In iOS 18, Apple completely redesigned the Control Center, allowing users to customize the interface in a variety of ways. There are more options in the Control Center and more screens to navigate, but in this article, we’ll show you how to rearrange the controls to your liking.
In iOS 17, you could choose some of the controls that were available in Control Center, but in iOS 18 the customization has expanded significantly. Now you can rearrange Control Center’s quick access buttons in a layout that works best for you.
Control Center uses a customizable grid layout reminiscent of the home screen. This grid contains 32 circular dots arranged in 8 rows and 4 columns. You have the flexibility to add controls to any of these dots, or you can leave some blank to make room if you prefer.
In short, Control Center is fully customizable. Each control can be moved to different positions, added multiple times, removed if necessary, and rearranged as needed. The layout is entirely up to you.
How to move controls
The following steps explain how to move controls.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad screen to open Control Center.
- Long press on an empty space until the grid appears, or tap the “+” button at the top left of the screen.
- Grab an icon with your finger and move it to the desired location.
- Tap the top or bottom of the screen to exit grid mode.
How to resize controls
You can resize most Control Center buttons so that the ones you use most often are larger and easier to tap. Individual buttons, like the flashlight and orientation lock, can be up to four grid circles in size.
You can expand this to a horizontal circle with two grids that displays the name of the control, and a circle with four grids arranged in a larger square shape.
Most controls are suitable for these sizes, but there are exceptions. Vertical sliders such as volume and brightness cannot be resized. Similarly, connectivity controls that are grouped into a single expandable frame take up either a four-grid circle or the entire screen.
Controls like Now Playing, smart home accessories, and scenes have more variable size options, which may include taking up the entire screen.
- Long press on an empty space in the Control Center or tap the “+” button.
- Grab the bottom-right corner of an icon with the curved hook to indicate that it can be resized.
- Drag outward to make a control larger, or drag up to make it smaller. There are minimum and maximum sizes that vary depending on the control.
- Tap the top or bottom of the screen to exit the editing menu.
How to remove controls
To delete any Control Center control, simply follow the steps above to enter edit mode and tap the “-” button next to a control.
In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Control Center also includes a new Controls Gallery and even allows you to set up multiple screens for your controls. Click the links to get all the information about these features in our dedicated how-to series.
