On most Android smartphones the notch or punch hole remains a purely aesthetic space, useful only to host the front camera. Action Notch, a free app available on the Play Store, changes this perspective by transforming that area into a real virtual button, controllable with simple gestures and able to summon over 50 actions.
Action Notch: how the shortcut hidden in the notch or punch hole works
In the free version, Action Notch recognises three types of interaction on the notch: single tap, double tap and long press. Each gesture can be freely assigned to one of the available actions, so as to have up to three shortcuts always within reach of your thumb without having to touch other parts of the screen.
Among the callable functions are basic commands like going to the top or bottom of a page, taking a screenshot or turning the torch on and off. There are also more advanced shortcuts, such as directly opening specific functions inside other apps or launching automations created with apps like Tasker and MacroDroid.
The Pro version adds additional gestures beyond the three of the free version and introduces rule-based actions, which allow assigning different commands to the notch depending on the app open at that moment, instead of always using the same shortcut combination in every context.
Action Notch also lets you control when and where the notch should function as a button. You can disable it during calls or on the lock screen, create a blacklist of apps where shortcuts should not activate, adjust the exact notch position on the screen to fit your device, and enable or disable haptic feedback on every touch.
Action Notch is compatible with any Android smartphone equipped with a notch or hole, regardless of brand, and is downloadable from the Play Store with in-app purchases to unlock the Pro features.
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