – Cosenza

Answer 13

I think this code will resolve your issue. Copy and paste this code on your MainActivity.java

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {                          
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

    View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
    decorView.setOnSystemUiVisibilityChangeListener
    (new View.OnSystemUiVisibilityChangeListener() {
        @Override
        public void onSystemUiVisibilityChange(int visibility) {

            if ((visibility & View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN) == 0) {
                hideNavigationBar();
            } 
        }
    });
}



private void hideNavigationBar() {
   getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
        View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION|
        View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY);
}

It will works on Android-10. I hope it will helps.

Tootsie

Answer 14

Here is the hide and show system UI for android 11 and Below. But below from Android its deprecated.

private fun hideSystemUI() {
            WindowCompat.setDecorFitsSystemWindows(window, false)
            WindowInsetsControllerCompat(window, drawerLayoutID).let { controller ->
                controller.hide(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())
                controller.systemBarsBehavior =
                    WindowInsetsControllerCompat.BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE
            }
        }
    
        private fun showSystemUI() {
            WindowCompat.setDecorFitsSystemWindows(window, true)
            WindowInsetsControllerCompat(
                window,
                drawerLayoutID
            ).show(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())
        }
    
        private fun hideSystemUIBeloR() {
            val decorView: View = window.decorView
            val uiOptions = decorView.systemUiVisibility
            var newUiOptions = uiOptions
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions or View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY
            decorView.systemUiVisibility = newUiOptions
        }
    
        private fun showSystemUIBelowR() {
            val decorView: View = window.decorView
            val uiOptions = decorView.systemUiVisibility
            var newUiOptions = uiOptions
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE.inv()
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN.inv()
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION.inv()
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE.inv()
            newUiOptions = newUiOptions and View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY.inv()
            decorView.systemUiVisibility = newUiOptions
        }

Bedfast

Answer 15

You can hide status and navigation bar using this function

    private void hideStatusAndNavBar(){
    requireActivity().getWindow().addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);
    requireActivity().getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
           View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION
                    |View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_FULLSCREEN
                    |View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE_STICKY

    );
}

and you can show it again by this function

  private void showStatusAndNavBar(){
    requireActivity().getWindow().clearFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);
    requireActivity().getWindow().getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(
            View.VISIBLE
            |View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LIGHT_STATUS_BAR);
}

Lave