Customize Android Quick Settings: Full Guide

You can customize Android Quick Settings by editing the tiles that appear when you swipe down from the top of your screen. This guide shows you how to add, remove, and rearrange tiles on stock Android and Samsung devices, plus how to fix common issues.

What Are Quick Settings?

Quick Settings is the panel of shortcut tiles (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.) that appears when you swipe down from the top of your screen. It is a core part of Android that lets you toggle common functions without opening the full Settings app. The layout and behavior vary slightly between phone manufacturers, but the basic editing method is similar across most devices.

How to Edit Quick Settings on Stock Android

On devices running near‑stock Android (Pixel, Nokia, Motorola), the Quick Settings panel is managed through the notification shade. Follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen once to show the notification shade, then swipe down again to expand Quick Settings fully.
2. Tap the pencil icon (or the three‑dot menu) at the bottom right of the grid.
3. You will see two sections: “Tiles� (the ones currently shown) and “Drag to add tiles� (the available extras).
4. To add a tile, drag it from the bottom section up into the grid.
5. To remove a tile, drag it from the grid down to the “Drag to add tiles� area.
6. To rearrange, long‑press a tile and drag it to a new position.
7. Tap the back arrow or tap outside the editor to save.

On some devices, you can also long‑press a tile in the Quick Settings panel itself and select “Edit� to jump straight into the editor.

How to Edit Quick Settings on Samsung (One UI)

Samsung phones use One UI, which has a slightly different layout. The steps are:

1. Swipe down twice from the top to open the full Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap the three‑dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
3. Select “Edit buttons� from the dropdown.
4. You will see the active buttons at the top and available ones below.
5. Drag buttons between the two areas to add or remove them.
6. Long‑press and drag to rearrange the order.
7. Tap “Done� to save.

On some older One UI versions, the menu may be a pencil icon instead of three dots.

What Tiles Can You Add?

The available tiles depend on your device and Android version. Common ones include:

• Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Mobile Data
• Flashlight, Do Not Disturb, Location, Screen Rotation
• Hotspot, Battery Saver, Night Light, Dark Theme
• Screen Recorder, Nearby Share, QR Code Scanner
• Calculator, Notes, or other app shortcuts (on some devices)

If you don’t see a tile you want, it may be hidden deeper in the Settings app. For example, to add a “Data Saver� tile, you might need to enable it in Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver first.

Common Problems and Fixes

Here are a few issues you might run into and how to solve them:

• Can’t find the edit icon: On some phones, you need to swipe down twice to see the full panel. If the icon is still missing, check if your device uses a “Quick settingsâ€� toggle in the notification shade settings.
• Some tiles are greyed out: This usually means the feature is turned off or not supported. For example, if you don’t have an eSIM, the “SIM cardâ€� tile may be inactive.
• Changes don’t stick: Restart your phone. If that doesn’t help, check for a system update or reset the Quick Settings layout by going to Settings > Apps > System apps > System UI > Storage > Clear data (note: this resets other UI settings too).
• Want more than the default tiles: Some manufacturers limit the number of tiles. You can use a third‑party app like “Quick Settingsâ€� from the Play Store to add custom tiles, but be aware that these may not work on all Android versions.

How to Add Custom Tiles (Third‑Party Apps)

If the built‑in tiles aren’t enough, you can install apps that provide extra tiles. For example, an app might offer a “Lock screen� tile or a “Screenshot� tile. After installing, you usually need to:

1. Open the app and enable the tiles you want.
2. Go to Quick Settings editor (as described above).
3. Drag the new tile into your grid.

Note that some custom tiles require Accessibility or Notification access permissions, which you must grant for them to work. Be cautious about granting these permissions to unknown apps.

Quick Settings vs. Notification Shade

Many people confuse Quick Settings with the notification shade. The notification shade is the panel that shows your alerts and messages. Quick Settings is the grid of toggles that sits above (or beside) the notifications. On most devices, a single swipe down shows both, but you can expand the Quick Settings further by swiping down again. You can also change the layout so that Quick Settings appear first, but that’s usually a manufacturer‑specific setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I edit my Quick Settings?

If the edit icon is missing, your device may have a locked user profile (such as a work profile) or a system restriction. Check if you are in “Simple mode� or “Easy mode� on Samsung, which hides the editing option. Also, some Android versions require you to swipe down twice before the pencil appears.

Can I add a tile for any app?

Not directly. Android only allows tiles for system functions and apps that explicitly support them. However, you can use a third‑party app like “Quick Settings� to create a tile that launches any app, though it may require extra permissions.

Why did my Quick Settings reset after an update?

System updates sometimes reset UI settings to default. This is a known behavior on some devices. You’ll need to re‑arrange your tiles after a major Android update.

How do I remove a tile I don’t use?

Open the Quick Settings editor (pencil icon or three‑dot menu) and drag the unwanted tile out of the grid. On stock Android, drag it to the “Drag to add tiles� area; on Samsung, drag it down to the available buttons list.

Can I change the number of rows or columns in Quick Settings?

On stock Android, the grid size is fixed. On Samsung, you can change the number of buttons per row by going to Settings > Display > Quick settings layout (or similar). Some custom launchers or ROMs also allow this.

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