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Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android

Feb 21, 2015 02:24 AM
Finger touching a smartphone screen displaying a settings menu.

If you're a fan of double-tap to wake gestures, you're going to love the newest app from ElementalX developer Aaron Segaert. On supported kernels, it allows you to associate custom apps and activities with each of the wake gestures you've set up, which will immediately be launched even with the screen off.

Say for example you enabled "Swipe Up to Wake" during kernel setup. With this app, you can assign any activity, shortcut, or app to launch when you perform this gesture, rather than having it simply wake your phone. And if you haven't installed ElementalX just yet, don't worry—we'll start from square one right after the break.

Requirements

Install ElementalX Kernel

If you've already installed the kernel, you can skip this step. But if you're just starting out, Danny has a guide available here that will help you get ElementalX installed on your device.

During setup, make sure to enable at least one wake gesture. If you'd like to be able to launch more than one custom action with wake gestures, I'd recommend enabling as many gestures as possible.

Install "Wake Gestures"

With ElementalX installed and at least one gesture activated, it's time to install the app that lets you assign custom actions to these gestures. To begin, point your device's web browser to this link, then press "OK" on any filetype warning messages that may appear.

Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
Smartphone screen displaying notification for downloaded app.
Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
Smartphone screen displaying notification for downloaded app.

When the APK file is saved to your device, tap the "Download complete" notification. From here, press "Install," and when that's finished, tap "Open."

Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
App installation confirmation for "Wake Gestures".
Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
App installation confirmation for "Wake Gestures".

Configure Wake Gestures

When you first run Wake Gestures, the app will ask for Superuser access, so tap "Grant" on the popup. Immediately after that, the Wake Gestures service will be started and you'll be taken to the app's main menu.

"Superuser request for access to wake gestures feature on an Android device."
Wake Gestures settings on a mobile device displaying swipe actions and double tap functionality.
"Superuser request for access to wake gestures feature on an Android device."
Wake Gestures settings on a mobile device displaying swipe actions and double tap functionality.

From here, you'll see all of the wake gestures that you enabled during kernel setup. Tap one to configure it, then use the drop-down menu to select the type of action that you'd like to launch when performing this gesture.

Wake Gestures settings screen with options for swipe actions.
Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
Wake Gestures settings screen with options for swipe actions.
Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android

"Actions" include options for controlling media playback with wake gestures, as well as toggling the flashlight and turning the screen on. "Shortcuts" can be used to launch a specific activity within an app, such as directions to a location with Google Maps or direct dialing a contact. The "Applications" option allows you to launch any app with one of your wake gestures.

Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
App drawer displaying icons for various applications including Calendar, Standard, Chrome, Clock, and Contacts.
Menu options for a mobile application, including bookmarks, contacts, and directions.
Launch Apps & Custom Actions with Screen-Off Gestures on Android
App drawer displaying icons for various applications including Calendar, Standard, Chrome, Clock, and Contacts.
Menu options for a mobile application, including bookmarks, contacts, and directions.

Go ahead and assign actions to all of your wake gestures, then there are some additional options just below these entries.

Additional Options

"Pocket detection" uses your phone's proximity sensor to disable the service while your device is in your pocket, and "Power button disables" lets you override the wake gestures by locking your device with the power button. Other options can be adjusted, but these are best left at their default values in my opinion.

Settings menu for gesture controls on a smartphone.
Settings menu for mobile gesture features.
Settings menu for gesture controls on a smartphone.
Settings menu for mobile gesture features.

With all of that set up, simply turn your phone's screen off. When you perform one of your wake gestures, the activity or app that you chose will launch immediately.

What actions did you assign to your wake gestures? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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