With the release of Android 12 in 2021, Google made a notable change to the Quick Settings panel, removing individual toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data. Instead, a new expandable Internet tile was introduced, which combined the old mobile data and Wi-Fi toggles. This change aimed to simplify user experience but resulted in a more cumbersome process to toggle these connections. After several years, there are indications that Google might revert to the original setup in an upcoming update for Android 16.
### A Brief History of Android’s Internet Panel
Before Android 12, users had separate toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, allowing for quick access. Users could effortlessly pull down the Quick Settings panel and switch connections with a single tap.
In Android 12, Google replaced these distinct toggles with a single “Internet” tile. Tapping this tile opens the new Internet Panel, which contains controls for mobile data and Wi-Fi, alongside a list of nearby networks and a sharing option for Wi-Fi.
While the new Internet tile offers enhanced functionality, it requires an additional step whenever users want to toggle either radio, as they must expand the tile first. Though this isn’t particularly complex, many users perceive it as an unnecessary obstacle.
Following the launch of Android 12, several users expressed dissatisfaction with the Internet Panel, prompting Google to offer an explanation. The company stated that the new design aimed to resolve a common issue where users would forget to turn Wi-Fi back on after disabling it to connect to mobile data, leading to unintended data usage. The Internet Panel aims to reduce user errors with a straightforward method for switching to mobile data without entirely disabling Wi-Fi.
### The Quest to Restore Android’s Old Wi-Fi and Mobile Data Tiles
Despite Google’s rationale, many advanced users found the change limiting, feeling it oversimplified the Quick Settings panel. In search of solutions, some discovered workarounds. However, these ceased to function with Android 13, leaving users to rely on various third-party apps. These options often require elevated permissions, which may deter some users.
For years, it seemed unlikely that Google would reverse this change. However, with the latest Android 16 QPR2 release, signs have emerged that Google may restore separate Wi-Fi and mobile data tiles. A developer observed code in the Android Open Source Project indicating plans to split the Internet tile into distinct tiles for mobile data and Wi-Fi.
One code change titled “Add separate mobile data tile” suggests the addition of a toggle for mobile data. Another change hints at a new Wi-Fi tile with a toggle option. While the exact implementation timeline remains unclear, this development has drawn attention from the community as a potential return to more user-friendly controls.
Currently, this upcoming change is not enabled in the latest Android releases, and it’s uncertain whether it will be exclusive to OEM partners or available on Pixel devices. Further developments will be watched closely in future Android updates.
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