How to change the function of the “Home” button (EX: remove Google)

When I press and hold the virtual home button on my Android Moto G, a shortcut appears that allows you to quickly open Google Now or the Google Assistant. This shortcut is available to practically all mobiles with the home button on the screen, and it can be customized to do something else instead of opening Google Now.

To change what this shortcut does, you have to install the appropriate applications that have an effect on it. It cannot be done manually, that is, without installing an extra app that does this work. Next I show you which are the best in this regard.

Applications that modify the behavior of this secret home button shortcut allow you to display a list of favorite applications, display a quick app search engine, disable this shortcut or gesture to prevent Google now from opening accidentally, among other things. Let’s see what these apps are so that you can choose the one that best suits you to install.

Shows a list of favorite applications. By default it only shows one application but you can add as many as you want using the button on the top right. Ideal if I want to see my most used applications by dragging the home button.

This is an application finder that allows you to search using a T9 or QWERTY keyboard. At first glance you only see three search results but you have to swipe to the right to see the rest of the applications found.

It allows you to choose between multiple actions: see all the applications, open a single preconfigured application, open the application drawer or do nothing. The paid version allows you to activate or deactivate Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, open the camera, activate or deactivate autorotation or self-brightness, etc.

The Greenify app can suspend apps that are wasting phone battery and resources. If you install it, this app can also replace Google Now in the home button shortcut. What it will do is suspend or hibernate all the applications that you have previously configured in the app, plus turn off and lock the screen.

Remove the Google Now action from the home button
If you want to block or remove the home button up gesture completely, you can use the Now Gesture Tweaks Free application, use Greenify and also a specific application for this like SwipeLaunch Disabler.

Once any of these applications is installed, when you make the gesture of swiping up from the start button towards the magnifying glass, you must choose the action you want to perform and press Always so that it is performed by default from that moment onwards.

There is. If you do not use Google Now (now Google Assistant) or want to give a more useful function to its shortcut embedded deep in the operating system, you can use any of the apps here to configure that gesture by dragging above the start button.

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