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Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now

Mar 29, 2016 05:02 PM
Mobile phone displaying settings menu on screen.

When Android N is officially released sometime later this year, it will bring a lot of cool new features along with it. We've already had the chance to play around with some of these, thanks to a preview build available to Android beta testers, and one change that we like in particular is a revamped Settings menu. Among other things, each settings entry now has subtext beneath it that shows relevant info at a glance.

But the Android N preview is only available for newer Nexus devices, so for most folks, that means it will be a while before you can actually try it out. Luckily, though, developer MrWasdennnoch has created an Xposed module that will replicate features from Android N's Settings menu on older Android versions. So if you'd like to get a taste of things to come, I'll show you how to set it all up below.

Requirements

Enable Beta Modules in Xposed

As of this writing, the module that gives you Android N's Settings menu on older versions is still in its beta testing phases. As such, you'll need to set your Xposed Installer app to allow installation of beta modules.

To begin, head to the Settings section in your Xposed Installer app, then tap the "Versions to be shown" entry. From here, use the pop-up menu to set this to "Beta," and you'll be all set.

Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Settings screen showing installation options and preferences on a mobile device.
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Settings screen showing installation options and preferences on a mobile device.
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now

Install Android N-Ify

Next, head to the Download section of your Xposed Installer app and search for "Android N-ify," then tap the top result. From there, swipe over to the Versions tab, then hit the "Download" button next to the most recent entry. Within a few seconds, Android's installer interface should come up, so tap "Install" when you see this screen.

Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now
Get Android N's Redesigned Settings Menu on Your Android Right Now

Finally, once the module has been installed successfully, make sure to activate and reboot before proceeding.

Check Out the Revamped Settings Menu

After rebooting, no further setup is needed. Just open Android's Settings menu, and you'll notice the changes right away. Under each of the main categories, you'll see relevant bits of information about that entry—for instance, "Storage" will now tell you how much free space you have available without needing to enter the menu, and "Battery" will display the percentage remaining.

Mobile device settings menu with options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Data usage.
Settings menu on a mobile device displaying options for display, sound, storage, memory, and users.
Mobile device settings menu with options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Data usage.
Settings menu on a mobile device displaying options for display, sound, storage, memory, and users.

This is just the first version of Android N-ify, and more cool Android N features are being worked on as we speak. For instance, the developer plans to implement a few of Android N's new multitasking tweaks, as well as its "Dark Mode" feature, and an improved Doze mode—so make sure to keep an eye out for updates to the module.

Follow Android Hacks on Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter, for more Android tips and tricks.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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