For the first time since its inception, the famously hidden System UI Tuner has to be unlocked in a new way. No longer can you long-press the gear icon (found in Quick Settings) until it spins and reveals the hidden settings option. With Android 9.0 Pie, there's a new workaround to reveal the menu.
For the unaware, System UI Tuner let you choose which icons to show in the status bar. For the majority of the icons, you can simply turn it off or on, but there are some additional controls for time and battery. It is a great tool to give you a bit more customization, and it cleans up unnecessary icons which crowd your status bar.
Step 1: Create a Widget
First, you'll need to create a widget using an activity launcher. There are dedicated activity launcher apps, but we've found most of them to be incompatible with Android Pie at this time. So your best bet is to use Nova Launcher, which includes an activity launcher feature.
With Nova opened, long-press the home screen and choose "Widgets." There is a section for widgets created by Nova Launcher, within it an option known as "Activities." Select this option, then scroll down and tap "System UI," then choose "System UI demo mode" at the bottom.
Step 2: Launch System UI Tuner
Next, tap the widget to launch the menu. You will be presented with two options, "Status bar" and "Do not disturb." The former will manage which icons appear on the status bar.
To disable any status bar option, simply turn off the toggle switch next to it. Battery and Time are the only two options without a toggle. Battery opens a popup menu with options on whether to display the battery percentage only during charging or always. Time will launch a popup menu where you have the option to display not just hours and minutes, but seconds as well.
Under "Do not disturb," there is only one option: "Volume buttons shortcut." When disabled, you won't be able to enter DND mode by lowering the volume to zero, then pressing volume down one more time.
While System UI Tuner isn't as robust as it once was, it still offers great tools when it comes to customizing your Android experience. Although it has a new method to access, it is still worth unlocking to clean up your status bar and to prevent accidental activation of Do Not Disturb mode.
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15 Comments
I tried this and it worked...temporarily. After I got back into the system ui tuner menu, it still has the option to hide the clock but it doesn't seem to matter. The clock is always there. Is there a way to force the system to permanently hide it? I never had this issue on Oreo.
Is there a specific action you take before it occurs again? For example, does it come back after a certain amount of time? Does it come back after you restart the device?
One specific action that brings the time back into the status bar, after it has been turned off using the method this article describes, is swiping down from the top of the screen (i.e. going into the quick access menu or whatever that is called when you swipe down from the top of the home screen)
I have the same issue. If I expand notifications, the screen locks or I receive a new notification, the clock comes back.
I haven't found a permanent solution so far be give me some time to continue looking. I will post any solution in the comment section.
Please do!
For Samsung users, check out the comment below. This one will work. For non-Samsung devices, you can also try using this app: SystemUI Tuner
John Knight, please also note that on my Pixel 2 XL, the "Volume buttons shortcut" toggle under DND does nothing. It doesn't matter if you leave it on or off. You are unable to enter into DND mode by lowering the volume to zero, then pressing volume down one more time.
Tried this, cannot get it to work on my Samsung Galaxy Note 8. When I try to open it I get "System UI stopped" or "System UI keeps stopping" messages.
My Samsung S8 updated to Android 9 today and like the others, I don't need nor want the time showing in the notification bar. After following the steps in this guide, I'm getting the same result as The Outworkder - "System UI keeps stopping"
It would be nice if there was a way to get this to work.
I have found a work around. Go to the galaxy app store, download the good lock app. From there download the quick star plugin. Open it and it gives you the option to reposition the clock or hide it all together. It also let's you pick which icons show in the notification panel.
I cannot find an app named "Good Lock" in the Samsung app store for the Galaxy S10
Thanks RAE C. That solution would work.
Hi guys, can access system ui tuner widget from Nova launcher on my Galaxy Note 4, Android version 6.0.1 but there is no system ui demo at the bottom. I want to remove/hide wifi icon from status bar. Any other workarounds or suggest best/safest app to download that works with Nova launcher? Cheers.
Whoops, forgot to say System UI Tuner not accessible via standard methods in system setting or press and holding settings cog for wrench to appear.
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