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Ask Jerry is a column the place we reply your burning Android/tech questions with the assistance of long-time Android Central editor Jerry Hildenbrand.
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I want my Wi-Fi toggle again!
Allan despatched in a really detailed subject about Android’s foolish determination to take away a fast option to flip off Wi-Fi. The gist of it:
I’ve an Android Auto WiFi dongle, which auto connects and the whole lot is okay… BUT… once I depart the automobile and stroll away the cellphone continues to be linked to the automobile and the audio is within the automobile, not on the cellphone.
How can I flip off the WiFi quickly?
Hello Allan. You are experiencing one thing that lots of people don’t love about current variations of Android. It was you may discover a fast settings toggle change to close off Wi-Fi fully and even place it as a house display screen widget. Not anymore.
There’s a option to repair it, however you are in all probability not going to love it. I do know I do not as a result of I prefer to drop a fast reply at the start of any rationalization. Right here it’s: Tasker. However not the Tasker you will discover within the Play Retailer. I hope you are able to get nerdy.
I do not know why Google modified the best way Wi-Fi settings are displayed or why it determined to take away the straightforward option to shut it off. I have been advised that the present answer — hiding the whole lot in a Community & Web part of the settings — is a extra elegant answer however I do not keep in mind anybody asking for Wi-Fi settings to be made extra elegant. Google does what Google does typically.
The larger subject is that with API 29 Google additionally modified some guidelines about system settings and connections, making it so an app developer could not simply create a change to show off Wi-Fi. You may nonetheless do it, however making a succesful app means it could possibly’t be within the Play Retailer and it will not set up the traditional approach.
Fortunately, the developer of Tasker has supplied the supply and an archived Android app that does precisely what you need. Head here and grab the “Toggle Wifi” version of Tasker 1.2 and put it aside to a pc. Sure, you want a pc, too. Thanks, Google.
That is the straightforward half. The more durable half is to arrange your cellphone and a pc (Home windows, Mac, or Linux all work superb) to use adb (Android Debug Bridge). Since Android 14, you’ll be able to’t sideload apps constructed on depreciated SDK variations mechanically, however you’ll be able to power set up them utilizing the command line.
After getting the whole lot so as, run the next command:
adb set up —bypass-low-target-sdk-block TaskerSettings.apk
You may then use Tasker usually and create a change or routine to toggle Wi-Fi on and off.
Anytime somebody on-line begins saying Android telephones are “higher” as a result of it is so customizable I keep in mind that an app like Tasker has to exist and that Google does the whole lot to maintain you from doing what you need if it isn’t what it needs.
I do know all of that is performed with useability in thoughts. Google actually does not need individuals to have the ability to simply set up outdated variations of apps which may do undesirable and unintended issues. I additionally know that there might be a change in your cellphone within the developer instruments part that makes bypasses the goal SDK block setting.
Anyway, this horrible answer will work and you need to have the ability to shut Wi-Fi down fully with a faucet then reenable it with one other proper from your house display screen as soon as you have performed all of the work. Good Luck!