Customize Android Quick Settings with System UI Tuner

Why you might want to tweak the Quick Settings panel

Android’s Quick Settings (the pull‑down panel you see when you swipe two fingers from the top of the screen) is a convenient shortcut hub. By default it shows a generic set of tiles – Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, etc. Most users end up using only a handful of those tiles and wish they could replace the rest with actions they actually need, such as a screen‑recording toggle, a flashlight shortcut, or a custom app launcher. Android hides a powerful tool called System UI Tuner that lets you edit, add, and reorder those tiles without rooting the device.

This tutorial walks you through enabling the System UI Tuner, customizing the Quick Settings layout, and handling the quirks that differ between stock Android, Pixel devices, and manufacturer skins like Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI.

Before you start

• Backup your current Quick Settings layout. While the tuner only changes UI elements, a quick screenshot of your current panel can save you from a visual surprise.
• Make sure your device is charged to at least 50 % or plugged in. Some OEMs block UI changes when the battery is low.
• Connect to a stable Wi‑Fi network. If you need to download additional tiles (e.g., from the Play Store), you’ll want a reliable connection.
• Know your Android version. The steps below work on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and newer, but the exact menu names can differ on Android 12+ or on heavily skinned ROMs.
• If your device is managed by a corporate Device Policy Controller (DPC), the System UI Tuner may be disabled by the administrator.

Step 1 – Enable Developer Options (if not already enabled)

Enabling Developer options is a prerequisite because the System UI Tuner is hidden behind a developer flag on many devices.

Step 2 – Reveal the System UI Tuner

The method to reveal the tuner varies slightly by Android version and manufacturer. Follow the path that matches your device.

• Stock Android (Pixel, AOSP) (Android 6‑10):
  1. Pull down the notification shade fully (one‑finger swipe).
  2. Press and hold the gear icon (Settings) for about 5 seconds.
  3. A small toast will appear: "System UI Tuner added to Settings".
• Android 11 and later (Pixel, Android One):
  1. Open Settings → System → Advanced → System UI Tuner (the entry appears automatically after step 1).
• Samsung One UI (Android 9‑13):
  1. Open Settings → Display → Navigation bar.
  2. Tap the three‑dot menu in the upper‑right corner and select Button order.
  3. Long‑press the Settings button at the bottom of the panel – this reveals the System UI Tuner entry in Settings → Advanced features → System UI Tuner.

  Samsung hides the tuner behind the navigation‑button long‑press because the vendor wants to keep its own quick‑settings customization UI.

• MIUI (Xiaomi):
  1. Open Settings → Additional settings → Developer options.
  2. Toggle Enable system UI tuner if the switch is present. If not, the long‑press method used for stock Android usually works.

If none of the above methods reveal the tuner, your device’s manufacturer may have removed it entirely. In that case, consider a third‑party solution like Tile Shortcuts (available on the Play Store) – see the “Alternative methods” section below.

Step 3 – Access the Quick Settings editor

From here you can add, remove, or rearrange tiles. The UI is drag‑and‑drop on most devices, but some OEM skins require you to tap the three‑dot menu next to a tile and choose Move up or Move down.

Step 4 – Adding new tiles

Android ships with a set of built‑in tiles, but many apps expose their own tiles when installed (e.g., Netflix, Google Home, or a third‑party flashlight app). To add a tile:

1. In the Available tiles list, locate the tile you want.
2. Tap the + icon next to it, or drag it into the Active tiles column.
3. For tiles that are not listed, install the corresponding app first, then return to this screen – the new tile should appear under Available.

If you want a custom shortcut (e.g., launch a specific activity in an app), you can create a Shortcut tile using the Tile Shortcuts app. The app registers its own tile that you can then add via the System UI Tuner.

Step 5 – Removing unwanted tiles

1. Switch to the Active tiles tab.
2. Find the tile you no longer need.
3. Tap the – icon next to it, or drag it to the Inactive tiles column.

Removed tiles are not deleted; they can be restored later. This is handy for seasonal tiles like “Night mode” that you may only need at certain times.

Step 6 – Rearranging tile order

Tile order determines how quickly you can reach the most‑used actions. There are two common ways to reorder:

• Drag‑and‑drop – Press and hold a tile in the Active tiles list, then move it up or down.
• Menu‑based move – On some OEM skins, tap the three‑dot menu next to a tile and choose Move up or Move down.

After rearranging, pull down the Quick Settings panel to verify the new layout. The changes take effect immediately – no reboot is required.

Step 7 – Adjusting tile size (Android 12+ only)

Android 12 introduced a two‑column layout for the Quick Settings panel, and some OEMs allow you to make a tile “large” (spanning both columns). To change the size:

1. In the System UI Tuner, tap the three‑dot menu on the tile you wish to enlarge.
2. Select Make large. The tile will now occupy a full‑width row.

Large tiles are useful for actions you use very frequently, such as the built‑in screen recorder or a custom “Do Not Disturb” toggle.

Step 8 – Resetting Quick Settings to default

If you ever end up with a confusing layout, you can revert to the factory arrangement:

1. Open System UI Tuner → Quick settings tiles.
2. Tap the three‑dot menu in the upper‑right corner.
   • Choose Reset to default.
3. Confirm the reset. The panel will return to the original set of tiles shipped with your device.

Resetting removes any custom tiles you added. Make a note of any third‑party tiles you might want to reinstall later.

Alternative methods when the System UI Tuner is unavailable

Some manufacturers deliberately strip the tuner from their skins. In those cases you can still achieve a customized Quick Settings experience using third‑party apps that create their own tiles.

• Tile Shortcuts – Free on the Play Store. It lets you create tiles that launch apps, toggle settings, or run ADB commands. After installation, the new tile appears under Available tiles in the System UI Tuner (if the tuner is present) or you can add it directly from the app’s interface.
• Power Toggles – Offers a large library of toggle tiles, including Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and custom intents. Works on most Android versions, but requires the WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission, which is granted automatically on Android 10+ for non‑system apps.
• Quick Settings (by XDA Developers) – A more advanced tool that requires ADB root access to edit the XML file that defines the tile order. This method is for power users only and is outside the scope of this tutorial.

If you choose a third‑party app, remember to review its privacy policy, as tile apps can access system settings.

Troubleshooting common issues

System UI Tuner does not appear after long‑pressing the gear icon

• Check Android version. The long‑press method was removed in Android 11 for Pixel devices; the tuner is now under Settings → System → Advanced.
• Manufacturer lock. Brands like OnePlus and Oppo hide the tuner. Search the device‑specific forums for a hidden‑menu code (e.g., *#*#4636#*#* for some devices).
• Device policy. If your phone is enrolled in a corporate Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, the admin may have disabled the tuner. Contact your IT department.

Added tile disappears after reboot

• Some OEM skins reset the Quick Settings layout on every reboot. Look for a setting called Persist Quick Settings changes under System UI Tuner or Developer options and enable it.
• If no such option exists, the tile may be considered “inactive” by the manufacturer. Re‑add the tile and then immediately lock the screen; on many devices the layout is saved when the device is locked for the first time after a change.

Tile shows ‘Not supported on this device’

• Hardware‑specific tiles (e.g., NFC, Dual‑SIM switch) require the underlying hardware. If your device lacks the component, the tile will be greyed out.
• Software‑only tiles (e.g., Screen recorder) may be disabled if the feature is turned off in Settings → System → Screen recording. Enable the feature first.

Drag‑and‑drop does not work

• On some Samsung devices, you need to enable Touch sensitivity in Settings → Display → Touch sensitivity before drag‑and‑drop works reliably.
• Older Android versions (pre‑7.0) use a “Move up / Move down” menu instead of drag‑and‑drop. Use that method.

Best‑practice checklist for a tidy Quick Settings panel

1. Identify core actions. List the three‑to‑five functions you use daily (e.g., Wi‑Fi, Do Not Disturb, Screen recorder).
2. Group related tiles. Keep connectivity tiles (Wi‑Fi, Mobile data, Hotspot) together for visual scanning.
3. Use large tiles sparingly. Only assign large size to actions that replace a full‑screen UI, such as screen recording.
4. Test after each change. Pull down the panel after adding or moving a tile to ensure it appears where expected.
5. Document custom tiles. Keep a note of any third‑party tiles (e.g., from Tile Shortcuts) so you can reinstall them after a factory reset.

Edge cases and advanced tips

Creating a custom “Night‑Mode” toggle with ADB

If your device does not expose a Night‑Mode tile, you can create one via ADB:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 2   # 2 = auto, 1 = yes, 0 = no

After running the command, install Tile Shortcuts, create a new shortcut tile, and set the ADB command as the action. The tile will now toggle Night Mode.

Using multiple user profiles

Android supports secondary user accounts. Each user has its own Quick Settings layout. To customize the panel for a secondary user, switch to that profile (Settings → Users & accounts → Switch user) and repeat the steps above. This is useful for a “Guest” profile that only shows a limited set of tiles.

Automation with Tasker

Tasker can expose its own tiles that trigger complex profiles (e.g., “Home arrival” that turns on Wi‑Fi, disables Bluetooth, and launches a music app). After creating a Tasker tile, add it via the System UI Tuner just like any other tile.

Wrapping up

With the System UI Tuner you gain fine‑grained control over the Quick Settings panel without rooting or flashing a custom ROM. By following the steps above you can add the tiles you actually use, remove the clutter, and even create custom shortcuts for obscure actions. Remember to check for manufacturer‑specific quirks, keep a backup of your layout, and use third‑party tile apps when the built‑in tuner is unavailable.

Enjoy a faster, more personal Android experience – and feel free to experiment. The Quick Settings panel is meant to adapt to your workflow, not the other way around.