SystemUI Tuner: Customize Hidden Android Settings

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on SystemUI Tuner (hosted on GitHub under the repository name Tweaker by developer Zachary Wander). If you have ever wanted to hide annoying icons from your Android status bar, adjust screen animation speeds, tweak your Quick Settings grid, or access hidden system options without rooting your phone, this app is built for you.

In this blog post, you will learn what SystemUI Tuner is, explore its key features, check system requirements, get direct download links, follow step-by-step installation instructions, learn how to use the app, review troubleshooting tips, read answers to frequently asked questions, and more.

Table of Contents

What is SystemUI Tuner?

SystemUI Tuner is an open-source Android application designed to view and modify hidden system settings on Android devices. Google introduced a secret menu called “System UI Tuner” in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, allowing users to customize elements of the user interface. However, in later Android releases, Google and various phone manufacturers disabled or hidden access to this menu.

The developer, Zachary Wander (known as zacharee on GitHub), built this project to restore those lost capabilities and expand on them. Unlike many system modification utilities, SystemUI Tuner does not strictly require root access. It can operate using standard Android permissions granted via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or Shizuku, making custom system tweaks accessible to everyday users.

Features of SystemUI Tuner

SystemUI Tuner offers a wide range of customization controls that let you take control of your phone interface:

Status Bar Icon Control: Easily hide unwanted status bar icons such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VoLTE, cellular signal, battery percentage, alarm clock, volume profiles, and hotspot indicators.
Auto-Detect Status Icons: Automatically scan and detect active icons in your status bar so you can selectively disable them.
Quick Settings Grid Adjustment: Change the number of rows and columns displayed in your Quick Settings notification shade.
Per-App Immersive Mode: Hide the top status bar, bottom navigation bar, or both globally or for specific applications to maximize your screen space.
Animation Speed Modifiers: Speed up or slow down window animation scales, transition scales, and animator duration scales for a faster feel.
Lock Screen Shortcuts: Change or remove default app shortcuts located on your lock screen.
Demo Mode Configuration: Enable clean status bar presentation mode, ideal for taking screenshots without personal notifications or battery percentages showing.
Advanced Settings Editor: Read, modify, or input custom key-value pairs directly into Android’s Global, Secure, and System settings tables.

Requirements

Before installing and configuring SystemUI Tuner, ensure your setup meets the following conditions:

Operating System: An Android device running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or higher.
Permission Granting Tool: A computer with ADB installed OR the Shizuku app running on your device.
USB Debugging: Enabled on your device via Developer Options (if using ADB).
Root Access (Optional): If your device is already rooted, the app can request root access directly, skipping manual computer commands.
Device Compatibility Note: Devices running heavily customized manufacturer skins like Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI/HyperOS, or Huawei EMUI may have certain features restricted by the manufacturer.

Download

Always download SystemUI Tuner from official and verified project sources:

GitHub Releases (Official Repo): Download the latest release package directly from the main project repository at https://github.com/zacharee/Tweaker/releases

Install

Installing SystemUI Tuner involves installing the app and granting the necessary system write permissions.

Step 1: Install the APK

Download the app from the Google Play Store or install the APK file downloaded from the GitHub Releases page.

Step 2: Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging

Open your phone Settings.
Go to About Phone and scroll down to Build Number.
Tap Build Number seven times until you see a message saying developer mode is enabled.
Go back to main settings, open System or Developer Options, and turn on USB Debugging.

Step 3: Grant Required Permissions

Method A: Using Shizuku (No Computer Needed)

Install and start Shizuku on your device.
Open SystemUI Tuner.
Follow the setup wizard and select Shizuku as your permission manager.
Grant the requested access when prompted by Shizuku.

Method B: Using ADB via Computer

Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable.
Open a command prompt or terminal window on your computer.
Test your connection by typing adb devices (accept the debugging prompt on your phone screen).
Run the following commands one by one:

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.DUMP

adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS

Once permissions are granted, return to the app to complete setup.

How to Use

Using SystemUI Tuner is straightforward once initial permissions are granted:

Launch SystemUI Tuner: Open the application on your mobile device.
Complete the Setup Wizard: Select how you granted permissions (ADB, Shizuku, or Root). The app will verify if permissions are active.
Navigate Categories: Use the main navigation menu to browse through sections such as Status Bar, Quick Settings, UI, or Miscellaneous.
Apply Tweaks: Toggle any setting on or off. For instance, navigate to Status Bar > Blacklist and turn off the toggle for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to remove those icons immediately.
Set Up Persistent Options (Optional): If your settings reset after a reboot, turn on the Persistent Options Manager feature inside the app settings to re-apply changes automatically on boot.

Credits

This application is built and maintained by the open-source community:

Developer: Zachary Wander (zacharee on GitHub). Check out his main GitHub profile at https://github.com/zacharee

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while using SystemUI Tuner, try the following solutions:

Changes Reset After Restarting Phone: Some manufacturer skins overwrite hidden system settings during system boot. Open SystemUI Tuner settings and enable the Persistent Options Manager service so the app reapplies your changes automatically after every reboot.
Specific Status Bar Toggles Do Not Work: Smartphone makers like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei often rewrite system code. If a toggle does not hide an icon, your manufacturer has likely removed support for that standard Android flag.
Settings Persist After Uninstalling: Uninstalling the app does not automatically undo your changes because settings are written directly to system configuration tables. Always use the Reset options inside the app before uninstalling.
ADB Permission Denied: Ensure USB Debugging is turned on and that your computer is authorized to execute commands on your phone.

FAQs

Is root access required to use SystemUI Tuner?

No. Root access is entirely optional. You can grant all essential permissions using ADB commands from a computer or on-device via the Shizuku app.

Will changing settings with this app break my phone?

Most standard toggles (like status bar icons and animation speeds) are completely safe. However, manually editing key-value strings in the custom settings editor can cause system UI crashes if incorrect values are entered. Always record default values before modifying raw keys.

Why do some options fail to work on Samsung or Xiaomi devices?

Custom Android skins (such as One UI or MIUI/HyperOS) heavily alter default system interfaces. Manufacturers frequently strip out standard stock Android code, which prevents SystemUI Tuner from overriding those specific features.

Is SystemUI Tuner free and open-source software?

Yes, SystemUI Tuner is 100% free, open-source software released under the MIT License. You can review the code, build it yourself, or contribute directly on GitHub.

Conclusion

SystemUI Tuner by Zachary Wander is one of the most useful open-source Android customization tools available today. It brings back deep control over your user interface, status bar, and system behavior without forcing you to root your device. By using ADB commands or Shizuku, you can quickly achieve a clean, clutter-free Android experience tailored to your exact preferences.

Have you tried using SystemUI Tuner on your phone? What is your favorite hidden setting to tweak? Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts, questions, or customization setups!