The Quick Settings panel in Android has long been a go-to tool for quick adjustments to essential settings. It allows users to toggle functions like Bluetooth, activate battery-saving mode, or adjust brightness with just a tap or two, all without diving into the main settings menu. However, the convenience comes with a drawback: the Quick Settings screen can quickly become cluttered. As more settings are added, finding what you need becomes harder in an increasingly chaotic layout.
Android 16 Brings Order to Quick Settings, Making It Easier to Find What You Need
To address this, Android is revamping the Quick Settings panel with the upcoming Android 16 release. This update will introduce a new, organized system to make the panel easier to navigate and use. Google recently released a preview of this feature in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, an early developmental update. Android expert Mishaal Rahman discovered this new system in the beta and shared screenshots with Android Authority, giving us an early look at the improvements.
In this new version, Quick Settings are grouped into up to seven categories, each focused on a specific type of setting. Here’s a look at what each category will offer:
- Accessibility: Features that make the device easier to use, such as color correction and one-handed mode.
- Connectivity: Options related to network connections, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles.
- Screen: Settings that adjust display preferences, including brightness and screen timeout.
- Privacy: Key privacy controls, such as the option to turn off GPS for location-based privacy.
- App Settings: Quick access to app-specific options, like preferences for installed apps.
- Utilities: Tools for added functionality, providing quick access to extra utilities.
- Unknown: A general category for any options that don’t fit into the above groups.
By dividing Quick Settings into clear categories, Android is making it much easier to locate specific options. Instead of scrolling through a disorganized list, users can simply go to the relevant category. For example, if you want to turn off Wi-Fi, you’ll find it immediately in the “Connectivity” section, without sifting through unrelated settings.
This change, expected in Android 16, marks a shift toward a more streamlined, user-friendly interface. With these improvements, the Quick Settings panel will be organized, intuitive, and faster to use—making it simpler than ever to access the settings you need.
