Android 11 adds a very practical new feature: Universal, persistent audio and video playback controls are coming to Quick Settings. These playback controls are no longer tied to running apps. Unlike the playback controls that appear in notifications in some apps like YouTube or Spotify. The new reading controls completely replace this system of reading controls in notifications.
The reading controls offered in current Android versions are still clearly visible when the smartphone is locked. For now, this functionality has been noticed: Our colleagues at Android Headlinesit appears only after a few manipulations. It is likely that these controls will be available by default in the general public version of the operating system. To enable it on a smartphone with Developer Preview Android 11:
- Go to: System Settings
- Go About the phone
- Tap the build number 7 times
- Go to: Developer options
- You should see an option titled “Media summary” – activate
- The new playback controls should then appear in the panel Quick settings
Having the controls permanently in the same place simplifies the use of the smartphone: the existing notification system works, but since the controls are not available in all applications and you have to look for the playback controls in a notification, among others, their use is much less intuitive than a permanent control panel and results in the same gestures every time.
And these kinds of persistent controls have already been present on many iterations of the iPhone. The playback buttons are located on a pad in Control Center that, when long-pressed, provides access to more advanced controls, such as selecting the audio output.
