Restore Wi-Fi Toggle in Quick Settings on Android 12

Android 12 changed how the Wi-Fi toggle in Quick Settings behavesâ€”tapping it no longer turns Wi-Fi off completely, it only disconnects from the current network. If you want the old behavior where the toggle actually switches Wi-Fi off, this guide shows you how to restore that with a simple setting change.

What You’ll Need

An Android 12 device (Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, etc.)
Access to the Settings app
Basic familiarity with Quick Settings

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app on your phone. You can find it in your app drawer or by swiping down twice from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.
Scroll down and tap Network & internet (on some devices it may be labeled Connections or Wi-Fi & network).
Tap Wi-Fi. This takes you to the Wi-Fi settings page.
Look for the three-dot menu (â‹®) in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap it.
From the dropdown menu, select Advanced (on some devices, it may be labeled Additional settings).
Scroll down to find the option Wi-Fi quick settings toggle or Quick settings toggle behavior. The exact wording may vary slightly by manufacturer.
Tap that option. You will see a choice between Disconnect (the default) and Turn off Wi-Fi.
Select Turn off Wi-Fi.
Exit Settings. Now, when you tap the Wi-Fi tile in Quick Settings, it will completely turn off Wi-Fi, just like in older Android versions.

Common Mistakes

Not finding the option: Some devices (especially Samsung) may hide this setting under a different name like “Wi-Fi control” or “Quick panel settings.” Search for “quick settings” in the Settings search bar if you can’t find it.
Tapping the tile instead of the text: In Quick Settings, tapping the small text under the Wi-Fi icon opens the full Wi-Fi settings, while tapping the icon itself toggles the behavior. Make sure you’re tapping the icon.
Forgetting to save: On some phones, the change takes effect immediately; on others, you may need to tap a “Save” or “Apply” button after selecting the option.

Tips

If you use Wi-Fi frequently, consider keeping the default “Disconnect” behaviorâ€”it’s faster to reconnect to the same network later.
To quickly toggle Wi-Fi off without changing the setting, you can always open the full Quick Settings panel (swipe down twice) and tap the text under the Wi-Fi icon to go to Wi-Fi settings, then toggle it off there.
On some devices, you can also use a voice assistant (like Google Assistant) to turn Wi-Fi off completelyâ€”just say “Turn off Wi-Fi.”

Troubleshooting

If the toggle still doesn’t turn off Wi-Fi completely after following the steps:

Restart your phone: A simple reboot can apply the setting change if it didn’t take effect immediately.
Check for system updates: Some manufacturers have changed the option’s location in later updates. Go to Settings > System > System update to see if a new version is available.
Look for a different setting name: On Samsung devices, go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > three-dot menu > Intelligent Wi-Fi and look for “Turn on Wi-Fi automatically”â€”this is not the same, but it’s related. For the toggle behavior, search Settings for “quick settings” and see what appears.
Reset app preferences: If the settings app is misbehaving, go to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Settings (or System UI) > Storage > Clear cache. This won’t delete personal data, just temporary files.
Use a third-party widget: If the setting is simply not available on your device, you can add a Wi-Fi toggle widget to your home screen that uses a different method to turn off Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Android 12 change the Wi-Fi toggle behavior?

Google changed it to improve connection stability. The idea is that you often want to disconnect from a bad network but still have Wi-Fi scanning on for location and faster reconnection. The new behavior keeps Wi-Fi on but disconnects you from the current network.

Will this setting affect my battery life?

Turning Wi-Fi off completely will save a little battery because the Wi-Fi radio is powered down. However, the difference is minimal on modern phones. The “Disconnect” behavior keeps the radio on, which uses a small amount of battery.

Can I change the toggle behavior back to “Disconnect” later?

Yes, just follow the same steps and select “Disconnect” instead of “Turn off Wi-Fi.” The setting is reversible at any time.

Does this work on all Android 12 phones?

Most stock Android 12 phones (Pixel, Nokia, Motorola) have this option. However, some manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus may use a different settings layout or remove the option entirely. In that case, you may need a workaround like a third-party app.

What if I don’t see the “Advanced” option in Wi-Fi settings?

On some devices, the advanced settings are accessible by tapping the three-dot menu directly on the Wi-Fi page, or by tapping the gear icon next to the Wi-Fi network. If you still can’t find it, try searching for “quick settings” in the main Settings search bar.

Is there a way to turn off Wi-Fi completely from Quick Settings without changing this setting?

Yes, you can long-press the Wi-Fi tile to open Wi-Fi settings, then toggle off the Wi-Fi switch at the top of that page. That always turns it off completely, regardless of the quick settings behavior.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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