All the ways to open Quick Settings on Android

Quick Settings is one of those features you probably use multiple times a day without even realizing. It’s the panel that lets you switch Wi-Fi on or off, activate the flashlight, change brightness, or put your phone on silent. Getting to it might seem obvious at first, but there’s more than one way, and the experience changes slightly depending on whether you’re on a Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, vivo, OPPO, or another Android smartphone from another brand. That being said, knowing all the tricks means you can open Quick Settings even faster and make your Android device work better for you. Let’s get started:

What Quick Settings looks like on different smartphones

Before talking about how to open it, it helps to know that Quick Settings doesn’t look identical on all Android smartphones out there. Different brands take different approaches. For instance:

• Google Pixel phones use Android’s large pill‑shaped toggles, giving everything a clean and minimal appearance.
• On Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI, you get a grid of round buttons on a dark or light background, with the brightness and sound controls right under the Quick Settings.
• Xiaomi’s MIUI and HyperOS layouts resemble Apple’s Control Center, with large buttons and a clear separation between Quick Settings and notifications.
• Vivo’s Funtouch OS draws inspiration from Samsung but uses softer colors and slightly different icon designs.
• OPPO’s ColorOS opts for bigger buttons, rounded corners, and grouped sections.

Side‑by‑side comparison of Quick Settings on Google Pixel and Samsung However, although the look changes from brand to brand, the function stays the same. Check out this guide to learn more about what each Quick Setting does and how to personalize them all: How to customize the Android Quick Settings menu. That said, let’s take a look now at all the methods you have to open Quick Settings on Android:

How to access Quick Settings with the classic swipe from the top

The simplest and universal method is to place your finger at the very top edge of the display and swipe down. Doing this once reveals your notifications along with a small row of quick toggles. One downward swipe gives you a partial look at the Quick Settings Swiping down again expands the panel to show all available Quick Settings. Fully expanded Quick Settings panel on a Google Pixel TIP: On a relatively similar matter, wouldn’t you like to learn how to hide the content of notifications on Android?

How to open Quick Settings by skipping straight to the full panel

If you don’t care about notifications and just want Quick Settings right away, try placing two fingers at the top of the screen and swiping down. This gesture takes you straight to the expanded panel without any extra steps. Using the two‑finger swipe gesture to open full Quick Settings instantly

How to get to the Quick Settings on a Samsung with One UI 7.0 or newer

If you have a Samsung Galaxy with One UI 7.0 or newer, you might notice something different. Swiping down from the top‑right corner opens Quick Settings only, while swiping from anywhere else shows notifications. Swipe from the top-right corner to access Quick Settings on Samsung Galaxy If you liked the old setup where both were shown together, you can change it fairly easily. Check out this guide to learn how to access notifications swiping from the top right on Samsung Galaxy devices.

How to access Quick Settings from the Lock screen

You don’t always have to unlock your smartphone to open the Quick Settings. Wake the screen and swipe down, and the panel appears even on the Lock screen. Quick Settings panel on the Lock screen of a Google Pixel 6a running Android 16 Some toggles might be unavailable until you enter your PIN, password, or fingerprint, but it’s perfect for checking connections, turning on the flashlight, or adjusting brightness as quickly as possible.

How to open Quick Settings using the Accessibility menu

If swiping isn’t the easiest option for you, Android’s Accessibility menu can help. It adds a floating button on your screen that gives you shortcuts to important functions, including Quick Settings. Setting it up only takes a moment: First, open your phone’s Settings app and scroll down to the accessibility options. Accessibility menu option in Android settings NOTE: On Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, look for Accessibility. On devices from other brands, like Xiaomi, vivo, or OPPO phones, it might be under the Accessibility menu, Accessibility features, or Accessibility tools. Once you open it, go to the Accessibility Menu and tap it. Then, enable the Accessibility Menu shortcut. Enabling the shortcut for the Accessibility Menu Now, whenever you want Quick Settings, tap that floating button. Tap the Accessibility Menu shortcut You get a menu with large icons that are easy to tap. Look for the one labeled Quick Settings and tap it. Note that you may have to browse through the menu’s pages to find it, like I did in the screenshots below. Tap Quick Settings in the Accessibility menu Then, your usual Quick Settings panel will slide down, ready for use.

Do you know other ways to open Quick Settings in Android?

Quick Settings is one of the most useful features of Android. Whether you prefer the traditional swipe from the top, the two-finger shortcut, or the Accessibility Menu, there’s always a way to get to it quickly. Try a few of these methods to find the one that feels most natural for you. And, if you know of other ways I didn’t mention, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below.