Which Android version introduced the Quick Settings panel?

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean introduced the Quick Settings panel. Released in November 2012, Android 4.2 added a dedicated pane of shortcuts to the notification area, giving users faster access to common controls such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, airplane mode, and Settings.

On phones, users could open Quick Settings by swiping down with two fingers. Tablets used a separate gesture from the top-right edge, reflecting Android 4.2's effort to provide different layouts for different screen sizes. The feature built on Android's existing notification shade rather than replacing it.

A common mix-up is Android 4.1, which was also called Jelly Bean and introduced performance improvements, expandable notifications, and Google Now. However, the stock Android Quick Settings panel belongs specifically to Android 4.2. Later releases redesigned the panel and expanded its capabilities; Android 7.0 Nougat added an API that allowed apps to provide their own Quick Settings tiles.