Configure Android System UI Tuner for Custom Quick Settings

Introduction

Android’s Quick Settings panel is the first place most users reach for toggles such as Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and screen brightness. While the default set of tiles works for many, power users often want faster access to less‑common functions – for example, a “Night mode” toggle, a “Screen recorder” shortcut, or a custom app tile.

Google hides a hidden menu called System UI Tuner that lets you add, remove, and rearrange these tiles. The feature has been present in most Android versions since Lollipop (5.0) but is not always advertised in the settings UI. This tutorial walks you through enabling the tuner, customizing tiles, and understanding the limits of the feature.

Prerequisites

• A device running Android 8.0 (Oreo) or newer. The steps are similar on older versions, but the exact menu names may differ.
• Basic familiarity with Android Settings.
• Optional: A computer with ADB installed if your device’s firmware hides the tuner.

Step 1 – Enable System UI Tuner

1. Pull down the notification shade fully to reveal the Quick Settings icons.
2. Press and hold the gear (Settings) icon for about 5–7 seconds. You should see a brief toast message saying "System UI Tuner added to Settings".
3. Open the main Settings app and scroll to the bottom. You will now see a new entry called System UI Tuner.

If the long‑press does not produce the toast, your device’s OEM may have disabled the hidden menu. In that case, you can enable it via ADB:

adb shell settings put global sysui_demo_allowed 1

After running the command, repeat the long‑press on the gear icon.

Step 2 – Access the Quick Settings Tile Editor

Inside the System UI Tuner you will find several sections. The one we need is Quick Settings (or “Tiles”). Tap it to open the tile editor.

The screen shows two columns:

• Active tiles: Tiles currently displayed in the Quick Settings panel.
• Available tiles: All tiles that can be added, including those provided by system apps and third‑party apps that expose a tile.

Step 3 – Adding New Tiles

1. In the Available tiles column, scroll to find the tile you want to add. Common built‑in options include:
   • Battery Saver
   • Screen Cast
   • Night Light
   • Screen Recorder (Android 12+)
2. Tap the tile name. It will instantly move to the Active tiles column.
3. If you want to add a third‑party tile, the app must declare a android.service.quicksettings.TileService. Once installed, the tile appears in the list automatically.

Step 4 – Removing Unwanted Tiles

1. In the Active tiles column, locate the tile you wish to hide.
2. Tap the tile name; it will move back to the Available tiles column.
3. Changes take effect immediately – pull down the Quick Settings panel to verify.

Step 5 – Reordering Tiles

Android lets you drag tiles to arrange them in the order you prefer.

1. Tap the pencil (edit) icon at the top of the Quick Settings editor – this switches the view to drag‑and‑drop mode.
2. Press and hold a tile in the Active tiles column, then drag it up or down to the desired position.
3. Release the tile; the new order is saved automatically.

On some OEM skins (e.g., Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI) the drag handle may be a three‑line “hamburger” icon next to each tile.

Step 6 – Using Custom Tiles from Third‑Party Apps

Many utilities expose a Quick Settings tile to launch a specific function. Here are a few popular examples and how to add them:

• Tasker Tile – Allows you to trigger a Tasker macro directly from Quick Settings.
• AdGuard Tile – Toggles the ad‑blocking VPN on or off.
• MacroDroid Tile – Executes a user‑defined macro.

After installing the app, revisit the System UI Tuner. The new tile will appear under Available tiles. Add it as described in Step 3.

Step 7 – Advanced Options – Editing Tile Labels and Icons (Root Required)

Android does not provide a UI to rename or replace tile icons. If you have a rooted device or use a custom ROM, you can edit the systemui resources:

1. Mount the /system partition as read‑write (e.g., adb remount).
2. Navigate to /system/framework/framework-res.apk and extract it with a tool like apktool.
3. Locate the XML file defining the tile (usually under res/xml/quick_settings_tiles.xml).
4. Modify the android:label or android:icon attributes, rebuild the APK, and push it back.

Be aware that modifying system resources can cause boot loops or UI crashes. Always keep a backup of the original file and have a custom recovery installed to restore it.

Step 8 – Compatibility and Limitations

• OEM restrictions: Some manufacturers hide the System UI Tuner entirely (e.g., recent Samsung One UI versions). In those cases, you may need a third‑party app like Power Shade to achieve similar customization.
• Android version differences: Starting with Android 12, the tile editor moved to Settings → System → Advanced → Quick Settings, and the hidden System UI Tuner entry may no longer appear.
• Tile count: The panel can hold roughly 10–12 tiles before it starts scrolling. Over‑populating the panel may make it harder to find the tile you need quickly.
• Security: Tiles run with the same permissions as the app that provides them. Only install tiles from trusted sources; a malicious tile could launch unwanted actions.

Step 9 – Troubleshooting Common Issues

Step 10 – Backing Up Your Configuration

While Android does not offer a native export for Quick Settings layout, you can back up the relevant settings via ADB:

adb backup -apk -shared -all -f quicksettings.ab

This creates a full app data backup, which includes the System UI Tuner configuration. To restore, use:

adb restore quicksettings.ab

Alternatively, use a custom ROM’s backup feature (e.g., TWRP) to snapshot the /data/system/ directory where the layout is stored.

Conclusion

Customizing the Quick Settings panel with System UI Tuner can dramatically speed up everyday tasks, from toggling Night Light to launching a favorite automation script. By following the steps above you can unlock the hidden editor, add both system and third‑party tiles, arrange them for optimal workflow, and even dive into advanced tweaks on rooted devices. Remember to keep your device’s firmware up to date, only install tiles from reputable sources, and back up your configuration before making deep system changes.

Enjoy a more personalized Android experience!