remap left capacitive button functions to switch apps - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I always want the left capacitive key to perform the function - switch apps ( recent apps) because long pressing the home button to call out switch apps function is time consuming (it takes about 2 seconds) and need too much effort ( the button is so tight).
I googled around and figure out how to do that. I think a lot of people will have interest in such changes, so I would post here.
Actually, it is easy. What you need is a rooted phone and a root explorer( an app)
Then, in the root explorer, open /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl in Text Editor, scroll down and find key 139 ( this is the key you need to change) change the word" menu" to " APP_SWITCH" after the key 139. save and exit then reboot.
This changes change the left capacitive button function to open switch apps function. Of course , you will lose the menu function.
Hope it helps. :laugh:

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Could you tell how would be the exact commands to make the buttons "back", "home(already is)" and "menu" respectively from left to right?
Sent from my Galaxy Note II using xda app-developers app

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_delice_doluca_ said:
Could you tell how would be the exact commands to make the buttons "back", "home(already is)" and "menu" respectively from left to right?
Sent from my Galaxy Note II using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, originally, the lines in the generic.kl for the 3 buttons should be like this:
key 139 MENU WAKE_DROPPED
key 102 MOVE_HOME
key 158 BACK WAKE_DROPPED
If you want to change function of the buttons, you just need to know the function name, in my case, I want to change the function of the left capatcitive button function from menu to switch apps. Therefore I serach around the web and found that the function name is APP_SWITCH, then, I just need to replace the "MENU" to "APP_SWITCH" in the Generic.kl file in order to change the function.
After the changes, the line should be as follow:
key 139 APP_SWITCH WAKE_DROPPED
So, same theory, you could switch the functions of those keys, for example, if you want to switch the menu and back key, all you need to do is change to :
key 139 BACK WAKE_DROPPED
key 158 MENU WAKE_DROPPED
In addition, the word" wake_dropped" means that the key will function when your device is awake, that means, when your phone is not awake ( screen is off), the key will not function.
So,theoretically, if you want the keys to function when the phone is not awake ( when the screen is off), you could change the word" wake_dropped" to "WAKE" ( I have not tried, you could try that out). By doing so, you could wake the phone and perform the key function at the same time even when your phone is not awake.

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anguslaw said:
I always want the left capacitive key to perform the function - switch apps ( recent apps) because long pressing the home button to call out switch apps function is time consuming (it takes about 2 seconds) and need too much effort ( the button is so tight).
I googled around and figure out how to do that. I think a lot of people will have interest in such changes, so I would post here.
Actually, it is easy. What you need is a rooted phone and a root explorer( an app)
Then, in the root explorer, open /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl in Text Editor, scroll down and find key 139 ( this is the key you need to change) change the word" menu" to " APP_SWITCH" after the key 139. save and exit then reboot.
This changes change the left capacitive button function to open switch apps function. Of course , you will lose the menu function.
Hope it helps. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how about keeping menu function
but long press will initiate switch apps?
This would be great :good:

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Actually, mounting function to a long press capacitive key is not that simple,therefore I think it is not worthy to do so.
Alternatively, I would suggest installing virtual button apps such as button savior and add the menu function to it.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda app-developers app

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neato4u said:
how about keeping menu function
but long press will initiate switch apps?
This would be great :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1+

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I would like to be able to do that long press thing too, in the meantime I use LMT to get to my multitasking, that's definitely a lot snappier than the home button

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anguslaw said:
Then, in the root explorer, open /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl in Text Editor, scroll down and find key 139 ( this is the key you need to change) change the word" menu" to " APP_SWITCH" after the key 139. save and exit then reboot.
This changes change the left capacitive button function to open switch apps function. Of course , you will lose the menu function.
Hope it helps. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, do you know how to make this work on Tmobile Galaxy S3 rooted official firmware 4.3 ?
I edit the file, save, exit, reboot but it didn't work. Menu button still behave the same, open Generic.kl file to check, new text is there. Don't understand.
Thanks!

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nguyen2011 said:
Hi, do you know how to make this work on Tmobile Galaxy S3 rooted official firmware 4.3 ?
I edit the file, save, exit, reboot but it didn't work. Menu button still behave the same, open Generic.kl file to check, new text is there. Don't understand.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I am using omni 4.4.2 ROM now, there is already an option to assign functions to the keys, so I have no need to do in the other way. Can't help.

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This works as a charm, however Android does not recognize that we no longer have a menu button. The tree dots in Chrome are not present for example. Is there a way of telling the system that no physical menu botton is there, so that apps show the soft menu?
Thanx!

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molm said:
This works as a charm, however Android does not recognize that we no longer have a menu button. The tree dots in Chrome are not present for example. Is there a way of telling the system that no physical menu botton is there, so that apps show the soft menu?
Thanx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use xposed, there are modules to force enable 3-dot menu button

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anguslaw said:
I always want the left capacitive key to perform the function - switch apps ( recent apps) because long pressing the home button to call out switch apps function is time consuming (it takes about 2 seconds) and need too much effort ( the button is so tight).
I googled around and figure out how to do that. I think a lot of people will have interest in such changes, so I would post here.
Actually, it is easy. What you need is a rooted phone and a root explorer( an app)
Then, in the root explorer, open /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl in Text Editor, scroll down and find key 139 ( this is the key you need to change) change the word" menu" to " APP_SWITCH" after the key 139. save and exit then reboot.
This changes change the left capacitive button function to open switch apps function. Of course , you will lose the menu function.
Hope it helps. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the generosity to share such a great knowledge. you really made my day. Wish you the best in life.
I also want the same thing if is possible
how to have menu or other function by press and holding the capacitive button.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

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Actually i would suggest installing xposed framework and use the module menubegone to performe same function-remap menu key to switch app key.
In addition it forced every apps to show the 3 dots menu button on the top left corner. That means the menu function is no longer needed. Try it out guys. This is the simplest way now.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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Help Remap Home key on galaxy note 4
anguslaw said:
OK, originally, the lines in the generic.kl for the 3 buttons should be like this:
key 139 MENU WAKE_DROPPED
key 102 MOVE_HOME
key 158 BACK WAKE_DROPPED
If you want to change function of the buttons, you just need to know the function name, in my case, I want to change the function of the left capatcitive button function from menu to switch apps. Therefore I serach around the web and found that the function name is APP_SWITCH, then, I just need to replace the "MENU" to "APP_SWITCH" in the Generic.kl file in order to change the function.
After the changes, the line should be as follow:
key 139 APP_SWITCH WAKE_DROPPED
So, same theory, you could switch the functions of those keys, for example, if you want to switch the menu and back key, all you need to do is change to :
key 139 BACK WAKE_DROPPED
key 158 MENU WAKE_DROPPED
In addition, the word" wake_dropped" means that the key will function when your device is awake, that means, when your phone is not awake ( screen is off), the key will not function.
So,theoretically, if you want the keys to function when the phone is not awake ( when the screen is off), you could change the word" wake_dropped" to "WAKE" ( I have not tried, you could try that out). By doing so, you could wake the phone and perform the key function at the same time even when your phone is not awake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the key number for long press home key?
---------- Post added at 07:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 AM ----------
eddi3chan said:
What is the key number for long press home key?
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Click to collapse
What is the key number for long press home key? I want to change on my galaxy note 4 long press home key to open recent apps. and the left soft key for Menu.

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eddi3chan said:
What is the key number for long press home key?
---------- Post added at 07:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 AM ----------
What is the key number for long press home key? I want to change on my galaxy note 4 long press home key to open recent apps. and the left soft key for Menu.
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Click to collapse
sorry man , its a very old post . i now didnt do it this way. i install xposed framework and the xposed addition module to remap the keys. try it out.
let me know if you need further help.
in addition , as far as i remember, the home button need not use this method, my method in op is for captative buttons. for hardware buttons it is easier. try search in xda if you dont want to use xposed framework.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app

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Is there any chance of soft bricking the phone by doing this? I tried to bring soft keys with an app and after restarting the phone was stuck in bootload.

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So simple
Buttons remapper app in playstore worked flawlessly!! Try that first... I SCOURED internet for answers to this question. I know this isn't a "developer" type solution... But it worked for THIS noob.

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cowleygail said:
Buttons remapper app in playstore worked flawlessly!! Try that first... I SCOURED internet for answers to this question. I know this isn't a "developer" type solution... But it worked for THIS noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked like a charm on My Samsung Galaxy J7 pro. Thank you. You made my day.