Android 16's New Quick Settings Revives One-Tap Do Not Disturb Shortcut

Among the many visual updates in Android 16, there are also some functional changes, including the return of a one-tap Do Not Disturb function in the Quick Settings.

When Google added Modes to Android 15 last year, the company also changed the Quick Settings to remove a dedicated “Do Not Disturb” toggle. Instead, users need to tap on the “Modes” shortcut and then select Do Not Disturb from the list. It’s a bit cumbersome, but Google has found a middle ground in Android 16 QPR1.

The first beta of Android’s next release – which brings the Material 3 Expressive redesign – includes a revamped Quick Settings UI that brings a two-fold purpose to the “Modes” button. If you tap the name or anywhere on the right-side majority of the toggle, you’ll open the Modes menu. But if you just tap on the icon to the left side, you’ll immediately jump into Do Not Disturb.

The quicker gesture is much appreciated, though it does depend on your preferences. You’ll need to have the “Duration for Quick Settings” turned to “until you turn off” or “For X hour” in the Do Not Disturb mode’s settings, as “Ask Every Time” will show a pop-up. Still, it’s a lot faster than it is in Android 15.

The same change has been applied to the Bluetooth toggle. Tapping the icon just turns it on or off, while tapping the rest of the button opens a menu. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the “Internet” button.