5 Best Fixes for One-Handed Mode Not Working on Android

Android phones have offered a lot of accessibility features. One of them is One-Handed Mode, which lets easily you access all the contents of your Android phone screen. Enabling One-Handed Mode helps the most if you have an Android phone with a bigger display size, which is technically almost every Android.

Many users who rely on One-Handed Mode to navigate both corners of the screen report a few issues with this feature. If One-Handed Mode is not working on your Android phone, here are some working solutions to fix this issue. These solutions are applicable for both Stock Android and Samsung’s OneUI users.

1. Turn Off Gesture Navigation

To mimic the navigation style on iPhones, Gesture Navigation was introduced for Android phones as well. If One-Handed Mode has stopped working on your Android phone, check if Gesture Navigation is turned off. Here’s how to check the same.

On Stock Android

Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and select Accessibility.

Step 2: Scroll down and select System Controls.

Step 3: Tap on System Navigation and ensure that Gesture Navigation is selected.

On Samsung OneUI

Step 1: Open Settings on your Samsung phone and select Display.

Step 2: Select the Navigation Bar option and enable Swipe Gestures.

2. Check if the One-Handed Mode Is Enabled

It is worth checking on your Android phone, especially if you recently bought a new device. Here’s how to check.

On Stock Android

Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and select Accessibility.

Step 2: Scroll down and select System Controls.

Step 3: Tap on System Navigation and ensure that One-Handed Mode is enabled.

Step 4: Close Settings and check if the problem is solved.

On Samsung OneUI

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Advanced Features.

Step 2: Tap the toggle next to One-Handed Mode to enable the feature.

3. Turn Off Display Magnification

Display Magnification helps users to enlarge the contents of their Android phone screen. But turning this on can lead to problems with the One-Handed Mode gesture. If you have enabled Display Magnification, here’s how to turn it off.

On Stock Android

Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and select Accessibility.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Magnification.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to Display Magnification to turn off the feature.

Step 4: Close Settings and check if the problem is solved.

On Samsung OneUI

Step 1: Open Settings on your Samsung phone and select Accessibility.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Visibility Enhancements.

Step 3: Select Magnifier and ensure that the Magnifier Shortcut is disabled.

4. Clean Smudges From Screen

If you still can’t use your Android phone with One-Handed Mode, you should clean the smudges from your phone screen. One-Handed Mode won’t activate properly on your Android phone if it encounters ghost touches due to smudges. We suggest using a damp-free cloth to clean the display and check if the problem gets solved.

5. Install Software Update

If none of the solutions have worked, the last resort is to check for a software update on your Android phone. The current software version may have some bugs preventing this feature from working properly.

On Stock Android

Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on System Updates. Then select Check for Updates.

Step 3: If an update is available, download and install it.

Step 4: Once done, check if the problem is solved.

On Samsung OneUI

Step 1: Open Settings and select Software Update.

Step 2: Select Download and Install if an update is available.

Navigate Your Android Phone Screen Easily

These solutions will help if the One-Handed Mode feature is not working on your Android. Another useful feature on Android phones is Split Screen, which lets you use two apps simultaneously. But if you cannot use it, refer to our post that includes the best fixes for Split Screen not working on Android.