How to Customize Android Quick Settings & Reorder Tiles
This guide walks you through customizing the Android Quick Settings panel—the shade that appears when you swipe down from the top of your screen. You’ll learn how to reorder tiles, add or remove shortcuts, and adjust the layout to match how you use your phone. No special apps or root access are needed; everything is done through the system settings.
What You’ll Need
- An Android phone or tablet running Android 6.0 or newer (steps are for the stock Android interface; manufacturer skins like Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI may differ slightly).
- Your device unlocked and on the home screen.
Step-by-Step
- Open the Quick Settings panel. Swipe down from the top of your screen once with one finger to see the notification shade, then swipe down again with two fingers (or swipe down with two fingers from the top directly) to fully expand the Quick Settings tiles. On some devices, a single swipe down shows a few tiles; a second swipe reveals the full grid.
- Enter edit mode. Look for the pencil icon (âœ�ï¸�) or the three-dot menu (â‹®) at the bottom right of the Quick Settings panel. Tap it. If you don’t see either, try long-pressing an empty area in the tile grid, or check the gear icon (âš™ï¸�) that opens full Settings—some devices place the edit button there.
- Understand the edit screen. You’ll see two sections: the top shows your current active tiles (the ones that appear in the Quick Settings grid), and the bottom shows a list of available tiles that you can add. The exact layout varies by Android version and manufacturer, but the interaction is similar.
- Reorder tiles. Press and hold a tile in the active section, then drag it to a new position. Release to drop it. The order you set here determines the order in the Quick Settings panel. On some devices, you can also drag tiles to the very front to make them the first ones you see.
- Add a tile. From the available tiles list, press and hold a tile and drag it up into the active section. Drop it where you want it to appear. Alternatively, some devices have a plus (+) icon next to each available tile—tap that to add it.
- Remove a tile. In edit mode, drag a tile from the active section down to the available list, or tap the minus (−) icon that appears on the tile. Removing a tile doesn’t delete the feature; it just hides it from Quick Settings.
- Adjust tile size (optional). On some Android versions (especially stock Android 12+), you can change the size of certain tiles. Look for an arrow or a resize handle on the tile while in edit mode. Drag it to make the tile span two columns or return to a single column.
- Save your changes. Once you’re happy with the layout, tap the back arrow or the checkmark (✓) at the top of the edit screen, or simply tap outside the edit area. The changes are saved automatically on most devices.
- Exit and test. Swipe down to view your Quick Settings. Verify the new order and that all your preferred tiles are present. If something is off, re-enter edit mode and adjust.
Common Mistakes
- Dragging too fast. If you drag a tile too quickly, it may not register as a move. Drag slowly and hold for a moment before moving.
- Not seeing the edit icon. On some devices, the pencil icon only appears after you fully expand the Quick Settings (swipe down twice). If you’re on the first swipe, you won’t see it.
- Removing a tile you need. If you remove a tile like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can always add it back from the available list. Don’t panic—it’s not gone permanently.
- Expecting identical behavior on all devices. Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other manufacturers often change the edit interface. The core concept is the same, but the icons and drag-and-drop mechanics may differ slightly.
Tips
- Put your most-used tiles at the top. The top row is the easiest to reach with your thumb, especially on larger phones. Consider placing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Do Not Disturb there.
- Use the two-finger swipe shortcut. Swiping down with two fingers takes you straight to the full Quick Settings, skipping the notification shade. This saves a step when you just want to toggle a setting.
- Group related tiles together. For example, keep all connectivity toggles (Wi-Fi, Mobile Data, Hotspot) adjacent, and put brightness or dark mode near each other.
- Check for extra tiles in the overflow. Some devices hide less-used tiles behind an “Editâ€� or “+â€� button. Explore the available list to discover toggles you didn’t know existed, like “Screen Recordâ€� or “Nearby Share.â€�
- Reset to default if needed. If you mess up the layout, most devices have a “Reset� option in the edit screen (often a recycle icon or a menu). Use it to restore the original arrangement.
Troubleshooting
- Edit mode won’t open. If tapping the pencil icon does nothing, try restarting your phone. If that fails, go to Settings > Display > Quick Settings (or System > Quick Settings) and look for a layout editor there. On some Samsung devices, you need to tap the three-dot menu and select “Edit buttons.â€�
- Changes don’t save. Some devices require you to tap an explicit “Doneâ€� or checkmark before exiting. If you just swipe away, changes may revert. Look for a confirmation button.
- Tiles are missing after an update. Android updates sometimes reset Quick Settings to default. You’ll need to re-customize. Check if the update introduced new tiles that you may have accidentally removed.
- Drag-and-drop doesn’t work. If tiles won’t move, try using two fingers or a stylus if you have one. Also ensure you’re pressing and holding long enough (about one second) before dragging.
- Manufacturer-specific issues. On Xiaomi MIUI, you may need to go to Settings > Notifications & Control Center > Control Center and switch to the classic layout to get the standard edit mode. On OnePlus, the edit button is often a pencil icon at the bottom right of the expanded shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reorder tiles on any Android phone?
Yes, virtually all Android phones allow reordering, but the exact steps vary. Stock Android (Pixel) uses drag-and-drop in edit mode. Samsung, Xiaomi, and others have similar features, though the edit button may be in a different location.
Why can’t I remove the brightness slider?
The brightness slider is a system element that cannot be removed on most devices. It’s not a tile but a permanent part of the Quick Settings panel. Some custom ROMs allow hiding it, but stock Android does not.
Will resetting my phone restore default Quick Settings?
Yes, a factory reset will restore all system settings, including the default Quick Settings layout. You’ll need to re-customize after the reset.
Can I add custom tiles from third-party apps?
Yes, some apps (like Tasker or Power Shade) can add custom tiles. These appear in the available list after installation. However, they may require the app to be running in the background.
Do Quick Settings changes sync with my Google account?
No, Quick Settings layout is stored locally on your device. It does not sync across devices, even with the same Google account.
Why do some tiles have a small arrow or dropdown?
These are expandable tiles. Tapping the arrow expands the tile to show more options (e.g., Wi-Fi shows available networks). This is a standard feature and not customizable.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.