Do not panic: Google remains to be engaged on splitting Fast Settings, however it’ll be optionally available

Google is about to roll out a significant overhaul to Android’s person interface this 12 months, introducing the corporate’s new Materials 3 Expressive design to the OS. As a part of this redesign, Google is revamping Android’s Fast Settings panel so as to add Materials 3 Expressive aptitude and ship a number of useful enhancements. The corporate showcased these Fast Settings adjustments earlier this month, even inviting customers to check them within the Android beta program. Nonetheless, Google didn’t reveal that its work on the Fast Settings panel isn’t completed, because it plans one other vital revamp, presumably slated for an upcoming quarterly launch of Android 16.

Throughout The Android Present: I/O Version, Google showcased the Fast Settings revamp slated for launch later this 12 months. This up to date Fast Settings panel introduces background blur, resizable tiles, one-click toggles for Bluetooth and Modes, a cleaner tile editor, and a redesigned brightness slider. The revamped panel is reside within the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 replace that Google launched final week, however that is solely a part of the image. Google is definitely quietly engaged on a wholly totally different model of the Fast Settings panel: one which’s separated from the notifications panel.

Final 12 months, I uncovered proof that Google was getting ready to separate Android’s notifications and Fast Settings panels. The corporate’s objective was to divide them into distinct pages, thereby creating extra room for each notifications and Fast Settings tiles. This strategy mirrors the design many OEMs, akin to Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus, at the moment function of their Android builds.

When Google introduced Materials 3 Expressive earlier this month, many assumed the corporate had deserted the break up panel design as a result of it wasn’t showcased throughout The Android Present and isn’t current within the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Nonetheless, we’ve lately discovered robust proof suggesting the break up panel design remains to be in energetic growth. Extra importantly, proof signifies it’ll doubtless be an optionally available function.

Whereas digging by way of the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 launch, we noticed strings indicating Google plans so as to add a brand new “Notifications & Fast Settings” choice below Settings > Notifications. This web page will enable customers to modify the panel design from the present “mixed” view to the brand new “separate” view. Notably, the “mixed” view is labeled “basic.”

The “mixed” panel, accessed by swiping down anyplace from the highest of the display, merges notifications and Fast Settings right into a single interface, as its identify implies. Conversely, the brand new “separate” panel divides notifications from Fast Settings, requiring a swipe down from the highest proper to open Fast Settings and from the highest left to entry notifications.

The picture under illustrates the anticipated look of the brand new Notifications & Fast Settings web page in Android. Word that neither this web page nor the break up design itself is at the moment reside in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1. Moreover, the animation displayed on this web page is a placeholder, as Google has but to develop a customized model.

Whereas the rollout timing for this new break up panel design stays unknown, we now realize it hasn’t been deserted. This function may arrive with the opposite Materials 3 Expressive adjustments within the Android 16 QPR1 launch, or probably later, akin to in Android 16 QPR2.

When it does arrive, its availability throughout all gadgets is unsure. A particular footer message, showing solely on foldable gadgets, notes that the “mixed” panel is restricted to the outer display. Though we haven’t seen any indication that this break up panel design might be unique to foldable telephones, this message may counsel that chance.

Moreover, it’s unclear whether or not this break up panel design might be enabled by default. We hope it gained’t be, contemplating the unfavorable response when Samsung carried out an identical default in One UI 7. We’ll make sure you replace you if we be taught extra about Google’s break up panel design.