Gesture Navigation Mode Cannot Be Set on Rhino T80: Available Workarounds

Android

This article explains why you cannot set gesture navigation mode on your Rhino Mobility T80 devices through Esper Blueprints or Advanced Settings, and describes your available workarounds.

Why gesture navigation cannot be configured via Blueprint

The Rhino Mobility T80 does not expose a management API for system navigation mode. This means Esper Blueprints, Advanced Settings JSON, and third-party configuration apps cannot programmatically switch your device from 3-button navigation to gesture navigation.

When the Esper Console reports "settings applied successfully," it only confirms that the JSON payload was delivered to the device—not that the OEM accepted or acted on the command. This is an OEM-level limitation, not an Esper platform issue.

You can still change navigation mode manually on each device using the native Android Settings UI, which confirms the hardware supports gesture navigation.

Option 1: Hide the navigation bar in Kiosk mode

You can use the Rhino T80 Supervisor Plugin to hide the navigation bar when running Kiosk mode. This is a partial workaround that removes the navigation bar entirely.

1. Contact Esper Support and request that the signed Rhino T80 Supervisor Plugin be uploaded to your tenant. This must be performed by Esper Support—you cannot self-upload.
2. Once the plugin is uploaded, configure your Blueprint or Advanced Settings to use the hideNavBarInKioskMode capability.
3. Deploy the Blueprint to your devices.

Important: Hiding the navigation bar via the Supervisor Plugin removes all system navigation buttons (Back, Home, Recent). Your application must provide its own in-app navigation controls, such as a dedicated Back button in the app UI.

Option 2: Set gesture navigation manually

If you need gesture navigation (not Kiosk mode), you must configure it manually on each device. This setting cannot be automated via Blueprint.

1. On each device, open the native Settings app.
2. Go to System → Gestures → System Navigation. (The exact path may vary by firmware version.)
3. Select Gesture Navigation.
4. Verify that the bottom navigation bar is replaced by a gesture hint bar (pill indicator).

This step must be repeated manually on every Rhino T80 device. There is no supported mechanism to automate this at the Blueprint level until Rhino Mobility exposes a management API for this setting.

Still need help?

If the Supervisor Plugin is uploaded and the hideNavBarInKioskMode behavior is still not functioning after Blueprint convergence, contact Esper Support and provide device logs and the plugin version installed.