How to make Android 12’s device control panel more accessible

One of the first things you may notice when you install Android 12 on your phone is that a prominent Android feature is no longer where you expect it to be.

i’m talking about device control panel Google was added to the operating system with the Android 11 version last year. The panel provides a useful set of commands that allow you to access and adjust all the smart lights and other connected gadgets installed in your home.

At least on Pixel phones, that panel would appear when you hold down your phone’s power button. But with Android 12 it is no longer part of the power button menu. But do not despair: it has not completely passed. It takes an extra step and a little preparation to reach it.

Reposition the control panel of your Android 12 device

First things first – follow that panel. In Android 12, the panel was moved from the power button menu to the Quick Settings area of ​​the operating system (which some device manufacturers, including Samsung, have already kept in Android 11).

By default, you’ll probably have to swipe down twice from the top of the screen and then swipe left once or twice to find it. But with about 60 seconds of setup you can move it to a much more convenient location:

• Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open the full Quick Settings area. If you already see a “Device controls” control in one of the first four spots in this menu, you’re all set. Otherwise, you’ll want to tweak a bit.
• Tap the pencil-shaped icon in the lower left corner of the Quick Settings area. If you’re using a non-Pixel phone, you may need to tap a three-line menu icon and look for an “Edit” command there instead.
• Find the “Device controls” tile, then hold it down and swipe up to one of the first four locations in the Quick Settings area.
• Tap the arrow in the upper left corner of the screen to save and exit.

Now that the option is in a more prominent position, it is always just one Swipe down from the top of your screen instead of two.

Admittedly, it’s not quite as convenient as the old power button placement, but it’s a step in the right direction – and it’s the best you can do at this point.