Following widespread backlash from Android users, tech giant Google is reconsidering a controversial change it made to the Android interface: merging Wi-Fi and mobile data controls into a single Internet tile in the Quick Settings panel.
This change was introduced with Android 12, replacing separate buttons for managing Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, which allowed quick access to internet connectivity options with just one click.
Although Google’s intention was to simplify network management, the combined tile was criticized for adding friction to routine actions.
Users and developers are frustrated because the unified Internet tile requires a secondary menu to open and manage individual connections, making the process slower and less convenient compared to the previous setup.
Initially, it seemed that Google would not reverse this decision. However, following the recent release of Android 16 QPR2, clues are surfacing suggesting a potential reversion.
Michael Bestas, lead developer at LineageOS, spotted clues in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) that Google may be considering splitting the Internet tile into separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles.
Although this feature is not yet active in current Android beta versions, its presence in the system code means that Google is seriously considering changing it.
The development could deliver a more user-friendly Android experience, returning to the quick access that many Android users preferred before the Wi-Fi and mobile data buttons were merged.
