If you want back arrow so following code put into AppDelegate file into didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method.

For Objective-C

 [[UIBarButtonItem appearance] setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment:UIOffsetMake(0, -60) forBarMetrics:UIBarMetricsDefault];

For Swift

let BarButtonItemAppearance = UIBarButtonItem.appearance()
BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)

Another option give below.

In Objective C

self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = [[UIBarButtonItem alloc] initWithTitle:@"" style:UIBarButtonItemStylePlain target:nil action:nil];

In Swift

self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title:"", style:.plain, target:nil, action:nil)

UPDATE :

    let BarButtonItemAppearance = UIBarButtonItem.appearance()


let attributes: [NSAttributedStringKey: Any] = [
BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)
NSAttributedStringKey.font: UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 0.1),
NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear]


BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes(attributes, for: .normal)
BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes(attributes, for: .highlighted)

UPDATE SWIFT 4.1 :

    let attributes = [NSAttributedStringKey.font:  UIFont(name: "Helvetica-Bold", size: 0.1)!, NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear]


BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes(attributes, for: .normal)
BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes(attributes, for: .highlighted)

Using Offset

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffsetMake(-1000, 0), for:UIBarMetrics.default)

I usually add or change the back button in viewDidLoad of the UIViewController.

Something like that should work:

let leftButton = UIBarButtonItem(title: "Back", style:     UIBarButtonItemStyle.Plain, target: self, action: "closeView:")
self.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = leftButton

Don't forget to change and implement the function that it's called to close the view.

Even easier, just change the title:

self.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem.title = "Back"

I'm using this line of code in AppDelegate file into didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method to remove the backbutton title.

Swift 2.x

let barAppearace = UIBarButtonItem.appearance()
barAppearace.setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffsetMake(0, -60), forBarMetrics:UIBarMetrics.Default)

Swift 3.x

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffsetMake(0, -60), for:UIBarMetrics.default)

Swift 4.x

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)
UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: UIControlState.highlighted)

I was not satisfied with the setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment solution, so here is a swift alternative to hide all back button texts throughout the applicataion:

    UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSFontAttributeName: barbuttonFont, NSForegroundColorAttributeName:UIColor.clearColor()], forState: UIControlState.Normal)
UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSFontAttributeName: barbuttonFont, NSForegroundColorAttributeName:UIColor.clearColor()], forState: UIControlState.Highlighted)

You would have to call these from the AppDelegate in the didFinishLaunchingWithOptions func.

Appearance must be set to the .Highlighted state too to avoid texts being show when the user taps the back button.

You can use xcode 8 and swift 3.0

self.navigationController?.navigationBar.backItem?.title = " "

Work's like charm on Swift 3

self.navigationController?.navigationBar.topItem?.title = " "

Swift 3:

self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title:"", style:.plain, target:nil, action:nil)

let barAppearace = UIBarButtonItem.appearance()
barAppearace.setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffsetMake(0, -60), for:UIBarMetrics.default)

used this line of code in swift 3.0

You could create a subclass for all UIViewControllers you want this behavior for, and in the subclass's viewDidLoad:

override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(
title: "", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
}

This way, you can choose which controllers you want the behavior for, without duplicating code. I prefer my controllers to just say "Back", rather than the title of the previous controller, so I set that title here.

Taking inspiration from rordulu's answer here, I ended up creating a custom UINavigationController and UINavigation bar which seems to handle all cases of this tricky problem.

1) Initialise new UINavigationController with your custom UINavigationBar:

class CustomNavigationController: UINavigationController {


convenience init() {
self.init(navigationBarClass: CustomNavigationBar.self, toolbarClass: nil)
}
}

2) Set the backItem.title property of the navigation bar to an empty string, every time the view lays itself out

class CustomNavigationBar: UINavigationBar {


override func layoutSubviews() {
backItem?.title = ""
super.layoutSubviews()
}
}

Now every time you use this navigation controller and bar combination, it will never have back button text! 🎉

Note: this should work fine if using storyboards also, just ensure to drop the custom navigation bar component into the view

Just need go to your Parent ViewController from where your other ViewControllers are dependent.

override func viewWillDisappear(animated: Bool) {
super.viewWillDisappear(true)
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .Plain, target: nil, action: nil)}

I don't know why but I found problem with hiding back button title in iPhone pluses but in device without plus shows correct with

leftBarButtonItem.title = ""

So I found simple way. It is set tint color to clear in NavigationBar of NavigationViewController in autolayout. It may be problem if you use icons or text tiles with tint. But in my case I don't use it as all.

it is simple. put a space in the title of the back button and ready. Remember that it has to be in the previous view where you want to remove the text.

Just use this:

func removeBackButton(vc:UIViewController) {
let button = UIButton.init(type: .custom)
button.setImage(UIImage.init(named:""), for: .normal)
let leftBarButton = UIBarButtonItem.init(customView: button)
vc.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = leftBarButton
}

So call this method in viewDidLoad:

override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
removeBackButton(vc:self)
}

Adding a second answer here as my first only partially works. This method is less elegant in the fact that it requires calling a method in each view in the application, however it works without any side-effects.

So firstly, create a UIViewController extension class with a function to remove back button text and add a custom back button:

extension UIViewController {


func setBackButton() {
navigationController?.navigationBar.backIndicatorImage = R.image.backArrow()
navigationController?.navigationBar.backIndicatorTransitionMaskImage = R.image.backArrow()
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: " ", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
}

Secondly, we can simply call out to this function in the viewDidLoad of each view controller you need it in.

You can add this extension to UIViewController And then call this function in every viewDidLoad() like : self.updateBackButton()

extension UIViewController {
func updateBackButton(){
if self.navigationController != nil {
self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .done, target: self, action: nil)
}
}}

Just copy this code in didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions

Swift 5

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffset(horizontal: -1000.0, vertical: 0.0), for: .default)

Swift 4

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setBackButtonTitlePositionAdjustment(UIOffsetMake(-1000.0, 0.0), for: .default)

Simple Solution :

While you are pushing 2nd controller from 1st controller, put self.navigationItem.title = "" in viewWillDisappear of 1st controller. It hides back button title from 2nd controller.

Above statment hides 1st controllers title, hence when we came back we want title for 1st controller again. For that we have add title for 1st controller in viewWillAppear method of 1st controller.

Refer following methods (of 1st controller)

    override func viewWillDisappear(_ animated: Bool) {
self.navigationItem.title = ""
}


override func viewWillAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
self.navigationItem.title = "Title"
}

Swift 4.2

UIBarButtonItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)

I would like to share a solution that works for me. Also, it can be adjusted base on your needs and requirements.

Note, in my case, I use a storyboard to specify CustomNavigationBar

Swift 4.2

class CustomNavigationBar: UINavigationBar {


override func awakeFromNib() {
super.awakeFromNib()
guard let topItem = topItem else { return }
removeBackButtonTitle(for: topItem)
}


override func pushItem(_ item: UINavigationItem, animated: Bool) {
removeBackButtonTitle(for: item)
super.pushItem(item, animated: animated)
}


func removeBackButtonTitle(for item: UINavigationItem) {
item.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem()
}
}

Updated Answer For Swift 4.2

Working with UIAppearance is a cleaner way of solving the problem but it would cause all the UIBarButtonItem to have a clear text. An improved version of the solution could be to check if the UIBarButtonItem is contained in a UINavigationBar.

    UIBarButtonItem.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UINavigationBar.self]).setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)

Works for Swift 4.2

Using the line of code in AppDelegate file into didFinishLaunchingWithOptions

    UIBarButtonItem.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UINavigationBar.self]).setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)


UIBarButtonItem.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [UINavigationBar.self]).setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear], for: .highlighted)

Swift 4.2 & 5

Instead of playing with the navigation bar tint color which will have side effects if you are using image picker anytime later in your code.

Use below code:

extension UIViewController {
open override func awakeFromNib() {
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
}
}

Call it from your first ViewController:

self.awakeFromNib()

for swift 4,5

let BarButtonItemAppearance = UIBarButtonItem.appearance()
BarButtonItemAppearance.setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.clear], for: .normal)

Just create extension of UIViewController with override function awakeFromNib() and make UIBarButtonItem with an empty title and give to navigation backBarButtonItem.

extension UIViewController {


open override func awakeFromNib() {
let backBarBtnItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = backBarBtnItem
}


}

Put the below code in any of the UIViewcontroller extension it will hide all the UIViewcontroller back text

open override func awakeFromNib() {
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
}

Works on Swift 5:

        self.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem?.title = ""

Please note it will be effective for the next pushed view controller not the current one on the display, that's why it's very confusing!

Also, check the storyboard and select the navigation item of the previous view controller then type something in the Back Button (Inspector).

I have a simple solution for those, who don't want to use method swizzling or duplicating a similar code in different view controllers.

To remove back button title, create a UINavigationController subclass and override pushViewController(_, animated:) method:

final class CustomNavigationController: UINavigationController {


override func pushViewController(_ viewController: UIViewController, animated: Bool) {


super.pushViewController(viewController, animated: animated)


let backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem()
backBarButtonItem.title = nil


viewController.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = backBarButtonItem
}
}

in viewDidLoad()

    let backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: nil, style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = backBarButtonItem

On iOS 14 is now present the backButtonDisplayMode property in UINavigationItem class. So, to remove back button title you can use

navigationItem.backButtonDisplayMode = .minimal

in the viewDidLoad func of the viewController where you want remove it.

To remove it in all navigationBar I used the swizzling technique

import UIKit


private let swizzling: (UIViewController.Type, Selector, Selector) -> Void = { forClass, originalSelector, swizzledSelector in
if let originalMethod = class_getInstanceMethod(forClass, originalSelector), let swizzledMethod = class_getInstanceMethod(forClass, swizzledSelector) {
let didAddMethod = class_addMethod(forClass, originalSelector, method_getImplementation(swizzledMethod), method_getTypeEncoding(swizzledMethod))
if didAddMethod {
class_replaceMethod(forClass, swizzledSelector, method_getImplementation(originalMethod), method_getTypeEncoding(originalMethod))
} else {
method_exchangeImplementations(originalMethod, swizzledMethod)
}
}
}


extension UIViewController {
    

static func swizzle() {
let originalSelector1 = #selector(viewDidLoad)
let swizzledSelector1 = #selector(swizzled_viewDidLoad)
swizzling(UIViewController.self, originalSelector1, swizzledSelector1)
}
    

@objc open func swizzled_viewDidLoad() {
if let _ = navigationController {
if #available(iOS 14.0, *) {
navigationItem.backButtonDisplayMode = .minimal
} else {
// Fallback on earlier versions
navigationItem.backButtonTitle = ""
}
}
swizzled_viewDidLoad()
}
}

And in application(_:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:) call

UIViewController.swizzle()

A method for iOS13.

let backButtonAppearance = UIBarButtonItemAppearance(style: .plain)
backButtonAppearance.normal.titleTextAttributes = [.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear]


let navigationBarAppearance = UINavigationBarAppearance()
navigationBarAppearance.backButtonAppearance = backButtonAppearance


UINavigationBar.appearance().standardAppearance = navigationBarAppearance

class NavigationController: UINavigationController {


override func pushViewController(_ viewController: UIViewController, animated: Bool) {
super.pushViewController(viewController, animated: animated)


viewController.navigationItem.backButtonTitle = ""
}
}

if you want to remove back button title when you open next screen

do this inside the function initialising and pushing a new screen:

navigationItem.backButtonTitle = ""

Full usage:

    let view = SomeView()
let controller = UIHostingController(rootView: view)
navigationItem.backButtonTitle = ""
navigationController?.pushViewController(controller, animated: true)

But to customise back buttons for all navigation bars in your app you need to do this:

func setupNavBarAppearance() {
let backButtonImage = Images.west.image.withAlignmentRectInsets(UIEdgeInsets(top: -5, left: -15, bottom: -5, right: -15))
let backButtonAppearance = UIBarButtonItemAppearance(style: .plain)
backButtonAppearance.normal.titleTextAttributes = [.foregroundColor: UIColor.clear]
    

let appearance = UINavigationBarAppearance()
appearance.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor : UIColor.white]
appearance.backButtonAppearance = backButtonAppearance
appearance.setBackIndicatorImage(backButtonImage, transitionMaskImage: backButtonImage)
    

UINavigationBar.appearance().standardAppearance = appearance
UINavigationBar.appearance().scrollEdgeAppearance = appearance
UINavigationBar.appearance().tintColor = .white
UINavigationBar.appearance().isTranslucent = false
}

You can call it from your AppDelegate.swift

    if #available(iOS 14.0, *) {
navigationItem.backButtonDisplayMode = .minimal
} else {
navigationItem.backBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "", style: .plain, target: nil, action: nil)
}