iOS Home Bar. Make an option to hide it.

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iOS Home Bar. Make an option to hide it.

This has been an annoyance for entirely too long. As a UI element, it's terrible. It distracts from content, is over-bright in low-light situations. I'm really annoyed to find it on my new iPad (missing home button). People are aware that they can swipe up to return to their Home screen. The visual element is unnecessary. I've had electrical tape on my iPhone for years to hide it so I could read comfortably on a dark screen, and I now I think I might have to take a black Sharpie to the new iPad to hide it. I'm also pondering returning the iPad and just staying with my old one. It's that annoying.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 17

Posted on Aug 16, 2024 2:34 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

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Aug 16, 2024 2:43 AM in response to theresafrommars

The Home Bar to which you refer is a "handle". If you touch and hold the Home Bar - and slide your finger to the right or left - you can switch between open App windows. This UI element has greater significance when using an external monitor, keyboard and mouse/trackpad.

This control can be suppressed by App Developers - as can other UI elements - but it cannot be hidden via iPad settings.

Apple does invite submission of constructive comments and feature requests via its Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

If you would like to see more control of this feature in a future version of iOS/iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel through which to make your request.

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Answer 2

Aug 16, 2024 8:15 AM in response to LotusPilot

It needs a setting to hide it; not everyone has an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse/trackpad for their iPad. You can switch between open app windows with a 4-finger drag without the Home Bar handle. I filled out the feedback form on this issue years ago, and again yesterday. It would even be better with a less bright, lower contrast element. No need to make it the most important thing on the screen.

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iOS Home Bar. Make an option to hide it.

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