How to Customize and Use Control Center in iOS 18

Apple revamped the Control Center with iOS 18, allowing iPhone users to customize it, add new features, and even include shortcuts from third-party apps. Here’s how to customize and use the new Control Center on iPhones running iOS 18 or later.

In iOS 18, the Control Center now has a pane-based structure that you can switch between by swiping up or down. You can also tap or swipe on the pane icons on the right to navigate between panes. There are five types of panes:

• Favorites: The first pane that contains all your favorite controls from connectivity to brightness.
• Controls: Except for the first pane, all the remaining panes where you add the various controls
• Music: Displays album art and playback controls for recently played or currently playing songs.
• Home: Shortcuts and controls for all HomeKit supported smart-home devices.
• Connectivity: Shortcuts for Wi-Fi, Network, AirDrop, Bluetooth, Hotspot, and VPN.

Also Read: What do various icons and symbols in Control Center mean on iPhone

Add controls to Control Center:

Now with iOS 18’s new control center, you don’t have to go to Settings app to add or remove any controls. You can do all such customizations and even more directly from the control center itself.

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the Lock Screen or Home Screen on your iPhone.
2. In the Control Center, tap the + icon in the top-left corner.
3. Tap Add a Control at the bottom.
4. Scroll through the list of available controls, or use the search bar at the top.
5. Select the control you want to add, such as Quick Note.
6. The selected control (e.g., Quick Note) will now appear in the Control Center.

Remove Controls From the Control Center:

If you no longer need a control and want to remove it from the Control Center, follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the Lock Screen or Home Screen to open the Control Center.
2. Tap the + icon in the top-left corner to add controls or shortcuts.
3. All existing controls will display a “–” icon in the top-left corner. Tap this icon to remove any control or shortcut from the Control Center.

Resize Controls in the Control Center:

Some controls can be resized, but not all. For example, you can’t resize the Brightness or Focus toggles, but you can adjust the size of the Screen Mirroring or Flashlight toggles to three different sizes. The Music controls can even be resized to fill the entire pane. That being said, here’s how to resize controls in the new Control Center:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the Lock Screen or Home Screen to open the Control Center.
2. Tap the + icon in the top-left corner to access customization options.
3. Select the thick edge in the bottom-right corner of the Music shortcut to resize and adjust its size.

How to Add Panes to Control Center:

If you want to add more controls, the new Control Center lets you create additional panes. You can add up to 15 panes, allowing for greater customization and control organization.

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the Lock Screen or Home Screen to open the Control Center.
2. Tap the + icon in the top-left corner to access customization options.
3. Swipe to the last pane and add any controls to it to create a new pane.

Alternatively, drag any control to the bottom of the last pane to automatically create a new pane to place that control.

Depending on the control you have added first, the type of pane will be changed. For example, if you have added music controls, then it will turn to a music pane. Adding communication controls will turn it into a communication pane, etc.

How to Reset Control Center to Default:

There’s no default option to reset just the Control Center. You’ll need to either manually adjust it as explained above or reset all settings on your iPhone. Resetting all settings will not only restore the Control Center to its default state, but it will also reset your Home Screen layout, Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth connections, keyboard dictionary, and location settings. If you still want to proceed, here’s how to reset all settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to General and scroll down to Reset or Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Reset All Settings.
4. Enter your passcode and confirm the action to reset all settings, including the Control Center.

Controls More Than Control Center

In iOS 18, controls have received a significant upgrade, offering more flexibility and customization options. Now, you can not only manage controls within the Control Center but also integrate them into other parts of your iPhone for quicker access.

One of the major updates is the ability to add controls to the Lock Screen shortcuts, allowing you to trigger certain functions without unlocking your phone. For instance, you can customize Lock Screen shortcuts to include controls like Flashlight, Camera, or even third-party app shortcuts, making it more convenient to access key features instantly.

Another powerful addition is the integration of controls with the Action Button (available on newer iPhone models). This button, located on the side of your device, can be customized to perform specific actions when pressed. Now, you can assign any control to the Action Button, such as toggling Focus modes, opening Quick Note, or activating Do Not Disturb. This makes frequently used controls even more accessible, with a single press, no matter what you’re doing on your phone.

These updates bring more seamless ways to interact with your device, making iOS 18’s Control Center far more versatile and user-friendly.