Your phone’s screen is your window to the world. With Android 16, Google changed how that window looks using a new style called Material 3 Expressive. A big part of this new look is a blur effect. You might see it when you pull down your settings, check your notifications, or switch between apps.
This blur can look soft and modern. The idea is to help your eyes focus on the main task by making the background less distracting. It adds a sense of depth, like looking through frosted glass. While many people enjoy this new, stylish feel, it is not for everyone.
Some find the blur makes it harder to read text, especially for important alerts in the notification panel. Others notice that their phone’s battery drains a little faster or that the device feels a bit slower. If you feel this way, you are not alone. You have control over how your phone looks and works. You can turn the blur off, and you do not have to sacrifice your phone’s performance to do it.
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Understanding the Blur and Why You Might Disable It
The blur effect in Android 16 is a core part of its updated design. It shows up in many places you use every day:
- The Quick Settings panel
- The notification area
- The app drawer
- The recent apps screen
- The lock screen
The main goal of this design is to keep your attention on what is in front, making the background fade away gently. However, this visual feature comes with a few downsides that might make you want to change it.
Readability Issues
For some users, the blurred background can make text look fuzzy and difficult to read. This is a big problem for people who need clear text for accessibility reasons.
Battery Use
The blur effect needs extra work from your phone’s graphics processor. While it might not be a huge power hog, every little bit counts. Android even turns this feature off automatically when you enable Battery Saver mode, which shows that it does use a noticeable amount of energy.
Performance
On some phones, especially older or less powerful models, running the blur effect can cause small stutters or lag. Turning it off can make your phone feel faster and more responsive.
Personal Taste
You might simply prefer a cleaner, more straightforward look without the blur.
How to Turn Off the Blur in Android 16
There are a couple of ways to get rid of the blur. One way involves a trade-off, while the other is a hidden setting that gives you exactly what you want.
The Battery Saver Method (And Its Downsides)
The quickest way to disable the blur is to turn on your phone’s Battery Saver mode. Because the blur consumes extra power, this mode automatically switches it off to save energy.
However, this is not an ideal solution. Battery Saver mode does more than just turn off the blur. It also limits other functions, like apps running in the background and certain notifications, which can change how your phone works day-to-day. It is a good temporary fix if your battery is low, but not a great permanent one.
The Developer Options Method (The Best Solution)
For a permanent fix that doesn’t affect other phone features, you can use a hidden setting. This requires you to first unlock a special menu called “Developer options.” It sounds technical, but it is very simple to do.
- Enable Developer Options: Open your phone’s Settings app. Scroll all the way down and tap on About phone. Find the item called Build number and tap on it seven times in a row. You will see a small message pop up telling you, “You are now a developer!“.
- Find the Blur Setting: Go back to the main Settings page. Tap on System, and you should now see Developer options in the list. Tap on it to open the new menu.
- Turn Off the Blur: Inside Developer options, you will see a long list of settings. You can scroll down until you find the toggle labeled Allow window-level blurs. This switch controls the blur effect across the entire system. Turn this toggle off.
That’s it. The change should happen right away. You will notice that the backgrounds in your Quick Settings and other areas are now solid and clear instead of blurry. For the change to apply everywhere, restarting your phone is a good idea.
Good News: An Easier Switch Is on the Way
Google has listened to feedback from users who find the blur effect challenging. In a recent interview, a top Google executive confirmed that they are adding a simple, user-friendly toggle in the regular settings to turn the blur off. This new option is being added specifically to help with accessibility and give users more choice.
This feature was not available in early test versions of Android 16 but is expected to roll out in a future update. Making a new setting available to everyone involves careful testing and design, but it shows a commitment to making sure Android works for everybody. When this update arrives, you will be able to control the blur without needing to go into the Developer options menu.
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