Android Navigation Buttons: Hidden Tricks & Gestures

Android’s on-screen navigation buttons (Back, Home, and Recents) can do far more than their basic tap actions, including quick app switching, split-screen launching, and one-handed mode shortcuts. This article explains the lesser-known gestures and settings built into stock Android and common manufacturer skins, so you can get more done without extra apps.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average pace and speed from a run or walk. The formulas are:

• Pace (min/km) = Time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)
• Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where Time is the total time in minutes, and Distance is the distance in kilometres. If you use miles, convert distance to km first (1 mile = 1.60934 km) or use the pace as min/mile by keeping distance in miles.

Worked Example

Using the default values: Time = 5 minutes, Distance = 1 km.

1. Pace = 5 ÷ 1 = 5 min/km
2. Speed = 1 ÷ (5 ÷ 60) = 1 ÷ 0.08333 = 12 km/h

The calculator shows 5.00 min/km and 12.00 km/h, matching the formulas exactly.

When to Use This Calculator

Use it after a run, jog, walk, or cycle to see your average pace and speed. It’s especially useful for training zones: if you’re doing intervals, you can check whether you hit your target pace. It also helps you plan a route—if you know your typical pace, you can estimate how long a given distance will take.

How to Read the Result

The first output is your pace in minutes per kilometre. A lower number means faster. The second is speed in km/h, which is higher when you’re faster. For example, a 5 min/km pace equals 12 km/h. If you’re used to miles, multiply your pace by 1.609 to get min/mile (e.g., 5 min/km ≈ 8:03 per mile).

Common Mistakes

• Unit mix-ups: Entering time in hours instead of minutes will give a pace that’s 60 times too small. Always convert hours to minutes (1 hour = 60 min).
• Distance in miles: The formula assumes km. If you ran 3 miles, convert to km (3 × 1.609 = 4.83 km) before entering, or the pace will be in min/mile but labelled min/km.
• Rounding too early: Round only the final answer, not intermediate steps, to avoid small errors.

Limits of the Formula

This calculator gives an average over the whole session. It doesn’t account for hills, stops, or changes in speed. For interval training, you’d need a GPS watch or app that records per-lap splits. Also, the formula assumes a constant pace, which is rarely true in real runs, so treat the result as a useful average, not a precise measurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this for walking?

Yes, the same formula applies to any activity where you cover distance over time. Walking pace is usually around 12–20 min/km, so the calculator will show a slower speed, which is correct.

What if I only know my speed in mph?

Convert mph to km/h first (1 mph = 1.60934 km/h). For example, 5 mph = 8.05 km/h. Then enter the distance in km and time in minutes.

Why is my pace sometimes shown as a decimal?

The calculator rounds to two decimal places. A pace of 5.33 min/km means 5 minutes and 20 seconds per km (0.33 × 60 = 20 seconds). You can convert the decimal to seconds by multiplying the fractional part by 60.

Does this work for treadmill runs?

Yes, as long as you know the distance and time. Treadmills often show speed in km/h, so you can calculate pace by dividing 60 by the speed. For instance, 12 km/h = 5 min/km.

What’s the difference between pace and speed?

Pace is time per distance (min/km), which is how runners usually talk. Speed is distance per time (km/h), which is how cars and treadmills display it. Both are shown because some people think in one or the other.

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in t | Time (min) | min | 5 | 0
in d | Distance (km) | km | 1 | 0
out pace | Pace (min/km) | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Speed (km/h) | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2