How to Enable System UI Settings on any Android 9 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow device

Updated: As we know, Google released Android 10 for the Google Pixel series along with the AOSP source and the GSI (generic system image) builds as well. This means Android 10 will come to more third-party OEM smartphones including OnePlus, Xiaomi, Samsung Galaxy, Sony Xperia, Oppo, Vivo, Asus ZenFone, and more. The following tutorial also works on the latest Android 10, Android 9 Pie, 8.1/8.0 Oreo, 7.1.1/7.0 Nougat, and 6.0.1 Marshmallow as well. Go through the same same tutorial below.

Original: System UI Tuner is the notorious hidden menu on the Android operating system that features various Status Bar tweaks. It usually comes under the System UI activities and termed System UI Demo Mode. This activity was first introduced in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. However, in later versions, the options were well hidden. System UI Tuner has been reintroduced in Android 9 Pie and easily accessible.

The basic System UI Tuner can help you enable or disable the Status Bar icons and DND options. However, the advanced app we have listed below gives you additional features and functionalities to tweak Android system without root. These include enabling or disabling Status bar icons, disable heads up notifications, quick tiles settings, and much more. So see how to enable Androidโ€™s System UI Tuner on any device running Android 9 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Lollipop, and Marshmallow.

Enable/Disable Status Bar Icons on Android 10/9 Pie with System UI Tuner Settings

As we told you earlier, the System UI settings are hidden. All you need to do is enable it by creating an activity on your Android 9 Pie running device. For that, you will need to download a simple application called Nova Launcher or Quick Shortcut Maker.

Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher
Developer: TeslaCoil Software
Price: Free
  • Now, keep Nova Launcher installed on your device. You do not need to apply the launcher. You can use your stock launcher as well.
  • Press and hold onto the home screen and choose โ€œWidgets.โ€
  • Scroll and search for Nova Launcher widget.
  • Select the widgets.
  • Select widget called โ€œActivitiesโ€.
  • Scroll and find the System UI option.
  • Select this option and choose โ€œSystem UI demo modeโ€ at the bottom.
  • An app activity will be created on the Home Screen.
  • Launch it and select โ€œStatus barโ€.

You now have access to the

Alternatively, you can also download the Quick Shortcut Maker app which does the same thing as activities in Nova.

QuickShortcutMaker
QuickShortcutMaker
Developer: sika524
Price: Free

Note: If you want advanced functionalities while tweaking System UI, see the tutorial below.

A lot of manufacturers seem to be disabling the built-in Android System UI tuner. System UI Tuner.

With the System UI Tuner APK, you get more tweaking options including:

โ€“ Customize the appearance of Icons in status bar.
โ€“ Customize Demo Mode
โ€“ Customize notifications.
โ€“ Enable hidden features on Android system.
โ€“ Toggle Immersive Mode
โ€“ Change Quick Settings options.
โ€“ Customize animation speeds

Note that, this app wonโ€™t work on MIUI ROMS, and Samsung firmware based on Marshmallow. TouchWiz on Android 7.0 Nougat may have some problems. However, Samsung Experience 9.0 Oreo firmware works perfectly fine!

Android 10 Theming: Change Accent Color, Fonts, and Icon Shape

Not many of you may have noticed but Android 10 features various theming options. This is because the Theming settings are hidden under Developer options. All you need to do is

  • Enable Developer Options under Settings. To enable, tap on the build number under About Phone for about 7 times.
  • Go to Settings > System > Developer Options
  • Scroll to the end to get Theming settings.
  • Under Theming you will find options like Accent colors, Headline / Body font, and Icon Shape.

Download SystemUI Tuner app to Tweak Android Oreo or earlier

This app is an advanced System UI Tuner. It not only enable the functionality to enable or disable status bar icons, but also help you change the grids and order of Quick Settings panel. However, this app requires special access (root privileges). These permissions can be easily enabled using ADB command on any Android device (root or non-root).

SystemUI Tuner
SystemUI Tuner
Developer: Zachary Wander
Price: Free+
  • Make sure you have Setup ADB and Fastboot Environment on your PC or computer.
  • Connect your Android phone to computer via USB cable.
  • Open a Command Prompt (cmd) or terminal on your computer.
  • Enter following commands in the terminal to enable the SystemUI Tuner app.

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.DUMP

Note: Simply copy paste these code in your terminal.

  • Once done, launch the app again.

Screenshot 20180809 182745 SystemUI Tuner min Screenshot 20180809 182801 SystemUI Tuner min Screenshot 20180809 182859 SystemUI Tuner min

Bonus: How to disable Heads Up Notifications?

  • Setup System UI tuner app from above. (Second tutorial)
  • Launch the app.
  • Go to Miscellaneous tab.
  • Toggle Heads Up Notifications to off.
  • Add the heads-up notification tile in quick settings.
  • Enable or disable it anytime from quick settings panel.

How to Enable System UI settings in Android Nougat, Lollipop, Marshmallow or earlier?

  • Enable Developer Options in settings. Go to Settings > About Phoneย > tap onย Build Numberย 7 times.
  • To enable the System UI Tuner on Marshmallow,
  • Go to the Quick Settings panel. Swipe down from status bar.
  • Press and hold onto the settings icon (gear icon) on top-right corner.
  • ย A toast message will appearย saying System UI Tuner has been unlocked.
  • Go to settings and access the System UI Tuner option at the end.

Happy tweaking!


Sarang Avatar

2 responses


  1. Steviant Avatar
    Steviant

    Quick Shortcut Maker doesn’t work on modern versions of Android. Thanks for wasting my time asshole.

  2. Ned Frankly Avatar
    Ned Frankly

    Very helpful – exactly the info I needed to turn off the “Volume Warning” on my Note 9. Bravo, thank you for taking the time to share this!

Leave a Reply