How do I fix an Android menu that closes and shows Activities instead?
Answer
This usually means a gesture or navigation button is opening Recents/Activities while you are trying to keep a menu open. Check whether gesture navigation, three-button navigation, or an accessibility shortcut is interrupting the menu, then adjust navigation or the launcher.
Follow these steps
Confirm what replaces the menu
Open the menu again and notice whether Android shows Recents/Activities, returns Home, or jumps to another app.
You should see: You can tell that overview/recents is interrupting the menu rather than the app simply crashing.
Review system navigation
Open Settings, then System or Display (wording varies), then System navigation or Navigation mode, and try the other option between gestures and three-button navigation.
You should see: Menus stay open because the gesture that was triggering Recents no longer conflicts.
Check accessibility shortcuts
Open Settings, then Accessibility, and temporarily turn off shortcuts that use volume keys, triple-tap, or swipe gestures you might hit while opening menus.
You should see: The menu remains on screen without jumping to Activities or another accessibility tool.
Update or switch the launcher if needed
If only the home app drawer or launcher menu fails, update the launcher from the Play Store or temporarily switch to the default Android launcher and retest.
You should see: The launcher menu stays displayed normally.
Not sure this is the right page? Check here
0 of 5 checked
Extra tips
What to look for: The menu disappearing as soon as it opens, replaced by an Activities, Recents, or overview screen of recent apps.
Before you change anything: Note whether you use gesture navigation or three-button navigation. Avoid factory resetting until navigation and launcher settings are checked. Write down any accessibility features that were recently turned on. Never share Google account passwords with unexpected callers.