I know all of you softModders love these little modifications, like enabling the hidden battery percentage on the Nexus 7 or getting the exclusive Google Launcher on your Nexus, so here's an easy one that lets you hide the soft-keys from your tablet, which will actually expand your screen to look a little bit longer.
You will need to be rooted, so check out the guide to rooting your Nexus 7 if you're not rooted already. Besides that, it is real easy and it looks deceptive. This will definitely set your tablet apart from others.
Download GMD Auto Hide Soft Keys
Go into Google Play, search, download, and install GMD Auto Hide Soft Keys, which is free, I'll explain the perks of the pro version in a bit. Remember, you must be rooted.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/01/24/63522453641905/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
It works with any launcher, so don't become concerned.
Going Through the Main Options
Installing is easy, but the options are a little extensive, so let me highlight the ones you need to know.
Settings
Under the Settings options, you can easily enable the application, enable controls through the notification bar, and start on boot — pretty straight forward.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/52/88/63522455074611/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
The notification option is real convenient, because it lets you disable the hidden soft-keys from your notification bar so it's quick and easy.
Trigger Options
The soft-keys are replaced by a inconspicuous, thin, red bar. The color can only be changed or made invisible only with the pro version, which is lame, but it's not the end of the world. Since the soft-keys are gone, tapping the bar will enable the soft-key options.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/69/61/63522455739172/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
You can't make the trigger invisible or a different color, but you can adjust the width, its position on your screen, and how sensitive it is. These are the main options you should note. I set my own to be as small as possible and centered.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/89/26/63522456078800/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
Quickbar
When you tap the trigger it brings up the quickbar with the soft-keys. Under the quickbar settings, you can do some cool things, the first of which is changing the theme. Select from a wide-range of different soft-key themes when ever you want.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/96/64/63522456804014/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/71/22/63522456773173/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
Other great options include changing the Quickbar size...
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/61/53/63522457287350/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
the button spacing,
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/27/54/63522457321530/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
and transparency.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/08/20/63522457439170/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/93/19/63522457467608/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
Personally, I like having it as translucent and hidden as possible.
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/05/99/63522457882086/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
![How to Hide Your Nexus 7's Soft Keys to Maximize Usable Screen Space](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.gadgethacks.com/img/70/09/63522457905423/0/hide-your-nexus-7s-soft-keys-maximize-usable-screen-space.w1456.jpg)
Depending on your launcher, I had the basic stock launcher for the Nexus 7 Android 4.4, it expands the look of the screen. Enjoy it, and let us know how you like it.
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5 Comments
This work while in apps and games? Games in particular, I am using immerse me from Xposed, which works within apps as well. But I 'm liking the idea of this in app form..for better control and what not.
Yeah, the Immerse Mod is what I use and wrote about before. It's really good with apps and not many bugs.
Really good I like it... But im still under warranty and not rooted.
Is there any way of doing this unrooted?
With this level of modification, you will need to be rooted. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a way to do this without root.
Will this work with the on screen buttons on nexus 6?
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