With the launch of Android 12 in 2021, Google implemented a somewhat debated modification to the Quick Settings panel. The individual toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data were eliminated and replaced with a new, expandable Internet tile that contained the previous mobile data and Wi-Fi toggles. This modification sought to streamline the experience for users; however, it inadvertently made switching Wi-Fi and mobile data more cumbersome. Years after this alteration, it seems Google might be considering reinstating the old layout in a forthcoming update for Android 16.
A brief overview of Android’s Internet Panel
Before Android 12, the operating system featured distinct toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data. These were handy shortcuts for those who needed to frequently switch these connections. Users could easily pull down the Quick Settings panel and tap on the Wi-Fi or mobile data tile to quickly toggle the respective setting.
Upon the release of Android 12, Google replaced these individual toggles with a unified “Internet” tile. Tapping this tile brings up the new Internet Panel, which includes switches for controlling Wi-Fi and mobile data, a list of nearby networks, and an option to share the Wi-Fi connection.
Although the Internet tile provides more features than the previous one-click Wi-Fi and mobile data tiles, it introduces an additional step whenever a user intends to toggle either setting. This is due to the requirement for users to expand the tile to access the mobile data or Wi-Fi controls. While this isn’t overly complicated, many perceive it as an unnecessary barrier, considering it wasn’t necessary before.
Following the introduction of Android 12, numerous users voiced their dissatisfaction regarding the new Internet Panel, prompting Google to release a statement outlining the reasoning behind the alteration. Google claimed it designed the Internet Panel to tackle a prevalent issue users faced with network connectivity. The company discovered that when users disabled Wi-Fi to compel their Android devices to switch to mobile data, they frequently forgot to re-enable it, leading to excessive mobile data consumption.
The Internet Panel aims to resolve this concern by offering an alternative to disabling Wi-Fi: a straightforward method for switching the active network connection to mobile data. Google recognized that long-time Android users would need some time to acclimate to the new tile. However, the company believed that once they did, they would find the Panel to be “a more intuitive and straightforward way for users to resolve their Wi-Fi connectivity problems while reducing user errors and unintended outcomes.”
The effort to reinstate Android’s original Wi-Fi and mobile data tiles
Google’s rationale for this decision is understandable, particularly since it must design the Android operating system considering billions of users. Nevertheless, this choice still did not sit well with power users who felt restricted by a change that “dumbed down” the Quick Settings panel. These users sought methods to revert the modification, and fortunately, a workaround was soon identified.
Regrettably, this workaround became ineffective in Android 13, compelling users to seek alternative remedies. Several third-party apps can add Wi-Fi and mobile data tiles to the Quick Settings panel; however, they all necessitate elevated permissions since Android does not offer public APIs to toggle these connections. While many power users may accept this prerequisite, not everyone will. Moreover, this solution excludes users who are knowledgeable enough to track their data usage but lack the technical know-how to utilize ADB.
For years, there was no sign that Google intended to reverse this change. However, following the release of Android 16 QPR2 earlier this month, new indicators have arisen. Michael Bestas, a key developer of LineageOS, found evidence within the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) suggesting Google aims to separate the Internet tile into distinct Wi-Fi and mobile data tiles.
This evidence appears in code alterations submitted earlier this year, which were made public with the release of the Android 16 QPR2 source code. The first code alteration, titled “Add separate mobile data tile,” simply adds “a mobile data tile that allows toggling mobile data on/off.” This tile is designated as “Mobile Data,” and when tapped, it will prompt a dialog asking the user whether they wish to toggle mobile data.
The second code change, titled “Add wifi tile with toggle,” introduces “a new wifi tile with toggle to pause and scan for wifi.” In contrast to the new mobile data tile, the Wi-Fi tile will still be referred to as “Internet” and will display “the current default non-wifi internet provider when Wifi is not default.” This adjustment is aimed at facilitating “the transition away from the Provider Model,” where “Provider Model” refers to the Internet Panel. A note in the newly added code implies that Google intends to “migrate to a Wifi-only tile,” but there is no indication of when this might occur, or when the Internet tile will actually be separated.
At present, this modification is gated behind a feature flag labeled “com.android.systemui.qs_split_in
