One of the notable announcements from Google I/O 2025 was the introduction of Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, which features the ability to resize Quick Settings tiles as part of the Material 3 Expressive redesign. This new functionality appears to enhance user experience significantly. However, it does come with a minor downside that may inconvenience some users: when tiles are resized to a smaller size, their labels are removed. In Android 15, each Quick Settings tile is clearly labeled, making it easy to identify functions, such as the auto-rotate tile that displays the label alongside its icon.

In contrast, the smaller tiles in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 lose these labels, which might not present an issue for experienced users. However, individuals who do not frequently use these tiles may struggle to recognize what each tile represents without the accompanying label. Fortunately, it appears that Google is addressing this concern and plans to implement a solution in the forthcoming Android 16 release. As reported, the labels for these Quick Settings tiles will be relocated to the bottom of the Quick Settings panel.

When users tap on a smaller tile, the corresponding label will briefly appear in the active apps bar, which resembles a pill-shaped Google Search bar widget at the bottom left of the screen. Although it may be easy to overlook initially, once users are aware of the bar’s presence, they can conveniently identify the tile functions. This new feature differentiates Android 16’s Quick Settings from that of Android 15, as the active apps bar is a new addition. While it remains uncertain whether this feature will be available on day one with the stable release of Android 16, it is unlikely that Google would exclude such a useful improvement for users who prefer smaller tiles to maximize space within the Quick Settings panel.