Quick Settings is the panel you open from the top of the screen, and the tiles in it are the fastest route to actions you repeat during the day. On most current Android phones you can add, remove, and reorder those tiles in a few taps, and apps that offer their own tiles are set up the same way. The steps below follow Google’s general Android flow. Menu labels and placement vary by manufacturer, so treat the Samsung section as its own case.
Add, remove, and reorder tiles
Google’s help page for changing settings quickly describes this sequence on Android phones:
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- Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the expanded Quick Settings panel.
- Tap Edit.
- Add tiles from the available list, or remove active tiles, using the controls in the editor.
- Drag tiles to rearrange them. The order you set is the order you will see them in the panel.
- Leave the editor to return to the panel and check the new layout.
Resize tiles that support it
Some tiles can be shown in a compact form. Drag the right edge of the tile to the left to show only its icon, or drag it to the right to show the label as well. Tiles that do not support resizing keep a fixed size. Google’s help page notes that some of these steps apply only to Android 13 and later, so check your Android version in Settings if a control is missing.
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If the panel holds more active settings than it can display, a small dot may appear to show that icons are hidden. Open the expanded panel or reduce the number of active tiles to bring them back into view.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Samsung Galaxy phones
Samsung’s support page on customizing the Quick settings panel describes a Galaxy-specific editor. Screens and available settings can vary by carrier, software version, and model, so your menu may not match the steps above exactly. On newer Galaxy devices that support the revised Quick Settings layout introduced with One UI 7, you can also choose whether notifications and Quick Settings appear together. This is Samsung’s own behavior, not a general Android gesture, and other manufacturers may not offer it.
Choose tiles that earn their place
A tile is worth having when you use the action often or need it quickly. Google’s Android Developers guidance states the principle this way: “We recommend creating tiles for specific functionalities that you expect users to either access often or need fast access to (or both).” The same guidance points away from tiles that only launch an app, that serve a one-time action, or that display information without letting you act on it. An app icon, a home-screen widget, or a Settings page may serve those needs better.
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- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Use the following checks to decide which actions deserve a slot:
| Criterion | Question to ask | Keep the tile if | Drop the tile if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | How often do you need this action? | You use it several times in a typical day | You use it once a month or less |
| Speed gain | How much faster is the tile than the app or Settings? | The tile removes two or more taps or a screen change | Opening the app is already just as quick |
| Type of action | Does the tile do something, or only open or show something? | It toggles, starts, or changes a state | It only opens an app or displays information |
| Availability | Does the tile exist on your Android version and manufacturer interface? | You can find it in the editor on your phone | It is missing from the available list on your device |
| Placement | Does it belong in the compact first view or the expanded panel? | It is used constantly and sits in the first view | It is occasional and belongs in the expanded panel |
Build a set around your own routine
There is no universal list of productivity tiles, because the useful set depends on what you do and how you use your phone. A practical method:
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- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
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- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
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- List the actions you repeated during the past week, such as toggling a mode, starting a timer, or switching a connection.
- Remove anything you would rather do in an app or from a widget.
- Apply the table above to the remaining candidates and keep the ones that pass most checks.
- Place the tiles you use most in the first view, and leave the rest in the expanded panel.
Third-party tiles from apps
Apps can supply their own Quick Settings tiles. Android Developers describes this as an app feature built on the TileService API. Creating the service does not put the tile in your panel: you still add it yourself from the editor. Starting with Android 13, an app can request a system prompt to add its tile, which is the one case where the app asks on your behalf. Google’s developer guidance intends these tiles for a specific, useful action rather than a general shortcut to the app, and recommends no more than two tiles per app.
The Android Open Source Project documentation for Android 16 QPR2 SystemUI describes the same mechanism: system UI discovers app-provided TileService implementations. That documentation describes platform behavior for that version. Manufacturer interfaces can still present the tile list and placement differently.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What the four-tile headline does and does not show
The headline describes a personal setup: four basic tiles that became a productivity set in minutes. The article does not identify the phone, the Android version, or which tiles were added, and it does not time or test that change. The steps and checks above are the general mechanism that such a change would use. Whether a tile set saves you time depends on how often you use each action, which is a question only your own routine can answer.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Sources
- Google Android Help, “Change settings quickly on your Android phone” (steps for editing, resizing, and app-provided tiles, with Android-version notes).
- Android Developers, “Create custom Quick Settings tiles for your app” (tile use-case guidance, TileService, user-added placement, and the Android 13 add-tile request).
- Android Open Source Project, “Quick Settings Tiles” (Android 16 QPR2 SystemUI documentation).
- Samsung Canada Support, “Customize the Quick settings panel on your Samsung Galaxy” (Galaxy editing flow, One UI 7 layout note, and model, carrier, and software caveats).
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