The Android Auto 17.6 beta just leaked custom Quick Settings tiles inside the car interface. If you have ever pulled down the notification shade at a red light and wished the tile you needed was actually there, that leak is welcome news. The Android system tiles have supported custom entries since Android 7, and seven apps make it easy to add the tiles Google forgot, Tasker triggers, one-tap flashlight brightness, per-app VPN toggles, and specific Bluetooth device connections.
What to look for in a Quick Settings tile app
- Custom tile creation. Anything from a static text label to a full Tasker or MacroDroid trigger.
- Long-press action. Some tiles do one thing on tap and another on long-press.
- Icon and colour customisation. Match the tile to your theme, or pick a distinct colour so you find it faster.
- No root requirement. Most modern apps here work without root or ADB.
- Battery cost. Foreground services can drain the battery, look for apps with minimal background work.
- Android Auto compatibility. If you drive with Android Auto, tiles that survive the projection matter.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free | Paid | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacroDroid | Trigger any automation from a tile | Yes | ~$4 lifetime | 4.6 |
| Tasker | Deep scriptable automation tiles | Trial | ~$4 one-time | 4.7 |
| Automate | Flow-chart automation with tiles | Yes | In-app for premium blocks | 4.6 |
| Custom Quick Settings | Simple static and dynamic tiles | Yes | $2 unlock | 4.4 |
| Bluetooth Auto Connect | Force-connect specific devices | Yes | Pro ~$3 | 4.5 |
| DevTiles | Developer options in tiles | Yes | Free | 4.4 |
| Torchie | Volume-key flashlight with tile | Yes | Free | 4.5 |
The seven Android Quick Settings tile apps
1. MacroDroid, best trigger any automation from a tile
MacroDroid turns any macro into a tile with two taps. Set a trigger, add actions, publish to Quick Settings, and the tile shows up under the pencil edit menu. Icon, label, and long-press action are all editable per macro. Pro unlock removes the five-macro limit and lasts forever on one Google Play account.
Where it falls short: Tile count is capped at Android’s system limit, around 27 to 40 depending on OEM.
Pricing:
- Free: Five macros, most triggers and actions
- Paid: Around $4 lifetime for unlimited macros
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play · Aptoide
MacroDroid for Quick Settings tiles wins on simplicity. Fastest ramp from “I wish this tile existed” to “here it is.”
Bottom line: The pick for readers who want tiles without touching a scripting language.
2. Tasker, best deep scriptable automation tiles
Tasker publishes any task as a tile through its Quick Settings plugin. Long-press support, dynamic labels, and state-aware icons that reflect what the task is doing. Combined with AutoNotification and other AutoApps, tiles become the interface for entire workflows.
Where it falls short: Steepest learning curve of the seven. Trial is short.
Pricing:
- Free: Seven-day trial
- Paid: Around $4 one-time on Google Play
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play
Tasker for Quick Settings tiles is the depth-first pick for readers who already write Tasker profiles.
Bottom line: The pick if you already use Tasker or want the deepest scripting.
3. Automate, best flow-chart automation
Automate by LlamaLab uses drag-and-drop flow charts rather than scripts. Quick Settings tiles are a block you drop into a flow, and long-press behaviour is a branch on the same block. Community flows on the Automate site cover the most-requested tiles ready to import.
Where it falls short: Flow charts can grow visually complex once you handle more than a few branches.
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 30 blocks per flow
- Paid: In-app upgrade for unlimited blocks
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play
Automate for Quick Settings tiles wins for visual thinkers.
Bottom line: The pick for readers who prefer flow charts over scripts.
4. Custom Quick Settings, best simple static and dynamic tiles
Custom Quick Settings by Quinny899 does one thing well, publish tiles with an icon, a label, and an action. Actions include launching apps, opening URLs, calling numbers, and running shortcuts. Tiles support dynamic icons that reflect state, “on” and “off” for example.
Where it falls short: No plugin ecosystem, so complex automations still need Tasker or MacroDroid.
Pricing:
- Free: Two tiles
- Paid: Around $2 one-time for unlimited tiles
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play · Aptoide
Custom Quick Settings for Quick Settings tiles is the pick when you want a tile builder and nothing else.
Bottom line: The pick for readers who want a lean, single-purpose tile creator.
5. Bluetooth Auto Connect, best force-connect specific devices
Bluetooth Auto Connect adds a tile per Bluetooth device paired with your phone. Tap it and the device connects, even if Android’s own quick tile forgot the pairing. Auto-connect on unlock and per-device auto-reconnect delays cover the edge cases.
Where it falls short: UI is dated. Ads in the free tier.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality with ads
- Paid: Around $3 to remove ads
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play
Bluetooth Auto Connect for Quick Settings tiles wins when you have three or more Bluetooth devices you switch between.
Bottom line: The pick for readers who juggle headphones, car stereo, and speakers.
6. DevTiles, best developer options in tiles
DevTiles publishes tiles for the developer options most engineers wish were one tap away, “show taps,” “layout bounds,” “profile GPU rendering,” “force RTL layout,” and more. Nothing gets enabled without ADB permission first, which the app grants in one command.
Where it falls short: Only useful if you actually flip developer options often.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Android
Download: Google Play · Aptoide
DevTiles for Quick Settings tiles is the pick for Android app developers who test on device daily.
Bottom line: The pick for readers who ship Android apps.
7. Torchie, best volume-key flashlight with tile
Torchie turns your volume-down long-press into a flashlight toggle, and adds a Quick Settings tile with adjustable brightness for the flashlight itself. Handy on phones that killed the flashlight brightness slider.
Where it falls short: Volume-key detection needs accessibility permission, which some readers avoid.
Pricing:
- Free: Open source
- Paid: None
Platforms: Android
Download: F-Droid
Torchie for Quick Settings tiles covers a small but universal need, better torch control.
Bottom line: The pick for readers whose phone has a mediocre stock torch.
How to pick the right one
- Want any macro as a tile with minimal setup: MacroDroid
- Already deep in Tasker: Tasker
- Prefer flow charts over scripts: Automate
- Want a lean, no-fuss tile creator: Custom Quick Settings
- Juggle multiple Bluetooth devices: Bluetooth Auto Connect
- Ship Android apps: DevTiles
- Want better torch control: Torchie
FAQ
Do I need root to customise Quick Settings tiles?
No. Every app on this list works on unrooted Android. Some, like DevTiles, need a one-time ADB grant for specific tiles.
How many custom tiles can I add?
Android’s tile edit screen caps at around 27 to 40 tiles depending on OEM. Custom apps count against the same limit.
Will custom tiles show on Android Auto?
The Android Auto 17.6 beta hints at broader tile support in the car interface. Right now, only Google’s built-in tiles project cleanly. Watch the next beta cycle for third-party support.
Do custom tiles drain the battery?
MacroDroid and Tasker keep a small foreground service running, low battery impact on modern phones. Automate goes to sleep between triggers. Custom Quick Settings has effectively no background cost.
Is MacroDroid better than Tasker?
MacroDroid is easier to start. Tasker is deeper. Readers who never wrote a script pick MacroDroid, Tasker veterans stay on Tasker.
