The present disclosure is directed to lift-up gesture detection for electronic devices. An initial lift-up gesture is detected in response to an orientation change and a lift-up motion of the device being detected. The initial lift-up gesture is validated as a true lift-up gesture in a case where a shaking motion of the device is not being detected when the initial lift-up gesture is detected. If a shaking motion of the device is detected when the initial lift-up gesture is detected, the initial lift-up gesture is rejected.