The Control Centre on your iPad provides instant access to your most frequently used settings and features, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen brightness, and volume. By swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen, you can manage these essential functions without having to dig through the Settings app.
However, the default layout provided by Apple might not perfectly align with how you use your device. Fortunately, iPadOS allows you to heavily customise the Control Centre by adding, removing, and reorganising the shortcut tiles to suit your personal workflow.
How to Access and Customise the Control Centre
To modify which shortcuts appear in your Control Centre, you must configure it through the main iPad Settings application. Follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- In the left-hand menu, scroll down and tap on Control Centre.
On the right side of the screen, you will see two main sections:
- Included Controls: These are the shortcuts currently active and visible in your Control Centre.
- More Controls: This is a list of all available shortcuts that you can add to your Control Centre.
Adding and Removing Shortcuts
To add a new control, scroll down to the “More Controls” list. Find the feature you want to add (such as Screen Recording, Dark Mode, or Apple TV Remote) and tap the green plus (+) button next to its name. It will immediately move up to the “Included Controls” list.
To remove a control, look at the “Included Controls” list at the top. Tap the red minus (-) button next to the item you wish to remove, then tap the red Remove button that slides into view. The shortcut will be placed back into the “More Controls” list.
Note: Certain core system controls, such as the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cluster, screen brightness slider, and volume slider, are permanently fixed and cannot be removed from the Control Centre.
Reorganising the Layout
The order in which the shortcuts appear in the “Included Controls” list determines exactly where they sit on the grid when you open the Control Centre. You can easily rearrange them to prioritise your most-used tools.
To move an item, locate the three horizontal lines (grab handle) on the far right side of the item’s name. Tap and hold this handle, then drag the item up or down the list to its new position. Items placed higher in the list will appear closer to the top of the Control Centre interface.
Recommended Controls for Productivity
If you use your iPad for work or creative projects, consider adding these highly useful shortcuts to your Control Centre:
- Screen Recording: Essential for capturing tutorials, bugs, or gameplay without needing third-party software.
- Quick Note: Instantly brings up a floating notepad, perfect for jotting down ideas during a FaceTime call or while browsing Safari.
- Dark Mode: Allows you to quickly toggle the system-wide dark theme to reduce eye strain in low-light environments.
- Guided Access: An excellent feature for parents or retail environments, allowing you to lock the iPad to a single app and disable specific screen areas.
By tailoring the Control Centre to your specific needs, you can significantly reduce the friction of daily iPad usage and keep your most vital tools just a single swipe away.
