Used Navbar Apps for Android?


Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

Navbar Apps, developed by Damian Piwowarski, customizes the on-screen navigation bar on Android devices to add visual and functional elements. It changes the bar's color to match active apps, supports static colors and custom background images, and can display a battery level bar or a reactive music visualizer. The app uses Accessibility Services to operate without root and supports a community gallery; it targets Android enthusiasts and casual users who want deeper UI personalization.

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The app converts the static software navigation bar into a configurable UI area rather than a fixed system element. Users can apply visual or informational layers to the bar through a set of distinct outputs:

What the app replaces and why it matters

  • automatic color matching to the active application,
  • static color selection and custom background images,
  • a visible battery level strip and a music visualizer.
These outputs change the bar's appearance and surface affordances without rooting the device.

How granular the appearance controls are

The tool provides per-application adaptation via automatic color detection and also permits global, fixed choices for users who prefer consistency. Preset behaviors handle the basic cases, while the community gallery and custom image import offer more granular control for users who want to craft specific looks. The interface groups appearance options so users can choose either automatic adaptation or persistent styling for all apps.

System footprint and background behavior to expect

The developer describes the app as optimized for low power consumption, yet it runs as a persistent accessibility service to monitor the active application. That service presence explains why continuous color monitoring and any animated visualizer require some background processing; the impact is typically small, but measurable depending on device usage and the chosen visual effects.

Setup, device scope, and compatibility limits

Installation requires granting Accessibility permission and targets Android 5.0 and later, so setup is straightforward for standard Android users and does not require rooting. Some manufacturer skins block modification of the navigation area; specifically, the app is not compatible with Huawei and Honor devices running EMUI. There is also a documented case where certain apps do not report colors reliably, which affects automatic matching in those titles.

Enlarged image for Navbar Apps
Navbar Apps 0/4
  • Pros

    • Per-app color matching adapts the navigation bar automatically
    • Custom image support and community gallery for shared designs
    • Displays a battery level strip on the navigation bar
    • Operates without root by using Accessibility Services
  • Cons

    • Not compatible with Huawei and Honor devices running EMUI
    • Automatic color detection can fail with some apps
    • Persistent accessibility service runs in the background

Bottom Line

Who should use this tool and what to consider

The app is a practical customization option for Android users who accept granting Accessibility permission and want non-root ways to alter their navigation bar. It suits people prepared to trade a small, continual background process for per-app or global visual control. Users on devices whose system software blocks navigation-bar modification should not expect it to function on those models.


Used Navbar Apps for Android?


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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
3.1
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Android
Additional Requirements
Requires Android 5.0 and up
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
48
Downloads Last Week
1

Report Software

Last Updated


Developer’s Description

Tired of your boring Navigation Bar. Make it awesome...

Tired of your boring Navigation Bar? Make it awesome!

Turn it blue, make it red - anything you want. Select cool image as background or match color automatically to fit it to running app. Whatever you choose, it will be awesome! And then you can add some data, like battery level.

All of that with Navbar Apps!

This app does NOT need ROOT access. Use it with any of your devices!

Check out our community, where we share our ideas and custom designs of the Navigation Bars! https://plus.google.com/communities/107473329276873466584

Enjoy!

Author of Navbar Apps

*** FAQ ***

- Yes, chrome has bug and does not show color or images. Other apps work perfectly!

- Huaweis are not supported due to their EMUI skin. I am sorry!

- You can always contact me if you have any problems or questions

*** Accessibility Services ***

This app uses Accessibility services.

Accessibiity Services are used to detect changes in system ui (system app changes) to allow for better visibility for navigation controls in Android system.


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