When Google introduced Android 12 in 2021, the company made a subtle but deeply polarizing design decision. The familiar one-tap Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles were removed from Quick Settings and replaced with a single, expandable “Internet” tile. Google framed the change as a simplification—one control for all connectivity. For millions of power users, however, it felt like a step backward.
Now, nearly five years later, Google appears to be reconsidering that decision.
Evidence buried in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code strongly suggests that Google is preparing to reintroduce separate Quick Settings tiles for Wi-Fi and mobile data in a future Android 16 release. If confirmed, this would represent a rare and meaningful reversal by Google—one that underscores how user behavior, not just design theory, ultimately shapes successful operating systems.
The Original Rationale Behind the Internet Tile
Before Android 12, toggling connectivity was straightforward. A swipe down, a tap, and Wi-Fi or mobile data would instantly turn on or off. This workflow was especially valuable for users managing weak networks, conserving battery life, or avoiding unnecessary mobile data usage.
Google’s decision to consolidate these toggles into a single Internet tile was not arbitrary. Internal research revealed a recurring user mistake: people frequently turned off Wi-Fi to force mobile data, then forgot to turn Wi-Fi back on later. This resulted in unexpected data charges and higher usage.
The Internet Panel was designed to solve that problem by allowing users to switch active networks without disabling radios entirely. From a mass-market usability perspective, the change made sense. Android serves billions of users across vastly different technical skill levels, and minimizing costly mistakes is a legitimate design goal.
Yet usability for beginners came at the expense of efficiency for experienced users.
Why Power Users Never Accepted the Change
For long-time Android enthusiasts, the new Internet tile introduced friction where none previously existed. Actions that once required a single tap now required two. Over time, this added friction became symbolic of a larger concern—that Android was sacrificing granular control in favor of abstraction.
The backlash was immediate and persistent. Forums, issue trackers, and social media were filled with complaints. Third-party developers stepped in, creating apps that restored separate toggles using elevated permissions or ADB commands. These solutions worked, but they were far from ideal, excluding less technical users and introducing security tradeoffs.
Google remained publicly committed to the Internet Panel, and by Android 13, early workarounds were effectively blocked. For years, there was no indication that Google planned to revisit the decision.
That silence may finally be ending.
What the Android 16 Code Reveals
With the release of Android 16 QPR2 source code, developers uncovered two critical changes submitted earlier in the year. One introduces a dedicated “Mobile Data” Quick Settings tile capable of toggling cellular connectivity directly. The other adds a Wi-Fi tile with its own toggle functionality.
Interestingly, Google appears to be handling the transition cautiously. The new Wi-Fi tile is still labeled “Internet” in the code and continues to display information about the active non-Wi-Fi connection when Wi-Fi is not the default. Internal comments suggest this is part of a gradual migration away from the so-called “Provider Model,” Google’s internal name for the Internet Panel system.
At the heart of these changes is a feature flag named qs_split_internet_tile, which explicitly describes splitting the Internet tile into separate Wi-Fi and Mobile Data controls.
As of now, the flag remains disabled in Android 16 QPR3 Beta and Canary builds, indicating the feature is still under development and not yet user-facing.
Why This Reversal Is Significant
Google rarely walks back major interface decisions, especially ones that affect core system navigation. When it does, it usually signals strong evidence that the original change failed to meet real-world expectations.
This potential reversal reflects a broader trend in Android’s evolution. In recent years, Google has shown greater willingness to accommodate advanced users without overwhelming newcomers. Features like granular permission controls, deeper customization options, and expanded developer settings all point to a more flexible Android philosophy.
Restoring separate connectivity toggles would acknowledge that efficiency matters just as much as error prevention—and that one-size-fits-all design doesn’t always scale.
Implications for Pixel and OEM Devices
One open question is whether Google intends to deploy this change universally or reserve it for OEM partners. Some manufacturers never fully adopted the Internet Panel, opting instead to maintain separate toggles in their custom Android skins.
However, given Pixel’s role as Google’s reference platform, it is unlikely that such a fundamental UI change would bypass Pixel devices entirely. More plausibly, Google may offer both approaches, allowing users or OEMs to choose which model best suits their audience.
If that happens, Android would gain something it has always excelled at: choice.
A Small Change With Outsized Impact
At first glance, this story is about two toggles. In reality, it is about how platforms mature. As Android enters its second decade, its user base is more diverse than ever—from first-time smartphone owners to developers who demand precision and speed.
Reintroducing separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles would not undo the Internet Panel entirely. Instead, it would coexist as an option, recognizing that different users solve connectivity problems in different ways.
In platform design, listening is just as important as leading. Google’s apparent willingness to listen again may be one of Android 16’s most meaningful updates.
FAQs
1. What change is Google considering in Android 16?
Google may restore separate Wi-Fi and mobile data Quick Settings toggles.
2. When were the toggles originally removed?
They were replaced by a combined Internet tile in Android 12.
3. Why did Google merge the toggles originally?
To reduce user mistakes that caused excessive mobile data usage.
4. Where was evidence of the reversal found?
In Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code for Android 16 QPR2.
5. Are the new toggles live yet?
No, they are currently hidden behind a disabled feature flag.
6. Will this appear on Pixel phones?
Most likely, though Google has not officially confirmed rollout plans.
7. Can users currently restore the toggles?
Only through third-party apps requiring elevated permissions.
8. What is the Provider Model?
Google’s internal system behind the Internet Panel design.
9. Does this mean the Internet Panel is going away?
Not immediately; Google appears to be transitioning gradually.
10. Why does this matter to Android users?
It improves efficiency, control, and respects long-standing user workflows.