Android
Simple changes coming to Android’s Quick Settings
Google launched the first test version of Android 16 last week, and at first glance, it might seem like there aren’t many new things. But don’t be fooled; Google is hiding some big updates behind the scenes. One of the changes involves how you use the Quick Settings for internet and Bluetooth connections.
A few months ago, I shared that Google plans to separate the notifications and Quick Settings into two different screens in Android 16. This setup, which other phone makers have already started using, lets you see more notifications in one spot and more control buttons in another. However, this might take some getting used to since the way you access these settings will change.
Now, here’s another interesting update: Google might bring back an old feature where the internet and Bluetooth buttons in Quick Settings expand right there in the panel, just like they did in older versions of Android from 5.1 to 8.1. Back then, you could tap on an arrow under these tiles to see more options without any extra windows popping up.
In the current Android versions, these tiles open up into their own floating panels, which can be a bit cumbersome. But in Android 16’s beta, there’s new code for something called a “detailed view” for these tiles. I managed to turn it on, and instead of floating panels, the tiles just got bigger within the Quick Settings panel itself. However, it’s still a work in progress – the text was doubled up, and some information was missing.
This feature might not be ready for the main release of Android 16 in the spring because it’s not fully done yet. There’s no way to switch between notifications and settings easily, and there are still some bugs, especially with light mode.
I’ll keep an eye on future test versions to see how this new Quick Settings layout shapes up. Google seems to be planning more than just a new look; they’re adding things like organizing tiles into groups and letting you change their size. All these updates might mean we’ll see this new design in a later update of Android 16 or maybe even in Android 17.