Google is developing changes to Quick Settings in Android 16, focusing on how Internet and Bluetooth tiles expand within the panel rather than opening into separate, floating panels, according to Android Authority.
New tile behavior in Quick Settings
Currently, the Internet and Bluetooth tiles in Quick Settings pop out into floating panels. Google plans to modify this behavior to allow these tiles to expand within the Quick Settings panel itself, a feature reminiscent of the functionality in Android 5.1 through 8.1.
Released last week, the first beta of Android 16 does not show many surface-level changes. Although it appears similar to the previous Android version, Google has hidden various UI modifications under the surface. For instance, a redesign of the notifications and Quick Settings panels is underway, but this redesign is not evident from the public beta builds.
Potential redesign details
In September, a report indicated Google’s plans for a significant overhaul of notifications and Quick Settings in Android 16. The company aims to split the notifications and Quick Settings panels into two separate pages, a layout already adopted by many OEM partners. This split will provide more space for notifications in the notifications panel and more tiles and buttons in Quick Settings. However, such a change may disrupt users’ muscle memory, although it won’t necessitate two fingers to access the new Quick Settings panel.
Google is also considering alterations to the expanded behavior of the Internet and Bluetooth tiles. From Android 9 to Android 11, the Wi-Fi tile was not expandable; it functioned merely as a quick toggle and a shortcut to full settings. The introduction of the Internet tile in Android 12 combined Wi-Fi and mobile data into an expandable panel, while the Bluetooth tile gained expandability with the introduction of the Bluetooth panel in Android 14 QPR2.
Long-time Android users may recall that expandable Quick Settings tiles were available prior to Android 9. Between Android 5.1 and 8.1, users could expand the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tiles by tapping an arrow below them, allowing the tiles to expand within the Quick Settings panel instead of opening into floating panels. This functionality was removed in Android 9 with a redesigned Quick Settings panel, which persisted until Android 12. However, indications suggest that Google may be working to reintroduce this feature.
Analysis of Android 16 Beta 1 revealed code for a new “detailed view” feature for Quick Settings tiles. Upon enabling this feature, it became evident that the Internet and Bluetooth tiles no longer opened into floating panels; they expanded to fill the Quick Settings panel area, similar to previous versions from Android 5.1 to 8.1. Nonetheless, the feature remains in development, highlighted by issues such as duplicated text and missing data in the expanded tiles.
The completion timeline for this feature remains uncertain. It may not be included in the forthcoming redesign launch, which is still a work in progress. Observations suggest that this new Quick Settings design will likely not be ready for the stable release of Android 16 in Q2, due to unfinished elements like the inability to swipe between panels, contrast issues in light mode, and other bugs. Given the current state, this feature may be postponed until a later Android version.
Further monitoring of upcoming Android betas will shed light on the development of the new Quick Settings panel. Google appears to be not only overhauling the design but also considering new features such as tile categories and resizable tiles. The release of these design updates could extend to an Android 16 QPR or Android 17.
Featured image credit: Google
