Essential Gestures Shortcuts
Compare Essential Gestures keyboard shortcuts across iOS, Android, with actions, key combinations, and usage notes.
How to use this reference
Use this category reference to compare the same kind of task across your devices. Start with the section for your operating system, read the action and description, and try the shortcut in an appropriate application. Keys joined with a plus sign are held together; alternatives let you choose the combination that works on your keyboard. A gesture requires a compatible touchpad or touch screen rather than a physical keyboard.
Before practicing, check which window has focus. Text fields, browser tabs, terminal sessions, and system dialogs can interpret the same keys differently. Save any open work before testing commands that close a window, delete content, or change system settings. Accessibility commands may need to be enabled in settings first, and a laptop may require the Fn key for function keys. If a combination is intercepted by an application or a custom keymap, consult its built-in help and your operating system settings. Follow the full platform guide for related commands and additional context.
iPhone
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Go Home | Swipe Up from Bottom Edge | From any app, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen to return to the Home Screen |
| Open App Switcher | Swipe Up from Bottom → Pause | Swipe up from the bottom and hold briefly to open the App Switcher (recent apps) |
| Switch Between Recent Apps | Swipe Left/Right on Bottom Edge | Slide your finger left or right along the bottom bar to quickly switch between recent apps |
| Open Control Center | Swipe Down from Top-Right Corner | Swipe down from the top-right corner (where the battery indicator is) to open Control Center |
| Open Notification Center | Swipe Down from Top-Left Corner | Swipe down from the top-left (where the time is) to see all your notifications |
| Dismiss Notification | Swipe Left on Notification | Swipe left on a notification for options to view, manage, or clear it |
| Scroll to Top | Tap Status Bar (Time) | Tap the top status bar (where the time is shown) to instantly scroll back to the top of any list or page |
| Go Back (Swipe) | Swipe Right from Left Edge | Swipe in from the left edge of the screen to go back in most apps |
| Peek at Notification | Long Press Notification | Long press a notification to expand it and see actions without leaving the current screen |
| Reachability (One-Hand Mode) | Swipe Down on Bottom Indicator Bar | Swipe down on the home bar at the very bottom to bring the top of the screen within thumb reach |
| Open Spotlight Search | Swipe Down on Home Screen | Swipe down anywhere on the Home Screen (not the status bar) to open Spotlight Search |
| Open Today View / Widgets | Swipe Right on Home Screen (first page) | Swipe right past the first page of the Home Screen to see Today View with widgets |
Android
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Go Home | Swipe Up from Bottom Edge | Swipe up from the bottom edge to return to the Home Screen (gesture navigation mode) |
| Open Recent Apps | Swipe Up from Bottom → Pause | Swipe up and pause briefly to open the Recent Apps overview |
| Go Back | Swipe In from Left or Right Edge | Swipe inward from either the left or right edge to navigate back |
| Switch Between Recent Apps | Swipe Right along Bottom Bar | Slide your finger right along the bottom gesture bar to switch between recent apps |
| Open Google Assistant | Swipe Up from Bottom Corner (diagonal) | Swipe diagonally from either bottom corner to open Google Assistant |
| Dismiss an App (Recents) | Swipe App Card Up in Recents | In the Recents screen, swipe any app card upward to close it |
| Close All Recent Apps | Tap 'Clear All' in Recents | In the Recents screen, tap 'Clear All' to dismiss every open app at once |
| Open Notification Shade | Swipe Down from Top | Swipe down from the top of the screen to see all your notifications |
| Open Quick Settings Panel | Swipe Down Twice from Top | Swipe down twice (or use two fingers in one swipe) to fully expand Quick Settings |
| Dismiss a Notification | Swipe Left or Right on Notification | Swipe a notification to dismiss it; tap to open the app |
| Expand a Notification | Swipe Down on Notification | Swipe down on a notification to see more detail and action buttons |
| Open App Drawer / Search | Swipe Up on Home Screen | On Pixel and most launchers: swipe up on the Home Screen to open the app drawer |