Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
One of the most familiar gestures on Android is the simple swipe down from the top of the screen to view the notification shade and quick-toggle options. This has been copied by everyone from Apple and Microsoft over the years.
This gesture was followed by another similar gesture, allowing you to swipe down anywhere else on a home screen (not from the very top) to activate the device search functionality or the notification shade. But what do you use this gesture for? Do you use it at all? Let us know by taking the poll below.
Many Android phone skins offer device search functionality if you swipe downwards anywhere on the home screen. This lets you search your device for specific apps, files, and more. Some skins even allow you to search the web or give you quick access to QR code scanning via this menu.
Quite a few Android skins let you change this behavior though, allowing you to activate the notification shade instead. This could be especially handy if you have a huge phone that makes reaching the very top a pain. Samsung phones even let you swipe down on the home screen to view the app drawer.
So which option do you prefer when swiping down anywhere on the home screen? Let us know via the poll above.
