How to customize Control Center on iPhone

Ever wish you could access your favorite iPhone tools faster? With just a few taps, you can personalize the Control Center to put the shortcuts you use most right at your fingertips. Whether you want quick access to Low Power Mode, screen recording, or Accessibility features, customizing the Control Center makes your iPhone easier to use—no digging through settings required.

At Asurion, we help you get the most out of your tech. Here’s our step-by-step guide to customizing the Control Center on your iPhone.

What is the iPhone Control Center?

The Control Center is a menu that gives you instant access to common settings and features—like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, music playback, brightness, and volume—no matter what app you’re using. You can also add shortcuts to things like the flashlight, calculator, or even your Notes app.

You can open the Control Center from anywhere on your phone, even the Lock Screen, which makes it one of the fastest ways to control your device.

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Why customize the Control Center?

The default Control Center comes with a basic set of tools, but it doesn’t include everything. Customizing it lets you:

• Add your favorite tools. Want to access Low Power Mode, screen recording, or the magnifier without searching? Add them here.
• Remove what you don’t need. If you never use the calculator, you can take it off.
• Reorder icons. Put your most-used tools at the top for quicker access.

It’s all about saving time and making your iPhone work better for you.

How to customize Control Center on iPhone

How to open Control Center

How you open the Control Center depends on your iPhone model:

• iPhone X or later: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
• iPhone SE, iPhone 8, or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

How to add or remove controls

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Control Center.
3. Scroll to the More Controls section.
4. Tap the green plus (+) icon to add a control.
5. Tap the red minus (–) icon to remove a control.

Once added, the tools will appear in the Control Center the next time you open it.

How to reorder icons

1. In Settings > Control Center, look under Included Controls.
2. Tap and hold the three horizontal lines next to a tool.
3. Drag it up or down to reorder.

Put the tools you use most at the top so they’re easier to reach.

Which tools you can add

Here are some popular tools you can add to your Control Center:

• Flashlight
• Calculator
• Notes
• Voice Memos
• Screen Recording
• Low Power Mode
• Do Not Disturb While Driving
• Magnifier
• Stopwatch
• Accessibility Shortcuts
• Alarm
• Apple TV Remote
• Code Scanner

Explore the full list in Settings > Control Center.

Control Center tips and tricks

Use Accessibility shortcuts

If you use features like AssistiveTouch, Zoom, or VoiceOver, you can add Accessibility Shortcuts to your Control Center. Just tap once to turn them on or off.

Set up Low Power Mode

Running low on battery? Add a Low Power Mode switch to the Control Center so you can turn it on with a tap—no need to dig through your settings.

Add screen recording, Do Not Disturb, and more

Want to record your screen or quickly silence notifications? Add Screen Recording and Do Not Disturb to your Control Center for quick access whenever you need them.

What to do if Control Center isn’t working

If the Control Center won’t open or doesn’t respond, try these steps:

1. Check your settings. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) and make sure Control Center is allowed on the Lock screen.
2. Restart your iPhone. This can clear up temporary glitches.
3. Update iOS. A software update may fix bugs that affect the Control Center.
4. Reset settings. If all else fails, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will not delete your data but reset system settings like Wi-Fi passwords.

For help with these steps, check out how to reset iPhone settings.

FAQs

Where is the Control Center on iPhone?

Swipe down from the top-right corner (iPhone X and later) or swipe up from the bottom (older models).

Why can't I customize Control Center on my iPhone?

Make sure you’re running a supported version of iOS and that Settings > Control Center has customization options turned on.

Can I add third-party apps to Control Center?

No, you can only add Apple’s built-in tools and features.

How do I reset my Control Center settings?

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings to reset system settings, including Control Center preferences.

What are the best shortcuts to add to Control Center?

Popular options include Low Power Mode, Screen Recording, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, and Accessibility Shortcuts.