Control Center

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Control Center gives you instant access to the Camera, AirDrop, AirPlay, Timer, audio playback controls, and other handy features.

Note: You can adjust the brightness, lock the screen in portrait orientation, turn wireless services on or off, and turn on AirDrop to exchange photos and other items with nearby iOS 8 or later devices that support AirDrop.

Open Control Center

To access the Control Center, swipe down from the upper right corner of any screen.

Note: If your device has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Center.

Use app and feature controls

Control Center also gives you quick access to these features and apps: Screen-Orientation Lock, Notifications, Focus Modes, Screen Brightness, Flashlight, Camera, Screen Mirroring, and QR Scanner. Select the desired option.

Use music controls

Control Center also allows you to access your Music. Swipe up or select the Music icon to access the expanded Music center. Select the desired icon to control your music from the Control Center:

• BACK: Select the Back icon to replay a song.
• PLAY: Select the Play icon to play a song.
• SKIP: Select the Skip icon to skip to the next song.
• VOLUME: Select and drag the Volume bar to the desired volume. 

Note: You can also access Music Controls on the main Control Center screen.

Access and use connectivity controls

To access Connectivity Controls, swipe up or select the Cellular icon to access the Connectivity screen. Select the desired icon to quickly enable or disable Airplane mode, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, Bluetooth, Personal Hotspot, VPN, and Satellite.

Note: Alternately, you can quickly select Airplane mode, Wi-Fi, and Personal Hotspot directly from the Control Center. You can also access Connectivity controls by selecting the Connectivity widget on the main Control Center screen.

Edit Control Center

With iOS18 you can customize how your controls are laid out, resize them, or build your own groups of controls so they are always just a swipe away. From Control Center, select and hold the screen.

ADD CONTROLS: To add controls, select Add a Control. Select the desired control to add.

MOVE OR RESIZE A CONTROL: To move a control, select and hold the screen, then select and drag the desired control to the desired location. To resize a control, select and drag the corner of the desired control to the desired size.

REMOVE A CONTROL: To delete a control, select and hold the screen then select the Remove icon on the desired control.

Use focus features

Control Center also allows you to quickly access focus features such as Do Not Disturb and Sleep schedule. Select Focus, then select the desired focus mode.

Close Control Center

To close the Control Center, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Restrict Control Center access

If you don’t want Control Center to be accessible while using apps, from the home screen, select the  Settings app > select Control Center >  Access Within Apps switch.