How to access Quick Settings on Android 5.0 Lollipop

Google's Android 5.0 Lollipop is upon us. The update implements a completely new look called Material Design. With the new design language, some features we've grown accustomed to have either been moved, or the method to access them has changed a bit.

One such feature is Quick Settings. For those unfamiliar, Quick Settings allows you to enable or disable common features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and screen brightness to name a few.

Prior to Android 5.0 Lollipop, you could access it by swiping down from the top of your device's screen to reveal the notification shade, then tap on a Settings icon. You could also jump straight to quick settings using two fingers to swipe down from the top of the screen or simply swipe down from the top right side of the screen.

The two-finger shortcut is still present in Lollipop, but the settings icon has been replaced with an icon to change users (Lollipop allows for multiple users on smartphones and tablets).

When pulling down the notification shade with a single finger, your alerts are displayed as you would expect. In order to reveal quick settings from this point, simply swipe down again with a single finger. The quick settings section will slide in above your notifications, ready for you to take action on any of its various offerings.

You'll also notice when viewing Quick Settings the battery percentage is displayed next to the settings icon along the top of the screen. You can tap on the battery to view your battery stats, and the settings icon (naturally) launches the Settings app on your device.

For more Lollipop tips, please see CNET How To's guide to Android 5.0 Lollipop.