Android 12 brought many changes compared to it’s predecessor, and most of these changes are UI changes, design changes and under-the-hood improvements. In Android 12, there is a new internet toggle in the quick settings panel, which replaces the Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles present in previous versions, which many of you were used to. In this article, we will show you a tutorial on how to get back that Wi-Fi and mobile data toggle and the best part is that it does not require root access.
The Challenge with Android 12’s New Toggle
For many, this change to Android 12 has made the simple task of enabling Wi-Fi or mobile data to become an extra step instead of directly enabling them. Users must go through another tap to enable Wi-Fi or mobile data services. Many had hoped that it would have reverted before the stable release of Android 12 but that is not the case.
Google’s Response
Google has also responded to this situation and has given it’s reasons behind the change . As a result, Google says that many people simply forget to enable the Wi-Fi back on. This has resulted in excess mobile data usage and this change in Android 12 is a way to work around this common issue for users.
Whether those user studies relate to you or not, Google seems to have forced this new toggle on all users. But there is a way to get this toggles back. Again, this does not require root access but the process requires an ADB command.
Reinstating Traditional Toggles Without Root Access
Preparing Your PC
- You need a PC to install ADB and the fast boot tools, and then connect your device to the PC via a USB cable.
- Open this link to download and install the ADB and Fast Boot program. It is an XDA thread link of the developer of the program.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see Downloads and click on “Installer” under the downloads.
- Once you download the program, you should get an .exe file like other Windows software and tools.
- Double-click the .exe ADB file that you just downloaded and install the program like other programs on Windows.
Establishing a Connection
Connect Your Android Device: Once you have ADB and a fast boot tools set up on your PC, you have to connect your phone with a USB cable to your PC.
Executing ADB Commands
Open ADB and Fastboot Tool: Open the ADB and Fastboot tool you just installed on your PC. If you created a shortcut on your desktop while installing it, you can use that as well to open the tool.
When you open the tool, a command prompt will appear in the same folder where you installed the ADB and fast boot tool.
The command prompt, terminal, or Windows PowerShell needs to be opened in the same folder as your ADB and fast boot tools files.
So, our Android 12 device is connected to the PC with a USB cable. We are going to test that connection with an ADB device command.
Type adb device in the command prompt and hit enter. If your device is not listed, then make sure that you have USB debugging mode enabled and then run that command again.
You will continue running this adb devices command until you are sure that you have a device registered with that USB cable.
Next, we need to go into an adb shell, and we do that by typing the command adb shell and then pressing enter on the keyboard.
Apply the ADB Command: Once we have entered an adb shell, we’re either going to type out or paste this command setting put secure sysui_qs_tiles “Wi-Fi, cell,$(settings get secure sysui_qs_tiles)” in the command prompt.
Check that this command is correct when you paste it or type it in the command prompt.
So again, you can either type all of that out or copy and paste it with a right-click, and then again, go back and make sure all of the letters and symbols are correct.
After that, press Enter on the keyboard and it should simply bring you down to another adb shell prompt.
You shouldn’t get an error message or a success message. It should bring you back to another shell prompt.
Results and Compatibility
Now, we can return to the phone and open the quick settings panel. This time, we have a Wi-Fi toggle, mobile data toggle, and an internet toggle separately.
The Internet toggle still works the same as before, but the Wi-Fi toggle works as you expected.
We have tested all of this on our Google Pixel 4a and we hope this process will work on other older pixel devices that have been upgraded to Android 12.
We have also heard that this process won’t work you have done a clean install of Android 12.
This trick may only work if you have updated Android 11 to Android 12. However, we also see people with a Google Pixel 6 device saying this worked for them.
Conclusion
While Google’s new toggle design, Android 12 aims to address common user behaviors, this guide provides a workaround for those who prefer the direct toggle functionality for Wi-Fi and mobile data. This enhances user control and convenience.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issue
