Android 15 has just been released in its open-source form, but Pixel users will have to wait until next month to experience it. Meanwhile, leaks surrounding Android 16 are already emerging, with the official beta expected to roll out in February of next year. Though the release of Android 16, also known as Android “W,” is still a ways off, early hints from the Android 15 QPR1 beta are offering insights into upcoming changes.
Android 16 Leak: Notifications to Get a Major Overhaul
One of the key changes that Android 16 may bring is the separation of notifications from quick settings. Although this idea has appeared in some Android custom skins and ROMs over the years, it hasn’t been a part of native Android for a while. Now, Google is looking at bringing this feature back in future updates, possibly with Android 16. This potential change has sparked interest among users.
Notifications and Quick Settings: A Functional Split
Currently, the notification panel on most Android devices includes both notifications and a few quick settings. When a user swipes down from the top of the screen, the notification panel appears alongside quick settings. A second swipe brings up the full quick settings menu, while swiping back up dismisses notifications and the settings panel.
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However, some Android-based systems, such as those using custom skins or specific ROMs, have opted to separate these two functions. This change allows notifications and quick settings to operate independently. Giving users more control over how they interact with their device’s interface. It appears that Google is now testing this separation, although it’s unclear whether this feature will be optional or a default setting in Android 16.
If you’ve used Android for several years, you may recognize this split feature. In earlier versions, users could swipe down to view notifications, then swipe sideways to access quick settings. This design offered a cleaner division between notifications and system controls.
A Classic Trick Returns
For those familiar with Android, swiping down with two fingers to access quick settings directly is a well-known feature. This shortcut, which has existed for many years, continues to be available in certain Android skins like ColorOS. Even if they don’t split notifications and quick settings by default.
However, the new Android notification panel may complicate things slightly. While separating notifications from quick settings allows each to have dedicated space, accessing quick settings could require extra steps. For instance, users might need to swipe with two fingers—difficult when using the phone with one hand—or swipe down normally and then swipe to the side to switch to quick settings.
Since this feature is still in early stages, the final interface remains unclear. Right now, there’s no sign of a sideways swipe to move between notifications and quick settings. It might make it harder for some users to find the quick settings panel. Since this is still in beta, there will be months of improvements before it becomes official. But it looks like this will be one of the most interesting updates to Android’s main user interface.
