Control Center in iOS 18 got a major redesign, letting you add, remove, and rearrange controls to match how you use your iPhone. This guide walks you through everything from opening the new layout to building custom pages, so you can put your most-used toggles one swipe away.
What You’ll Need
- An iPhone running iOS 18 or later (check in Settings > General > Software Update).
- Some familiarity with swiping and tapping—no technical expertise required.
Step-by-Step
- Open Control Center. On iPhones with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On iPhones with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge. You’ll see the new grid layout with rounded tiles.
- Enter edit mode. Tap the plus (+) button in the top-left corner of Control Center. The tiles will start wiggling, similar to when you edit apps on the Home Screen.
- Add a control. Tap “Add a Control� at the bottom of the screen. A library of available controls appears, organized by category (e.g., Connectivity, Music, Utilities). Scroll through or use the search bar at the top to find what you need.
- Insert the control. Tap the control you want to add—it will be placed in the first available empty spot in the current page. You can also drag it from the library to a specific position.
- Rearrange controls. While still in edit mode, press and hold any tile, then drag it to a new location. Other tiles will move out of the way automatically. You can place controls anywhere on the grid, including the top “Favorites� area.
- Resize controls. Some controls (like the flashlight or timer) have a small handle at the bottom-right corner. Drag this handle to make the tile larger or smaller. Not all controls support resizing—if you don’t see the handle, it’s fixed.
- Create a new page. While in edit mode, scroll down to the bottom of the current page and tap “New Page.� A blank page appears. You can add controls to it just like the first page. To switch between pages, swipe horizontally in Control Center (even when not editing).
- Delete a control. Tap the minus (–) button on the tile you want to remove, then confirm by tapping “Remove.� You can also drag a tile to the “Remove� area that appears at the bottom.
- Delete a page. In edit mode, scroll to the page you want to remove, then tap the minus (–) button at the top of that page. Confirm that you want to delete it. You can’t delete the last remaining page.
- Save your changes. Tap anywhere outside the edit mode (or tap “Done� if you see it) to stop editing. Your layout is saved automatically.
Common Mistakes
- Not entering edit mode properly. Tapping a control while in edit mode does nothing; you must tap the plus button first. If your tiles aren’t wiggling, you’re not in edit mode.
- Adding too many controls. A cluttered Control Center is harder to use. Stick to the controls you actually need—you can always add more later.
- Forgetting that some controls are fixed. You can’t resize or move the top “Favoritesâ€� row (the one with Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, etc.) in iOS 18. These are always at the top.
- Deleting a page by accident. The minus button on a page deletes the entire page and all its controls. Double-check before confirming.
- Expecting third-party controls in the library. iOS 18 only shows Apple’s built-in controls. Apps can add their own, but only if the developer has updated the app to support it—check the App Store for updates.
Tips
- Use the search bar. When the control library is open, type “flashlight� or “timer� to jump straight to it instead of scrolling.
- Group related controls. Put all connectivity toggles (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop) on one page, and media controls on another. This makes it faster to find what you need.
- Take advantage of resizing. Make the music player larger if you frequently skip tracks, or shrink rarely-used controls to fit more on a page.
- Use the new “Connectivity� tile. This tile shows Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop together. Tap it to expand a larger menu with more options.
- Quick access to the library. You can also open the control library by long-pressing any empty area in Control Center (when not in edit mode) and tapping “Add a Control.�
Troubleshooting
- Control Center doesn’t open. Make sure you’re swiping from the correct edge. On Face ID iPhones, it’s the top-right corner; on Home button models, it’s the bottom. If it still fails, restart your iPhone.
- Changes aren’t saving. If you exit edit mode and your changes revert, try force-quitting the Control Center process: open Settings > Control Center, toggle “Access Within Appsâ€� off and on, then try again. A full restart often fixes this too.
- Controls are missing from the library. Some controls (like “Screen Mirroring� or “Voice Memos�) may only appear if the corresponding app is installed. Check that the app exists on your iPhone.
- Can’t move a control. If a tile won’t drag, it may be a fixed control (like the top Favorites row). Try a different tile. Also ensure you’re in edit mode—the plus button should be visible.
- Control Center is laggy after editing. This can happen if you have too many pages or controls. Delete unused pages and controls, then restart your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reorder the pages in Control Center?
No, iOS 18 doesn’t allow you to reorder pages. The first page is always the one you see first, and subsequent pages follow in the order you created them. You’d have to delete and recreate pages to change their order.
How do I remove a control I added?
Enter edit mode (tap the plus button), then tap the minus (–) button on the tile you want to remove, and confirm. The control will disappear from that page.
Can I add third-party app controls?
Yes, if a third-party app has been updated to support Control Center widgets, its controls will appear in the library. For example, some car apps or smart home apps offer controls. Check the app’s settings or update it to the latest version.
Why can’t I resize the Wi-Fi tile?
Only certain controls support resizing. The connectivity tiles (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode) are fixed in size. Controls that support resizing have a small handle at the bottom-right corner when you enter edit mode.
Does customizing Control Center affect battery life?
No, adding or removing controls doesn’t have a significant impact on battery life. The controls themselves are just shortcuts; they don’t run in the background unless you use them.
Can I reset Control Center to the default layout?
Yes, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Control Center Layout. This will restore the original iOS 18 default controls, but it will also remove all your customizations.
Related
General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.
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