One of the best things about it tablets and folding phones It’s the taskbar at the bottom of the fold-down screen that houses your most used apps. But did you know that regular non-folding phones can have something similar?
Whenever I set up a new Samsung or Motorola phone, it’s the first thing I activate and customize, and it’s probably my most used Android feature. In fact, the sidebar — Sidebar, Sidebar, or whatever you want to call it — is a very common Android feature available on various OEMs, though it’s surprisingly missing from Pixel smartphones.
A software taskbar that you can access from anywhere
The sidebar on Android phones acts as a sort of taskbar on non-folding phones. When activated, it hides on the side of your screen, identified by a small bar. When you swipe inward on the panel, you get access to a customizable set of apps, as well as some recently opened apps and/or (in Samsung’s case) a custom set of AI apps.
The great thing about it is that it can be accessed from almost any screen. If you’re already in an app, you can open the sidebar to access another frequently used app immediately or in the full app drawer.
It is also a good choice for multitasking. Frankly, I can see that enabling split-screen mode can be a pain, but with the sidebar you can drag an app to one side of the screen or open it freeform on top of another open app.
Samsung also offers a set of additional sidebars you can activate that aren’t just apps. You can access your clipboard, favorite contacts, weather, navigation tools and more. you can enter. If you use the sidebar correctly, it can essentially become a window.
How to enable sidebar on Galaxy phone
1. open Parameters program.
2. hit Screen.
3. Activate it Side panels and tap the option to access the Sidebars menu.
4. hit Panels and select the panels you want to add.
5. hit Edit under Applications panelthen tap the apps you want to add to the panel. do the same with People panel if you want to add
6. Volunteer: hit three dots icon in the upper right corner and change split screen, Galaxy A.I, Show latest appsand Show program names.
7. Click on the Sidebars menu Support.
8. choose position The screen where you want the handle to be open color, transparency, sizeand width.
9. Hold the handle and pull make it easy to get into your preferred position.
Download Good Lock for more goodness
Now you can swipe from the bar on almost any screen to access your favorite and most used apps or features! But if you want to customize your panel even more, you can do so with Setup Samsung’s Good Lock app From Play Store or Galaxy Store. Once downloaded, scroll through the plugins and install the Home Up module.
Once installed, open the Home Up app and go to the Edge panel. Here you’ll find additional settings you can apply to the panel, such as the ability to integrate multiple types of panels into one panel to access apps, contacts, and shortcuts, the ability to navigate through the recent apps section, and an expanded view that adds app columns.
One user is active Android 17 demonstrated what was to come A UI 9 updates will allow for more customization For the Sidebar. The update to the Home Up module will allow users to add backgrounds and colors, change the corner radius and even adjust the blur effect.
Note that Samsung has not yet officially released Android 17/One UI 9 if you’re not in betayou will have to wait a little longer for this functionality.
No pixels
As I mentioned, it’s not just Samsung that has a sidebar for easy access to apps. It is also available Motorola phones. you can access via navigation Settings > Gestures > Sidebarthen turn on the function. Then click Settings icon to add apps, tools and contacts to the bar. It basically combines Samsung’s three panels into one panel.
for OnePlusthe feature is buried in a less obvious place. go to Settings > Accessibility and comfort > Smart Sidebarthen turn on the function. There, its position, functions, etc. you can edit. Then open the Sidebar and click Edit to add and change the programs you want.
I wish I could tell you how to enable this feature Pixel smartphonesbut for some reason Google refuses to add it to the Pixel lineup. There are a number of things I don’t like about the Pixel UI, but the fact that Google doesn’t give me an app sidebar is one of the main reasons I don’t like using it. There are third-party applications that can add similar functionality Panelsbut I’d rather use the built-in feature without a paywall.
It’s the closest the Pixel comes to new Program Bubblesit allows for easy multitasking in multiple apps with floating bubbles, but it doesn’t compare to having a dedicated sidebar. With luck, Google will add this in future OS updates or Pixel Drops.
