How to Access Hidden Quick Actions in Windows 11

Why use 🪟 Windows 11 Quick Actions?

Wi-Fi 📶, Bluetooth 🔷 and display controls then sit one click away. That saves a lot of time if you use them often, for example when you switch between networks, pair headphones or turn on Night light every evening.

How to Open the Quick Settings Flyout

Press Win+A. The Quick Settings flyout should slide up above the taskbar, on the right side.

You can also click the network, volume or battery icons in the taskbar system tray 🔔. All three open the same panel.

In Windows 11 it is Quick Settings, and notifications and the calendar have moved to a separate flyout that opens when you click the date and time, or press Win+N.

How to Add or Remove Quick Settings Tiles

You change which tiles appear by opening the flyout and using the edit button. Put the tools you use most in the panel, and you won't have to go into the Settings app every time you want to toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or another feature.

1. Press Windows Key + A to open the Quick Settings flyout. The panel appears with your current tiles and the volume and brightness sliders.
2. Click the Edit quick settings button (the pencil icon) at the bottom of the panel. The tiles now show an Unpin icon, and an Add button appears.
3. To add a tile, click Add. A list of the tiles available on your PC opens. Click the one you want, and it appears in the panel.
4. To remove a tile, click the Unpin icon on the tile you no longer need. The tile leaves the panel, but it stays in the Add list, so you can bring it back later.
5. To change the order, drag a tile to a new position while the panel is still in edit mode.
6. Click Done to save your changes.

The Add list only offers tiles your hardware and Windows version support. A desktop PC without a battery, for example, will not list Battery saver. If you want to undo a change, open the editor again and unpin or re-add the tile. No restart is needed at any point.

Troubleshooting: Why are my Quick Action buttons greyed out?

A greyed-out Quick Settings button means the feature is unavailable right now, or something is restricting it. These are the usual causes:

• Missing hardware or driver. Bluetooth stays greyed out or missing if the PC has no Bluetooth adapter or its driver is not working. Check Device Manager and update the driver if needed.
• Another mode is active. Turning on Airplane mode switches off wireless features, so check that it is off first.
• The feature needs a connection or a component. Tools like Cast or Mobile hotspot need compatible hardware, and some need an active network connection to work.
• Work or school management. On a PC managed by your organization, an administrator can lock some options through policy. In that case you need to ask your IT team.

If a tile is missing rather than greyed out, open the editor and check the Add list. It may simply be unpinned.

Accessibility and Focus Assist

Add the Accessibility tile for quick access to tools such as Narrator, Magnifier and other accessibility options, without opening Settings. The exact options in the tile depend on your Windows 11 version.

For fewer interruptions, look for the Do not disturb tile. This is the new name for what older versions called Focus Assist, and it silences notification banners while it is on. Windows 11 also has Focus sessions, which are timed work sessions started from the Clock app. Some builds add a Focus tile to the Add list. If you don't see one, update Windows or start a session from the Clock app instead.

These additions are a simple part of Windows 11 customization, and they make everyday tasks quicker.

Summary

Setting up the Quick Settings flyout takes a minute. Once you pin the tiles you use most, tools like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are reachable straight from the taskbar, and you can change the layout again whenever your needs change.