9 Tips to Customize and Use Control Center on iPhone

ByJim Miller

Control Center simplifies life on the iPhone. You can use it to switch between Wi-Fi networks, AirDrop files, control home accessories, create notes, and much more. You can even customize Control Center as per your needs. Let’s explore various tips to use and customize Control Center on iPhone.

1. Access Control Center in Multiple Ways

To open Control Center, swipe down from the top-right edge for iPhones with Face ID or swipe up from the bottom for iPhones with a Home button. But, if you don’t like the default method, you can open Control Center using Assistive Touch, Reachability, and from Back Tap.

2. Add Items to Control Center

You can customize the apps, settings, or features that show up in Control Center. To add items, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app and go to Control Center.
  2. Scroll down to the More Controls section and tap on the + (add) button next to the control that you want to show in Control Center.

3. Remove Items From Control Center

To clean up Control Center and remove items you don't use, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Control Center.
  2. Scroll down to Included Control section. Tap on the – (remove) icon next to the item that you want to hide from Control Center. Then, tap on the Remove button.

(Note: You cannot remove Airplane mode, Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Audio playback, Lock screen rotation, Do not disturb, and Screen mirroring items from Control Center.)

4. Remove Home Accessories Card

If you don’t use the Home accessories and scenes card often, you can disable it to free up space in Control Center. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings > Control Center on your iPhone.
  2. Turn off the toggle next to Show Home Controls.

5. Rearrange Control Center Items

By default, items in Control Center appear in the order they were added. However, you can rearrange them to suit your preferences and needs. Here's how:

  1. Open Control Center Settings from Settings > Control Center.
  2. Press and drag the three-bar icon next to the item you want to rearrange and move it to the desired position.

6. Access Additional Options in Control Center

Many controls in Control Center offer additional features if you touch and hold them. Here are some useful examples:

  • Touch and hold the network card to see AirDrop and Personal Hotspot buttons.
  • Touch and hold Wi-Fi or Bluetooth icons to switch between available connections.
  • Touch and hold the Camera to take different types of photos or videos.
  • Long press the Flashlight icon to adjust the intensity.
  • Long press the Screen Recording icon to enable the Microphone.
  • Long press the Focus widget to access available Focus modes.

7. Customize Note-Taking Features in Control Center

By default, long-pressing the Notes icon in Control Center creates a new note. But, you can change this behavior and open the last created note instead. Here's how:

  1. Go to Settings > Notes.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Access Notes from Lock screen.
  3. Select Resume Last Note and customize the note behavior as desired.

8. Turn off Control Center in Apps

If you don’t want Control Center to be accessible within apps, you can disable it. Go to Settings > Control Center and turn off the toggle for Access within apps.

9. Turn off Control Center on Lock Screen

If you want to prevent Control Center from being accessed on the Lock screen, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Go to Touch ID and Passcode.
  3. Scroll down and turn off the toggle next to Control Center.

Customize Your iPhone

iOS customization has greatly improved over the years. You can customize the home screen, use custom icon packs, add third-party widgets, and even create custom charging animations on your iPhone. Explore the possibilities to make your iPhone truly yours.