How to Turn On or Off Simplified Quick Settings on Windows 11?

Quick Settings (keyboard shortcut Windows + A) in Windows 11 lets you quickly access frequently used settings such as Accessibility, Airplane mode, Brightness, Volume, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Rotation lock, Battery saver, Night light, Mobile hotspot, Nearby sharing, Cast, and Project from the taskbar corner. When playing music or videos in Microsoft Edge or streaming music apps like Spotify, you will find media playback controls above the Quick Settings.

You can also add or remove Quick Settings items in Windows 11 based on your needs. When you enable the Simplify Quick Settings Layout policy, you will only see the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Accessibility buttons, the brightness and volume sliders, the battery indicator, and the Settings link. However, because the Edit Quick Settings option has been removed, you will be unable to add or remove the Quick Settings button. You can disable the simplified Quick Settings layout in the future if you want to add or remove Quick Settings items. This risewindows article will walk you through enabling and disabling the Simplified Quick Settings in Windows 11.

How to Enable or Disable Simplified Quick Settings in Windows 11 using Group Policy?

To enable simplified quick settings in Windows 11 via Group Policy, follow these steps:-

Step 1. First of all, open Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Then, steer for the following path in the left sidebar of Local Group Policy Editor:-

Computer Configuration > Administrator Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

Step 3. Now, on the right-hand side of “Start Menu and Taskbar,” double-click on the Simplify Quick Settings Layout policy to edit it.

Step 4. Then, select Enabled button.

Step 5. After that, click on the Apply button.

Step 6. Now, click on the OK button.

Step 7. Finally, restart File Explorer or reboot your Windows 11 computer to apply the changes.

When you finish the preceding steps and click on the volume, Wi-Fi, or battery icon in the system tray or press the Windows + A hotkey to open Quick Settings, you will notice that the Quick Settings layout has tiny buttons.

If you want to disable simplified Quick Settings in Windows 11, go back to step 4 above and select the Not Configured option. 

How to Turn On or Off Simplified Quick Settings in Windows 11 through Registry Editor?

If Local Group Policy Editor is not a part of your Windows 11 operating system or you prefer to use Registry Editor to apply the policy, use these steps:-

Step 1. First of all, open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Then, navigate to the following key on the left side of the Registry Editor window:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Step 3. Now, right-click on the Explorer folder and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 4. Next, name the newly created REG_DWORD to SimplifyQuickSettings.Step 5. After that, double-click on the SimplifyQuickSettings REG_DWORD and set its “Value data” to 1.

Step 6. Further, click on the OK button.

Step 7. At last, reboot your computer to enable the simplified quick settings in Windows 11.

Browse to the following path on the left side of Registry Editor to disable the Simplified Quick Settings:-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Right-click on SimplifyQuickSettings REG DWORD on the opposite side of the Explorer folder and select Delete. When prompted, select Yes.

That’s all! All Quick Settings buttons will be active after restarting your PC.

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