How to Use One-Handed Mode on Android

There’s no denying that phones have gotten big, sometimes comically so. It can be nearly impossible to use a modern Android phone with one hand. That’s where “One-Handed Mode” comes in, and many Android phones have it.

What is One-Handed Mode?

If you’re unfamiliar with “One-Handed Mode,” it’s simply a feature that shifts the UI to make things easier to reach. On some phones, this means sliding the contents of the display down to the bottom half of the screen. Some devices also allow you to shrink the entire display down to a corner of the screen. This isn’t a permanent thing, but it’s handy in certain situations.

For this guide, we’ll show you how One-Handed Mode works on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

One-Handed Mode for Samsung Galaxy Phones

With a Samsung Galaxy phone, swipe down once from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon.

Scroll to the bottom of the Settings and select “Advanced Features.”

Select “One-Handed Mode.”

Toggle the switch on at the top of the screen.

Next, you can choose how One-Handed Mode is activated. If you’re using gesture navigation, you can only choose “Gesture.” But if you use the three-button layout, you also have the option to double-tap the home button.

In One-Handed Mode, you can tap the arrow icon to move the shrunken screen to the left or right. You can also grab the corner to resize the screen. Tap on any empty screen space to exit.

One-Handed Mode for Google Pixel Phones

To get started with One-Handed Mode on a Google Pixel phone, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to reveal the Quick Settings menu, and then tap the gear icon.

Next, scroll down and select “System.”

Now, select “Gestures.”

Lastly, go to “One-Handed Mode.”

Toggle the switch to turn on One-Handed Mode.

Google gives you the option to have the One-Handed Mode gesture slide the display down or pull down the notifications.

With that out of the way, you can activate One-Handed Mode by swiping down on the home button or gesture bar. To leave One-Handed Mode, swipe up on the same spot or tap the blank area at the top of the screen.

Easy as that!

If you don’t have a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel phone, there’s still a solid chance that you have One-Handed Mode. Search for it in the Settings and you might be surprised! This is a nifty thing to know.