Android Guides

How to use system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow?

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Everything you need know about the hidden feature of system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0. You can use system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow to customize the quick settings menu, status bar and turn the phone into demo mode.

What is system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow? Why is it hidden?

Like previous versions of Android, Android Marshmallow 6.0 also has a few hidden features.

These hidden features are usually not ready for public release, although they are usually stable enough. Sometimes, they are also different from beta features because beta features will be very likely released publicly in the future.

However, hidden features are more or less for testing. They may be removed from future releases, or incorporated into other features.

System UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 is definitely one of the most interesting hidden features in Android 6.0. And Google actually wants you to try it.

With system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0, you can:

  • customize the quick settings menu;
  • customize status bar;
  • use demo mode.
  • enable embedded battery percentage (in the battery icon in status bar).

Please note,  because system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 is a hidden feature, some Android vendors may choose to remove them.

Update: in Android Nougat, you can customize quick settings panel directly without going through system UI tuner.

In other words, the feature of customizing quick settings panel in system UI tuner was a formal feature in Android Nougat.

How to enable system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow?

To enable system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0, you may follow these steps:

Step 1: Access quick settings

Identical to the two methods of accessing quick settings in Android Lollipop, you can access quick settings in Android Marshmallow with one of the following two methods:

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen with 2 fingers;
  2. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice with one finger.

Step 2: Tap and hold the gear icon

Once quick settings panel is accessed , tap and hold the gear icon as shown below.

The gear icon will then rotate. You can release your finger from the gear icon when it rotates.

Now, you should be directed to Settings page with a pop out message (as shown below in the screenshot):

Congrats! System UI Tuner has been added to Settings.

Please note, if you release your finger from gear icon too early (without seeing the icon is rotating), you will simply brought to Settings page without enabling system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow. You have to try again.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_1_quick_settings use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_2_enable_system_ui_tuner

Step 3: Check system UI tuner in Settings

Now in Settings page, you can find one additional entry for  system UI tuner below About phone as shown below.

This  means you have successfully enabled  system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0. You can use this feature now.

In addition, once system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow is enabled, you will see a small wrench next to the gear icon as shown below.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_2a_gear_icon change

If you cannot find the system UI tuner entry in Settings page, you may try the procedure again.

Please note, Android vendors may remove this feature as mentioned earlier.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_3_enable_system_ui_tuner_settings use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_4_system_ui_tuner_options

Features of system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0

In Settings page,  tap System UI Tuner as shown above.

In System UI Tuner page, you can find system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 offers 4 features as shown in the screenshot above:

  1. customize the quick settings menu;
  2. customize status bar;
  3. use demo mode;
  4. enable embedded battery percentage (in the battery icon in status bar).

When you access system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 first time, you will get the following welcome message as shown below:

Fun for some but not for all

System UI Tuner gives you extra ways to tweak and customize the Android user interface. These experimental features may change, break, or disappear in future releases. Proceed with caution.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_5_warning

How to use system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow to customize quick settings?

To customize quick settings with system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow, you need tap Quick settings in Settings — system UI tuner (illustrated as 1 in screenshot above)

Now you can:

  • delete any items from quick settings page.  If you tap and hold the icon, the add tile icon will change to a dustbin. You can then drag the item to the dustbin to remove it from the quick settings.
  • re-arrange the location of all items by tapping, holding, then dragging the item to the desired location.
  • add your own items. This is for developers, not for users.

Please note, some items may not be shown in your quick settings even you can see them in system UI tuner page. You need enable the corresponding features in Settings once.  These features include:

  • Invert colors;
  • Rotation locked;
  • Hotspot.

For example, for Invert colors, you need enable it at least once in Settings — Accessibility— Color inversion.   You only need enable it once, then disable it. After this, you should be able to find it in your quick settings page.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_6_customize_quick_settingsuse_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_7_customize_status_bar

How to use system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow to customize status bar?

You can also customize the status bar (top of the screen) with system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0.

In Settings — system UI tuner page, tap Status bar (illustrated as 2 in the screenshot above).

You will then be given the options to remove some items from status bar as shown above.

Please note, you cannot add your own icons. All notification icons corresponding to individual apps are always shown in the top left side.

What’s demo mode in system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow?

In Settings — system UI tuner page, you can find another feature called demo mode.

Demo mode, if enabled,  will hide all notifications from status bar. All incoming notifications will appear temporarily as heads-up notifications.

In addition, in demo mode, in status bar, battery is always shown as 100%, WiFi and cellular signal as full bars, and clock to 6:00 (because it is Android 6.0!), as shown below.

This is very helpful for developers to take screenshots.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_8_demo_mode

I messed up quick settings in system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow, how can I reset it?

If you mess up the quick settings in system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0, you can simply reset it.

To reset the quick settings in system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow, you can tap the menu button (3 vertical dots) in Settings— System UI tuner — Quick Settings, as shown below.

Then tap Reset as shown below.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_9_reset_quick_settings use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_10_reset_quick_settings

How to hide system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow?

If you want, you can hide hide system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0.

In Settings—System UI Tuner page, tap menu button (3 vertical dots) as shown below.

Then tap  Remove from settings as shown below.

Now, you will get a pop out notification:

Remove System UI Tuner from Settings and stop sing all of its features

Tap Remove to as shown below to hide system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 and remove this feature.

use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_11_hide_system_ui_tuner use_system_UI_tuner_in_Android_Marshmallow_12_hide_system_ui_tuner

Can you use system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 to tweak your phone?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems on using  system UI tuner in Android Marshmallow 6.0 to customize quick settings, to tweak status bar or to enable demo mode, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

For any questions or problems with Android Marshmallow, please check our Android Marshmallow Guide page.

If your question is about Android Lollipop, please check out Android Lollipop Guide page.

For questions on Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check Android Nougat guides page.

For other Android questions or problems, please check Android 101 page.



Comments

  1. I have an HTC one m9 on Android marshmallow and I believe that HTC removed the system ui tuner from their build. Would anyone know of a way to hack it back into place?

    Reply

  2. Looks like it’s the same with the Galaxy S7 – at least, it doesn’t show up when you follow any of the guides I’ve found online.

    Reply

  3. Pls my battery is not charging 100% anyone after i upgraded from lollipop to marshmallow, its stop at 89%

    Reply

  4. After taping long time on gear icon, icon is not rotating and system ui tuner is not worked for me in Moto x Play

    Reply

  5. On my moto x style I hold the gear till it spins then give it a quick tap and that gets it. Had to try a few times.

    Reply

  6. Hello i have samsung S5 and after updating it to marshmallow, now im not able to find the quick setting menu on the top….when i pull down the menu the only option i get is sfinder & quick connect….even after going to settings i see the option active button ut its like deactivated no changes if i press it, then suddenly i get this popup saying the setting has stopped working…please help me out how i can get the quick setting back.

    Reply

  9. Hey guys, the same issue on HTC 10, holding the cog icon for many seconds doesn’t enable System UI Tuner:(
    Any info on this on your side?

    Reply

  10. The mobile data option from the quick settings is removed. Can’t get it even after resetting the quick settings in system UI tuner. Need urgent help pls

    Reply

  11. There is no “gear-shaped settings button” in status bar.
    Neither there is no such an option for UI tuner in my developer options.
    And major problem after update the mobile is not showing the notifications,
    The notification bell rangs and as soon i drag the status bar there will be no such a word of notification, it displays “No Notifications”.

    Reply

  13. The System UI Tuner menu changes over time as Google adds or removes features, so it’s worth checking out again whenever you get an update to Android.

    Reply

  15. Hi. I am using moto g4 plus , I have enabled Ui settings, Now i am facing a problem , whenever i listen to music through head set i am unable to increase the volume , when i increase the volume its showing Unfortunately, system UI stoped. pls help me

    Reply

  16. hello I enabled the system ui tuner then disable it again now i cant enable it again. i am using a day old moto g4 plus

    Reply

  18. Kindly help me to enable system ui tunner in Samsung Galaxy j2 pro. I have tried by holding the gear botton but its not rotating nor working.

    Reply

  19. I have had the setting enabled, and i disabled them and am now not able to re-enable them. I have tried the launcher download trick but it didnt work. Can anyone help, i know its there because ive had it enabled before on this phone, and have had no updated since i disabled it. (I have an Oukitel phone if this helps anything)

    Reply

  20. i have lyf wind 7 phone and I hv enabled system tuner all process hv been done but also I can’t find the tuner settings in phone..plz help me

    Reply

  24. I have Oppo A57 … I am not able to enable my UI tunner… my Android version is 6.0.1… kindly update the procedure..

    Reply

  26. I am Using MOTO M india version, i tried everything System UI feature is not working in my phone. Can you please verify

    Reply

  28. When I pull down my notification panel only the day and date is showing and not the time on note 4 marshmallow, on the other hand on note 3 lollipop all 3 are showing. Can email screenshot.

    Reply

  30. I think it is hilarious that people do not read before asking. So many times you said Samsung disabled it, and people keep asking.

    Reply

  32. I enabled system ui then i disabled it. But now when i tried to enable it again it doesn’t enable again. How do i enable system ui again?

    Reply

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