How to customize Control Center on iPhone

How do I open and edit Control Center?

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. On a phone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge.
2. Touch and hold an empty space, or tap the plus at the top left.
3. Tap Add a Control at the bottom to open the gallery.
4. Choose a control from Apple or from an app, and tap it to add.
5. Drag controls to move them, and tap Done when finished.

What changed in iOS 18?

Apple redesigned Control Center in iOS 18. It now has several pages that you swipe through, a gallery of controls and room for controls from third-party apps. You can also choose a control for the two buttons on the Lock Screen, in place of the flashlight and camera. Before iOS 18, you changed a short list in Settings, Control Center.

Can I resize controls?

Yes, on supported controls. In edit mode, drag the handle at the corner of a control to make it larger or smaller. Larger controls often show more information or a slider. Not every control has more than one size.

Which controls are worth adding?

• Flashlight, timer and camera for quick access.
• Low Power Mode and Focus for energy and attention.
• Screen recording and notes for work.
• Voice memos, for quick capture.
• A button from an app you use many times a day.

How do controls from apps work?

Apps can offer controls through the same framework as widgets. When you install such an app, its controls appear in the gallery under the app name. Tapping the control can open the app, toggle a setting or run an action. Apple's developer documentation describes controls as part of WidgetKit (Apple: WidgetKit).

Musse Buddy provides one: a Talk to Buddy button. Tapping it opens the talk screen, so you can speak a request while another app is open. It is the fastest path from anywhere on the phone. Add it with the steps above, then place it on the first page.

What can I put in the two Lock Screen buttons?

On iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose Lock Screen, and tap the minus on a bottom button to remove it, then the plus to pick a control. You can put any control that suits a one-tap action there, such as a flashlight, a timer or a voice note.

Can I use Control Center inside apps?

By default yes. In Settings, Control Center, you can allow access within apps. If you switch it off, Control Center opens only on the Home Screen. Leave it on if you want the Talk to Buddy button while you work in another app.

How do I build a control page in five minutes?

1. Open Control Center and enter edit mode.
2. Delete controls you have not touched in a month.
3. Add the three you reach for most from the gallery.
4. Make the biggest tile the one you use with one hand.
5. Add a second page for rarer controls, such as screen recording.

Do controls work on the Lock Screen without a passcode?

Some do. A control set for the Lock Screen runs without opening the phone, but many controls open the app and then ask you to sign in with Face ID or Touch ID. That is the right balance: the speed of one tap and the safety of a check before private things are shown.

What is the difference between a widget and a control?

A widget shows information and sometimes buttons, and it lives on a screen you place it on. A control is a single switch, button or slider that does one action, and it lives in Control Center, on the Lock Screen or on the Action button. Both are built with WidgetKit, so many apps offer both. For widgets, see iPhone widget sizes explained.

How does Control Center help with hands-free use?

It shortens the path to your voice tools. A button that opens the talk screen of an assistant saves you from finding the app. A Focus button turns off distractions before you drive. A voice memo button captures a thought while walking. Choose controls for moments when your hands are busy and your eyes are not, and keep the page short so you can hit the right tile without looking.

How do I put a control on the Action button?

On iPhones that have an Action button, open Settings, Action Button and swipe to Controls, then choose the control you want. A press of the button then runs it. Pick something you need with one hand and without looking, such as the flashlight, a voice memo or a button that starts talking to your assistant. Avoid anything you could trigger by accident in a pocket.

Why is my control missing?

Check the iOS version first, since the gallery needs iOS 18 or later. Then make sure the app is installed and updated. Some controls appear only after you open the app once. Finally, remove the control and add it again to refresh it.

Is Control Center safe on the Lock Screen?

Controls on the Lock Screen run without your passcode, but many open the app or ask you to sign in. You can limit access to Control Center when the phone is locked in Settings, Face ID & Passcode. A tight setting means a stranger cannot toggle Airplane mode, which matters if the phone is stolen.