ZenActions & system shortcuts

Zenith has two kinds of built-in action. ZenActions are things a gesture can do inside or around the launcher — open a screen, or reach a system panel like the notification shade. System shortcuts are single-tap jumps straight into a phone feature — the camera ready to shoot, a timer counting — that you plant as a star — an app, folder, or shortcut you've placed.

#ZenActions — what a gesture can do

What it is. The list of actions you can bind to a corner, an edge, a flick, a double-tap, or a talisman — a gesture shortcut you draw. You assign them wherever a gesture is set; see Assign an action to a gesture.

The list.

"app or shortcut" is the open slot — it opens whatever you bind to that gesture, so any gesture can reach anything.

#The "Zenith actions" accessibility service

Why it exists. Some ZenActions do system-level things Android only allows through an accessibility service. These need it: "lock", "shade", "recents", "quick tiles", "screenshot", "power menu", "back", and "home".

What it can and can't see. The "Zenith actions" service is deliberately empty — it reads nothing on your screen and watches no other app. It exists only so Android will let the launcher perform those system actions.

Turning it on. You enable it in Android's own accessibility settings, not inside Zenith. If you use one of these actions while it is off, Zenith shows a message like "enable \"Zenith actions\" in accessibility…" and opens that settings screen. Settings also shows an "enable zenith actions →" button. The notification shade has a fallback path that works on many phones without the service; the other actions need it.

#System shortcuts — jump straight into a feature

What it is. Single-tap actions you plant as a star from the add sheet, each opening straight to the live thing rather than an app's home screen. They are plain platform features — nothing to install or sign in to — and free.

The list. "voice assistant (hold-power)", "camera", "video camera", "selfie camera", "new alarm", "timer", "alarms", "web search", "phone dialer", "compose email", "add contact", "new calendar event", "maps", "system settings", "wi-fi settings", "bluetooth settings", and "battery settings".

When nothing handles it. A system shortcut tries to open the feature. If no app on your phone can handle it, Zenith says "nothing on this phone handles that" rather than failing silently. A system shortcut can also be bound to a gesture through the "app or shortcut" action.

#See also.

Assign an action to a gesture · Talismans — draw, inscribe, cast · The Sky Veil · Gestures conflict with system gestures