In general, this disclosure describes techniques for routing user inputs to an operating system or an application based on other inputs received at pressure sensors. In one example, computing device receives an indication of a first user input that is detected by pressure sensors of the computing device. The pressure sensors are positioned along two or more sides of a housing of the computing device. The computing device also receives an indication of a second user input, detected by a presence-sensitive display of the computing device. The computing device determines, based on the first user input, whether the second user input is associated with an application or an operating system executing at the computing device. Responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, the computing device performs a system-level action.