Google's Hack for Hidden Quick Settings Labels in Android 16 is Just That

As the latest version of Google's operating system, Android 16, currently in beta, users are starting to feel like they're back in the world of Android 12. While this new iteration doesn't revolutionize UI design, it does bring about some significant visual changes that are worth taking notice of, even if they seem inspired by third-party Android skins like One UI, OxygenOS, and HyperOS.

One of the most notable changes in Android 16 is the ability to resize Quick Settings tiles within the grid-like confines of the notification shade. This allows users to set up any tile as big as they like, giving them more control over how their settings are displayed. However, this change also brings a discreet trick for labeling everything suitably.

When you make any of the Quick Settings smaller than usual, its label immediately disappears. At first glance, this might not seem like a major concern, but it's actually a clever move by Google to address a potential issue. By allowing users to set up larger tiles with more easily recognizable labels, and smaller tiles with icons they don't recognize, Google is thinking ahead to avoid user confusion.

Telegram user sameera_s_w spotted this clever hack in action when they noticed that even without a label, the name of a smaller Quick Settings tile appears in the active apps section of the Quick Settings page, located in the lower left corner. Tapping on it also triggers the relevant setting, making it easy to identify what's changed on the screen.

However, there is one downside to this implementation: tapping a toggle to identify its purpose not only reveals the name but also enables or disables the relevant setting. This limitation can be frustrating for users who want to easily identify settings without accidentally toggling them on or off. A possible solution could be to map the label reveal to a new action, like a triple-tap or similar gesture.

Despite this limitation, the new way to identify smaller tiles that don't have labels is surprisingly effective in a pinch. With Android 16 still in beta testing phase and a stable release expected a few months out, we remain hopeful for some optimization in this aspect. For now, users can take advantage of this clever hack to make their Quick Settings experience more intuitive.

Material 3 Expressive: A New Design Language

Android 16 is also part of a new design language called Material 3 Expressive, which promises to bring a fresh look and feel to the operating system. While it may not revolutionize UI design like Android 12 did, it does bring about some exciting visual updates that are worth taking notice of.

Google is calling this new design language "Expressive" because it allows users to express themselves through their settings and notifications. With Material 3 Expressive, the notification shade gets a fresh new look, with customizable tile sizes and a revised layout that makes it easier to access frequently used settings.

Overall, Android 16 is shaping up to be an exciting update that brings a new level of expressiveness to the operating system. While there may be some limitations to the new design language, we're eager to see how Google will continue to evolve and improve it in future updates.