Google I/O to hold an event on a predictive gesture on May 12th at 9 am PT
Google will hold an event at Google I/O to discuss how it will improve the Android back gesture
In other words, Google appears to be working on “predictive back navigation” which sounds like some feature that would jive perfectly with Google’s work on AI and Machine Learning. Perhaps over time, Android will learn what your intent is when you use the back gesture based on previous use of the navigation. This sounds quite promising and we are certain to learn more about it at the I/O developer conference.
Android users can customize the sensitivity of the back gesture
Users can still return to three-button navigation by going to Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation. You’ll be given two options, Gesture navigation or 3-button navigation. If you are having problems now with the back gesture and are so frustrated that you can’t wait for Google to announce an improvement, you can adjust the sensitivity of the back navigation in order for it to work like it should.
Android users can set the sensitivity of the back gesture in an attempt to customize it perfectly
This can be done by going to Settings > System > Gestures > System Navigation. Tap on the Settings gear icon that is under the System navigation heading and you’ll see a sliding scale that will make the sensitivity of the gesture lower or higher for both the left and right edge (by default it is set exactly in the middle).
You can play around with the sliding scale to see if you can find a placement that will accommodate you. Keep in mind that if you have the back gesture less sensitive. If you are accidentally setting off the back gesture too many times when all you wanted to do was swipe left or right, drag the slider toward low. On the Pixel models you will see separate sliders for left and right edges so you can control the sensitivity of slide out menus that are om the left edge or the right edge.