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Is the Separate Notifications and Quick Settings Panel Feature Right for Your Samsung Galaxy? Discover the Pros and Cons
Samsung Galaxy smartphones running One UI 6.1 and later offer a customizable experience for managing notifications and quick settings. This guide explains how to enable or disable the separate panels, similar to the interface found on Apple iPhones, and helps you decide which setup best suits your workflow.
Understanding the Panels
- Apple iPhone: Swiping down from the top-left reveals notifications; swiping from the top-right opens quick settings.
- Standard Android: A single swipe from the top displays a combined panel for both notifications and quick settings. A second swipe expands quick settings further.
- Samsung Galaxy (One UI 6.1+): Now includes the option to separate these panels, mimicking the iPhone experience.
Key Feature Highlights
- Available on Samsung devices with One UI 6.1 and above.
- Default setting: Combined panel in One UI 6.1; separate panels in One UI 7.0.
- Users can toggle between combined and separate panels based on preference.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Swipe down from the top of your Samsung phone to access the notifications or quick settings panel.
- Swipe down again to fully expand the panel. Locate the pencil (Edit) icon at the top-right, near the power and settings buttons.
- Tap the pencil icon to enter the quick settings layout editor.
- Select “Quick settings instant access.”
- Toggle the option:
- Enable for separate notifications and quick settings panels (iPhone-style).
- Disable to return to the combined panel.
Tips
- On any Android device, swiping down with two fingers from the top gives direct access to the expanded quick settings panel.
- The “Quick settings instant access” option is only available on devices with One UI 6.1 or newer.
Benefits of Separate Panels
- Faster access to notifications or quick settings, depending on swipe direction.
- Cleaner interface for users who prefer distinct areas for notifications and controls.
When to Use Combined Panel
- If you prefer a unified view for all alerts and settings.
- If you find the separate panels unintuitive or less efficient.
Samsung’s flexible approach lets you tailor your notification and quick settings experience. Whether you want an iPhone-like separation or a classic Android combined panel, the process is straightforward and user-controlled.