Quick settings on Android is one of the most popular tools for instantly controlling your smartphone without having to dive into deep menus. However, not all users know where exactly they are hidden, how to customize them and what functions can be activated in a matter of seconds. This is especially true for beginners who have just switched from iOS or received their first Androiddevice - for example, Samsung Galaxy S24 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 13.

In this article we will not just show where are the quick settings on Android, but also reveal their hidden potential: from changing the order of icons before adding rarely used but useful switches. You'll learn how to get back missing tiles, why certain features aren't available on your model, and how to bypass manufacturer restrictions. And for advanced users, we have prepared a section with ADBcommands for fine-tuning the notification panel.

Important: the quick settings interface may differ depending on the version Android (from Android 10 to Android 14) and the manufacturer's shell (One UI, MIUI, ColorOS etc.). We will cover all popular options, but if your smartphone runs on little-known firmware, check the relevance of the information in the device settings.

1. Where are the quick settings on standard Android (AOSP)

On a “clean” Android (for example, on Google Pixel or devices with firmware LineageOS) the quick settings panel opens swipe down from the top edge of the screen. In this case, there are two levels of access:

  • 📱 One swipe - displays a stripped-down set of 4-6 most frequently used switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.).
  • ⚡ Two swipes or swipe with hold - reveals a full panel with all available settings.

To edit a set of tiles, follow these steps:

  1. Expand the full quick settings panel (two swipes down).
  2. Click on the icon ⚙️ "Edit" (or "Pencil") in the lower right corner.
  3. Drag tiles between sections "Active" and "Inactive".
  4. Click "Done" to save changes.

On Android 12 and newer editing has become possible change the order of tiles in the top line (the one that opens with one swipe). To do this, just hold the icon and drag it left/right.

📊 Which Android shell are you using?
Pure Android (Pixel, Motorola)
Samsung One UI
Xiaomi MIUI
Oppo/Realme ColorOS
Other

2. Features of quick settings in manufacturers' shells

Smartphone manufacturers often modify the quick settings panel, adding their own features or removing standard functions. Let's look at the key differences between popular shells:

Shell How to open Unique features Limitations
Samsung One UI Swipe down (one - short panel, two - full) Double-click on a tile to quickly go to settings (for example, via Wi-Fi - to the list of networks) It is impossible to delete system tiles (for example, "Bixby") without ADB
Xiaomi MIUI Swipe down on the right (on the left is the notification panel) Tile "Game turbo mode", integration with Mi Home Frequent rebranding of tiles (for example, “Battery saver” instead of “Power saving mode”)
Oppo/Realme ColorOS Swipe down with hold for full panel Tile "Night mode for eyes" with temperature adjustment None editing without an account Oppo

On Huawei EMUI the quick settings panel opens by swiping down from right upper corner (on the left - notifications). There is also a unique tile "Huawei Share" for fast file transfer between ecosystem devices.

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On Samsung hold the "Mobile data" tile - a menu for selecting a SIM card for the Internet will open (relevant for dual-SIM models).

3. Hidden functions of quick settings

Many users are unaware of what quick settings tiles can do additional actions when held. For example:

  • 🔦 Flashlight — holding turns on/off blinking (useful for signaling).
  • 📶 Mobile data —hold opens the list APN-settings.
  • 🔋 Energy saving mode —hold allows you to select the restriction level (to MIUI).
  • 🔊 Sound —hold switches profiles (ring/vibrate/silent) on ColorOS.

Another hidden trick - quick activation of a hotspot. On most devices, just hold the tile "Access point", and the Wi-Fi network is activated with the last used settings (name and password).

On Android 13+ a function appeared "Media panel" in quick settings It is automatically displayed when playing music or video and allows you to control the volume, tracks and devices. output (headphones, speakers) without opening the application.

How to return the missing "NFC" tile

If the "NFC" tile disappeared after the update, check:

1. Is NFC enabled in Settings → Connections → NFC and payments.

2. Is it hidden in the quick settings editor (sometimes reset after resetting the settings).

3. On some firmware (for example MIUI for the European region) NFC is disabled on firmware level and requires manual activation via ##4636## (test menu).

4. Editing quick settings via ADB (for advanced)

If your manufacturer has blocked editing tiles (as on some devices Oppo or Vivo), you can bypass the restrictions using ADB. To do this:

  1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
  2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → About phone → Build number (press 7 times) → Settings → System → For developers.
  3. Connect your smartphone to the PC and run the command:
adb shell settings put secure sysui_qs_tiles "$(settings get secure sysui_qs_tiles),your_tile"

The list of available tiles (identifiers) can be obtained with the command:

adb shell settings get secure sysui_qs_tiles

Examples of identifiers:

  • wifi — Wi-Fi
  • bt — Bluetooth
  • flashlight - Flashlight
  • cell - Mobile data
  • battery - Energy saving mode
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Changes via ADB are reset after resetting the settings or updating the firmware. To return the tiles, you will have to. repeat the procedure.

5. Why are some tiles unavailable or gray?

If you notice that some of the tiles in quick settings inactive (gray) or are completely missing, the reasons may be as follows:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android Go (for example, Nokia 1.4 or Samsung Galaxy A03 Core), some of the tiles are disabled at the system level to save resources, you can only return them through custom firmware.
  • 📵 No hardware support (for example, the "NFC" tile on smartphones without a chip).
  • 🔒 Operator restrictions (on proprietary firmware, for example, from MTS or Beeline).
  • 🛠️ System crash — try resetting the notification panel settings in Settings → Applications → Three dots → Reset settings.
  • 📱 Regional restrictions (for example, the "Google Pay" tile may not be available in unsupported countries).

On Samsung tile "Dual Messenger" (for cloning instant messengers) appears only after installing supported applications (WhatsApp, Telegram etc.). And on Xiaomi tile "Second Space" (second desktop) is available only in Chinese firmware versions.

6. Quick settings on tablets and folding smartphones

On devices with large screens (for example, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 or Huawei MatePad), the quick settings panel adapts to the form factor:

  • 📱 On tablets, the panel is divided into two columns —notifications on the left, quick settings on the right.
  • 🔄 On folding smartphones (for example, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5) when the screen is expanded, it displays extended panel with additional tiles.
  • ⚡ On some tablets (for example, Lenovo Tab P12 Pro) swiping down on the right opens toolbar with application shortcuts.

On Android 12L and newer (optimized for large screens), a tile "Split screen"has appeared in the quick settings, which allows you to quickly launch two applications in multitasking mode.

For foldable devices (foldables) Samsung added a unique tile "Flex Mode" —it activates the adaptive interface when the screen is partially maximized (for example, for video chats or viewing content).

7. How to return standard quick settings after a reset

After a reset or firmware update, the quick settings panel may reset to factory settings. To restore your set of tiles:

Take a screenshot of the current panel (for comparison)

Open the tile editor (pencil in the right corner)

Move frequently used tiles to the "Active" section

Check the hold function on each tile

Save the changes and reboot the device-->

If it disappeared after the update the "Auto-rotate" tilecheck:

  1. Is auto-rotate enabled in Settings → Display → Auto-rotate screen.
  2. Is it hidden in the editor (sometimes reset after major updates).
  3. On some devices (for example, OnePlus) this tile is combined with "Reading Mode".

On Android 14 Google has added the ability to synchronize quick settings between devices via a Google account - but only for smartphones running pure Android (Pixel, Motorola and etc.). On devices with custom skins, this function may not work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add my own tiles to quick settings?

Yes, but only using third-party applications like Quick Settings Tile Editor (root access required) or via ADB. This is not possible using standard Android tools. Some shells (for example, MIUI) allow you to add application shortcuts to the notification panel, but these are not full-fledged tiles.

Why is there no "Google Pay" tile on my Xiaomi?

This tile is not available on devices where Google Pay is not officially supported (for example, on Chinese versions of the firmware or in regions where the service does not work). An alternative is to use the "NFC" tile for quick access to payments. Also check if the application is installed (it replaced Google Wallet (it replaced Google Pay in new versions).

How to remove ads from the quick panel. settings?

Advertising in quick settings appears only on devices with custom skins (most often on Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme). To disable it:

  1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleaning and disable "Recommendations".
  2. Turn off "Advertising notifications". Settings → Notifications → Advanced turn off "Advertising notifications".
  3. For complete removal, you can you will need to disable system applications via ADB (for example, com.miui.systemAdSolution on Xiaomi).

On some firmware, advertising disappears after changing the device region to Europe in Settings → Advanced → Region.

Is it possible to change the color or transparency of the quick settings panel?

No using standard means. But there are workarounds:

  • On Samsung c One UI 5+ you can change the transparency via Settings → Appearance → Colors and style of the notification panel.
  • On pure Android (Pixel) use themes in Settings → Appearance → Style and wallpaper.
  • For deep customization (changing icons, fonts), you will need to install a custom theme via Substratum or Hex Installer (root is required).
How to reset quick settings to factory settings?

To return the quick settings panel to its original status:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Reset settings".
  3. Select "Reset notification panel settings" (the name may vary).
  4. Confirm the action. After the reboot, the tiles will return to the factory set.

On some devices (for example, Huawei) this item may called "Restore default settings" and located in Settings → System.