How to use quick settings in Android Lollipop?

Using quick settings in Android Lollipop can save you a lot of time!

In Android Lollipop 5.0, Google revamped the quick settings, one of the most popular features in Android. This guide will show you how to access and use quick settings on Android Lollipop devices.

Different Android vendors may modify the quick settings. So, the interface and feature of quick settings on different Android Lollipop devices may vary. But the fundamentals are usually very similar.

What is quick settings in Android Lollipop?

Android have so many features, so the settings menu usually is very long. If you need change something, you usually have to navigate through several pages.

Therefore Android puts a few most-commonly used settings in the quick settings page so that you can quickly change the settings without fiddling around pages of the settings.

Google made a significant change in quick settings in Android Lollipop.  Prior to Android Lollipop, quick settings simply are shortcuts to specific settings.

But in Android Lollipop, most items in quick settings menu are actionable. In other words, you can enable or disable the features just by tapping top part of it.  It is not necessary to open any settings pages. The lower part of each item may link to corresponding settings page.

This is new for Nexus devices and Motorola devices (e.g., Moto X, Moto G  and Moto E).

If you are a Samsung Galaxy phone user, you have enjoyed this feature for long time thanks for the customization by Samsung. Actually, Samsung put so many items in the quick settings panel that some new users may feel intimidating. For example, you can find Galaxy S5 quick settings panel here.

In short, quick settings in Android Lollipop makes it possible for you to change some frequently used features without navigating to settings app.

How to access quick settings in Android Lollipop?

You have two ways to access  quick settings in Android Lollipop.

Method 1: Swiping down from status bar (top of the screen) with 2 fingers.

From the status bar (the top of your device screen), you can swipe down with two fingers as shown below to get quick settings in Android Lollipop.

This method works on ALL android devices regardless of the brand or manufacture. It also works on Android KitKat, Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwitch.

Method 2:  Swiping down twice from status bar (top of the screen) with 1 finger.

From status bar, if you swipe down with one finger, you will see all notification messages.

In Android Lollipop, you can swipe down again in notification page to access quick settings as shown below.

This method of accessing  quick settings in Android Lollipop is new. In prior versions, you have to tap a button in notification page to access quick settings panel.

 

How to use quick settings in Android Lollipop?

Depending on features which you turned on, the items in quick settings can be different.

As shown in the screenshot above, you can find these settings (corresponding to the numbers in the screenshot).

1. Settings icon.  Tapping this icon will open Settings app.
2. Users. Tapping the user avatar to use the user control panel, change users, guests, and profiles. You can also setup your own profile here.
3. Brightness control. Dragging the slider to adjust the brightness of the screen. This can be sued together with Adaptive brightness in Android Lollipop.
4. WiFi control. Tapping the icon (top part) will turn on/off WiFi instantly.  Tapping the network name (or WiFi if not connected) in the lower part will bring you to WiFi settings page.
5. Bluetooth control. Similar to WiFi control, the top part is for you to turn on/off Bluetooth. Tapping the name of connected Bluetooth device (or Bluetooth if no connected device) will bring you to the Bluetooth settings page.
6. Cellular network info. Tapping the icon to open the cellular control panel for quick access to data usage information.
7. Airplane mode control. Tapping the icon to turn on/off Airplane mode.
8. Flashlight control. Tapping the icon to turn on/off flashlight.
9. Location settings. Taping the icon to open location settings page.
10. Cast screen.  Tapping the icon to cast your phone screen to Chromecast (aka Android screen casting, Android screen mirroring). This icon only works on Nexus devices. In Moto X (including Moto X 2nd Gen), Moto G (including Moto G 2nd Gen) and Moto E, this icon does NOT work. You need use Chromecast app to cast your screen.

If you tuned on some other features, you may find a few additional other items.

 Can you access and use quick settings in Android Lollipop now?

If you have any questions on using or accessing quick settings in Android Lollipop, please let us know them in the comment box below.

For more Android Lollipop guides, please visit on Android Lollipop Guide page.