Google Adds 1 Unlock Option for Quick Settings in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5

Q: Will users be able to customize which tiles are locked, or is Google making the choice for them?

At this stage, it looks like Google is making the choice, not users. The code strings found in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5 point to a single setting: “Require unlock for Quick Settings.” The wording suggests an all-or-nothing rule. If enabled, users would have to unlock the phone to use any Quick Settings tile except the flashlight, which appears to remain available from the lock screen. There is no evidence in the beta strings or the related reporting of a per-tile customization menu that would let users decide, for example, to keep Wi‑Fi available but lock hotspot or Bluetooth. The only exception currently indicated is the flashlight, and that exception appears to be defined by Google. Because the feature is still under development and not yet live, Google could still change how it works before release. But based on what has surfaced so far, the expected design is a global lock for nearly all Quick Settings tiles rather than user-selectable tile-by-tile controls.

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Jun 24

Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5 contains new code strings pointing to a setting that would require users to unlock their phones before using most Quick Settings tiles.
The text says the feature is meant to prevent unauthorized changes on locked devices, leaving Flashlight as the only tile accessible without authentication.
Current Android behavior still allows some locked-screen toggles—such as Bluetooth or hotspot controls—while already restricting others like Wallet and Quick Share.
Google has not enabled the feature yet in Beta 5, and its exact location is unconfirmed, though it is expected to appear in lock-screen settings if it ships.