diff --git a/app/src/page/file/view.js b/app/src/page/file/view.js
index 55098e0b..126c8c79 100644
--- a/app/src/page/file/view.js
+++ b/app/src/page/file/view.js
@@ -99,9 +99,17 @@ class FilePage extends React.PureComponent {
       if (mode) {
         // fullscreen, so change orientation to landscape mode
         NativeModules.ScreenOrientation.lockOrientationLandscape();
+        if (NativeModules.UtilityModule) {
+          // hide the navigation bar (on devices that use have soft navigation bar)
+          NativeModules.UtilityModule.hideNavigationBar();
+        }
       } else {
         // Switch back to portrait mode when the media is not fullscreen
         NativeModules.ScreenOrientation.lockOrientationPortrait();
+        if (NativeModules.UtilityModule) {
+          // hide the navigation bar (on devices that use have soft navigation bar)
+          NativeModules.UtilityModule.showNavigationBar();
+        }
       }
     }
   }
@@ -138,9 +146,11 @@ class FilePage extends React.PureComponent {
     StatusBar.setHidden(false);
     if (NativeModules.ScreenOrientation) {
       NativeModules.ScreenOrientation.unlockOrientation();
-    }    
+    }
     if (NativeModules.UtilityModule) {
-      NativeModules.UtilityModule.keepAwakeOff();
+      const utility = NativeModules.UtilityModule;
+      utility.keepAwakeOff();
+      utility.showNavigationBar();
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/UtilityModule.java b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/UtilityModule.java
index 083d8c87..e3804aa2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/UtilityModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/UtilityModule.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.lbry.browser.reactmodules;
 
 import android.app.Activity;
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.view.View;
 import android.view.WindowManager;
 
 import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactApplicationContext;
@@ -23,29 +24,51 @@ public class UtilityModule extends ReactContextBaseJavaModule {
 
     @ReactMethod
     public void keepAwakeOn() {
-      final Activity activity = getCurrentActivity();
+        final Activity activity = getCurrentActivity();
 
-      if (activity != null) {
-        activity.runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
-          @Override
-          public void run() {
-            activity.getWindow().addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON);
-          }
-        });
-      }
+        if (activity != null) {
+            activity.runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                  activity.getWindow().addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON);
+                }
+            });
+        }
     }
 
     @ReactMethod
     public void keepAwakeOff() {
-      final Activity activity = getCurrentActivity();
+        final Activity activity = getCurrentActivity();
 
-      if (activity != null) {
-        activity.runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
-          @Override
-          public void run() {
-            activity.getWindow().clearFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON);
-          }
-        });
-      }
+        if (activity != null) {
+            activity.runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    activity.getWindow().clearFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON);
+                }
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    @ReactMethod
+    public void hideNavigationBar() {
+        if (context != null && context instanceof Activity) {
+            Activity activity = (Activity) context;
+            View decorView = activity.getWindow().getDecorView();
+            decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION |
+                                            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_IMMERSIVE |
+                                            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION |
+                                            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @ReactMethod
+    public void showNavigationBar() {
+        if (context != null && context instanceof Activity) {
+            Activity activity = (Activity) context;
+            View decorView = activity.getWindow().getDecorView();
+            decorView.setSystemUiVisibility(View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LAYOUT_STABLE |
+                                            View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_VISIBLE);
+        }
     }
 }