How to use the new iOS 18 iPhone Control Center

The iPhone Control Center has remained relatively unchanged in recent years, but iOS 18 introduces significant improvements. Here’s how to make the most of the updated feature.

Control Center has always provided iPhone users with a convenient way to quickly toggle key features like Wi-Fi, cellular data, and more. However, the options were limited, and the layout felt cramped, offering only a single page of buttons.

With the arrival of iOS 18, Apple has revamped Control Center by adding multiple groups to organize buttons and supporting a wider range of button types — including third-party buttons from the apps you use most.

While some aspects of Control Center remain the same, many changes make it feel almost entirely new.

How to Use Control Center

Accessing Control Center is as simple as ever, with the same methods iPhone users are accustomed to.

• If you have an iPhone with Face ID, like the new iPhone 16, swipe down from the top-right corner of the display.

• For iPhones with Touch ID, swipe up from the bottom of the display.

The updated Control Center interface is now divided into three groups. The first group hosts your favorite controls, the second page displays media playback options, and the third group contains essential controls like Wi-Fi, cellular data, Bluetooth, and more.

Some controls now offer additional options, making it even easier to manage settings.

Editing Control Center

Control Center truly shines when you customize it to suit your needs. With the ability to add controls for your most-used apps and remove unnecessary ones, the possibilities are endless. Thanks to the new support for third-party apps, customizing your Control Center is easier than ever, putting you in full control of your iPhone’s shortcuts.

• Open Control Center using the method described earlier.

  • You can tap the —  button to remove a control.

  • Controls can be moved by dragging them to a new location.

  • Controls can be resized by dragging the handle in the bottom right corner of the button.

• Tap the + button in the top left corner of the screen.

• Tap the Add a Control button at the bottom of the screen to open the controls gallery.

• Tap the control that you want to add to Control Center, you can rearrange its position if required and even move it to another page by dragging it with your finger.

• Swipe up from the bottom of the display to end your editing session.

Adding New Groups of Controls to Control Center

Control Center groups allow you to organize similar controls together, making it easier to access features you use frequently. If you’re someone who relies on multiple controls, adding a new group is simple and only takes a few taps.

1. Tap the + button in the top-left corner of the screen.

2. Tap the small circle on the right side of the display, below the existing Control Center groups.

3. Tap the "Add a Control" button at the bottom of the screen to open the controls gallery.

4. Select the control you want to add to the new group.

5. Repeat the process to add more controls, or swipe up to finish editing.

A redesigned Control Center is just one of the many exciting changes introduced in the iOS 18 update, which launched in September 2024. This update also brought new Home Screen customization options, a revamped Photos app, and much more. The iOS 18.1 update followed, adding initial support for Apple Intelligence along with other enhancements.