Samsung Update: The Company Now Removes Remapping Ability For Bixby Button

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ haven't yet reached the hands of the vast majority of users, while some lucky users have gotten their models a few days earlier. There are often minor OTA updates available to fix some bug issues. However, this time it looks like an OTA update is being used to rework how a certain feature on the device; the Bixby Button.

Samsung recently released an update removing the ability to remap the Bixby Button. Phone Arena noted that it was possible to remap the Bixby Button to perform pretty much whatever action users wanted back on April 4. This was made possible due to the fact that when pressing the Bixby Button, the system generates a key up and key down event which can be intercepted by Accessibility Services.

Samsung will remove the ability to remap the Bixby to prevent Accessibility Services from intercepting key event. In a software update, Samsung is not okay with the owners remapping the Bixby Button for other purposes which are restricting the function. There are third party apps such as All in one Gestures that allow users to use the additional button to bring up Google Now or even open the camera; users had complete control over the same and could remap it to their own convenience. This Samsung's newest update will ensure that the company will not officially allow this remapping idea and will even block it.

Whenever owners choose to make use of apps and tools provided by new developers, they may not be able to request Samsung to fix their Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ phones in case of something goes wrong with the software. There's only one way, reset the device to factory settings and keep using it without the remapping functionality, according to Droid Life.

Fortunately, there is still a chance that root access on the Galaxy S8 will provide a way to remap this button. But for now, stock users will have to use Bixby.