Circle SideBar for Android

Overview — what Circle SideBar does

Circle SideBar is a freemium personalization utility created by Zeeshan that streamlines switching between open applications without forcing you to close those you're currently using. It gives fast access to commonly used apps — for example, your file manager or a game — from a compact sidebar. To function properly it requires permission to display over other apps, so it may alter how other programs look or behave while active.

Getting started — enable and open the sidebar

• Grant the app permission to appear on top of other applications.
• Tap the arrow icon at the bottom of the screen to open the app menu.
• From there go into Customizations and choose the option to edit the sidebar contents. Note: Some actions are restricted to the paid (Pro) version — only a couple of list-editing features are available on the free tier.

Personalization controls you can use

• Edit the sidebar list (add, remove, reorder entries).
• Add individual apps to the sidebar.
• Create app pair shortcuts for quick multi-app launches.
• Put folders of apps into the sidebar.
• Insert direct shortcuts to specific actions or locations. Free users can edit the list and add apps; unlocking the rest requires purchasing the Pro upgrade.

Trigger and activation options

• Select which side of the screen the trigger appears on.
• Pick the trigger method that opens the sidebar (swipe, tap, etc.).
• Define the trigger area size and placement.
• Choose the appearance (color) of the trigger zone.
• Optionally hide the visible trigger so activation is invisible.

Additional useful settings

• Back up your settings and restore them later, or clear/reset the database.
• Enable the sidebar to launch automatically when your device boots.
• Blacklist specific apps so the sidebar won’t appear over them.
• Re-enable any blacklisted apps if you change your mind.
• Set a timer to auto-hide the sidebar after a period of inactivity.
• Disable keyboard detection and landscape-mode behavior if needed.
• Access the main settings to unlock Pro-only features.

Why users like it — and a word of caution

The main appeal is the high level of control: you can tailor what appears in the sidebar and how it’s triggered, creating a faster workflow on your device. Many advanced conveniences, though, are gated behind the Pro upgrade. Also keep in mind that because Circle SideBar draws over other apps, it can sometimes interfere with their normal display or input behavior.