How to Customise, Reorder, and Resize Control Centre Pages in iOS 18

In previous iterations of iOS, the Control Centre on iPhone was a rigid, single-page grid of system toggles. While users could add or remove select secondary shortcuts from the Settings app, core connectivity tiles (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular) and media playback widgets remained permanently locked in fixed positions with unchangeable dimensions.

With iOS 18, Apple completely redesigned Control Centre into a multi-page, fluidly customisable control system. Users can now resize individual control toggles, rearrange buttons anywhere on the grid, build dedicated functional pages (such as dedicated Smart Home or Media dashboards), and add third-party app controls directly to their swipe-down workspace.

Accessing the iOS 18 Control Centre Edit Mode

Unlike earlier iOS releases where configuration required opening the Settings app, iOS 18 allows you to customise controls directly on the active canvas:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to open Control Centre.
2. Tap the + (Add) button located in the upper-left corner of the screen.
3. Alternatively, press and hold on any blank area of the Control Centre grid until the icons begin to jiggle in edit mode.

Resizing Controls and Toggles

Many Control Centre toggles in iOS 18 feature dynamic resize handles, allowing you to convert small single-button controls into larger interactive widgets:

1. While in edit mode, locate the small curved handle in the bottom-right corner of any supported control (such as Flashlight, Timer, or Music Recognition).
2. Drag the handle outward or downward to expand the button.
3. Available dimensions include a standard 1×1 icon, a 2×1 horizontal button, and a 2×2 expanded control card.
4. Expanding controls often reveals additional live information or supplementary slider options directly within the tile.

Navigating and Creating Dedicated Control Pages

iOS 18 introduces vertical page groups represented by small icons on the far right edge of the screen:

• Favourites Page (Heart icon): Your primary everyday controls, connectivity toggles, and flashlight.
• Music & Media Page (Audio wave icon): Dedicated full-page media player with volume sliders, playback scrubbing, and AirPlay outputs.
• Home Page (House icon): Interactive HomeKit scene triggers, smart lights, and security cameras.
• Connectivity Page (Antenna icon): Granular toggles for Airplane Mode, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, Personal Hotspot, and VPN.

To navigate between pages, swipe up or down along the right side of the screen, or swipe continuously through the pages while Control Centre is open.

Adding New and Third-Party Controls from the Gallery

To incorporate new native shortcuts or third-party app actions:

1. Enter edit mode by tapping the + button at the top-left.
2. Tap Add a Control at the bottom of the active page to open the Controls Gallery.
3. Browse by category (such as Accessibility, Capture, Display, or third-party developer integrations).
4. Tap any control to drop it onto your active page, then drag it to your desired grid position.

Removing or Reorganising Toggles

To clean up clutter and keep only the controls you use:

• Remove a Control: While in edit mode, tap the circular – (Minus) badge on the top-left corner of any unwanted control.
• Move a Control: Touch and drag any control across the grid. Other buttons will reflow dynamically around it.
• Create a Blank Page: Scroll to the bottom of the page list and drag a control onto the empty circle to spawn an entirely new custom category page.

When you finish customising your layout, tap anywhere outside the grid or swipe up from the bottom bar to exit edit mode and save your changes.