Remember the back gesture bug that has been a thorn in Pixel users’ sides for the past few months? The frustrating issue, first reported around three months ago, has continued to trouble users, but it seems there is finally light at the end of the tunnel—a fix is reportedly on its way.
Google to fix back gesture bug on Pixel phones
The root of the issue appears to trace back to the stable Android 15 update, which rolled out predictive back gestures as a default feature. Predictive back gestures, designed to enhance navigation fluidity by visually previewing the destination of a back action, may have inadvertently introduced this bug. According to user reports, this feature affected the right-to-left swipe gesture for navigating to the previous screen. While swiping from left to right worked as intended, the right-to-left gesture often required multiple attempts to register, making navigation frustrating and inconsistent.
Pixel users quickly took to forums and online communities to share their grievances. Many reported that toggling gesture navigation settings could temporarily alleviate the issue, while others suggested tweaking the sensitivity settings. However, these fixes provided mixed results. Some users claimed success with these methods, while others found them ineffective, leaving a significant portion of the user base grappling with the bug.
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Google’s response and timeline
Google became aware of the problem on October 17, 2024, when the issue was flagged in the company’s internal issue tracker. Despite user frustration and increasing reports, it has taken Google over three months to address the problem. As of January 2025, the issue has been “marked as fixed” in Google’s issue tracker, as reported by PiunikaWeb. The resolution is expected to be rolled out in the upcoming security update.
A screenshot from Google’s issue tracker confirms this development, showing that the bug has been identified and resolved internally. This announcement has provided some relief to users who had grown impatient with the prolonged wait for a solution.
Temporary workaround
For users still dealing with the bug, there is a temporary workaround that may help restore some functionality until the fix is officially released. By disabling and re-enabling gesture navigation, you may be able to mitigate the problem. Here’s how:
- Open Settings and navigate to System → Navigation mode.
- Select the 3-button navigation option to disable gesture navigation.
- Restart your device.
- Return to Settings → System → Navigation mode.
- Re-enable gesture navigation by selecting the Gesture navigation option.
What to expect next?
While Google has not provided a specific timeline for the rollout of the fix, it is likely to be included in the next monthly security update. Pixel users should keep an eye on their devices for the update notification, as it will address this long-standing annoyance. Additionally, this incident raises questions about Google’s internal testing processes, particularly for core navigation features that significantly impact user experience.
For now, the upcoming fix offers a much-needed resolution to a problem that has affected Pixel users’ everyday device interactions. If you’re among those impacted, hang tight—relief is on the horizon.
Featured image credit: Google
