How to Customise Lock Screen Quick Action Controls on iPhone in iOS 18

For years, the two lower corner shortcuts on the iPhone Lock Screen remained permanently locked to the Flashlight and Camera tools. While convenient for quick illumination and snapshots, many users found themselves accidentally triggering the torch in pockets or wishing for instant access to productivity tools like Voice Memos, Calculator, or custom Apple Shortcuts. Starting with iOS 18, Apple allows complete customisation of both Lock Screen quick action controls. Users can remove, swap, or bind these positions to system utilities, accessibility toggles, or third-party app actions.

Understanding iOS 18 Lock Screen Control Architecture

The Lock Screen customisation system in iOS 18 leverages Apple’s expanded Control Center API. This means the lower left and lower right shortcut buttons can execute any action available in Control Center, including:

• System Utilities: Flashlight, Camera, Timer, Calculator, Stopwatch, Voice Memos, and Magnifier.
• Connectivity & Display: Dark Mode toggle, Low Power Mode, Airplane Mode, Cellular Data, and Personal Hotspot.
• Accessibility Tools: Live Speech, AssistiveTouch, Hearing Aids, and Left-Right Balance.
• Custom Automation: Opening specific apps or triggering multi-step workflows created in the Apple Shortcuts application.

Step-by-Step: Replacing Lock Screen Quick Actions

To change the default Flashlight and Camera buttons on your iPhone:

1. Wake your iPhone and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, but do not swipe up to leave the Lock Screen.
2. Touch and hold (long press) any empty space on the Lock Screen wallpaper until the wallpaper gallery editor appears.
3. Tap the Customise button at the bottom of the active screen.
4. Select Lock Screen on the left side of the selection preview.
5. Look at the bottom corners. You will see circular frames around the Flashlight and Camera icons, each featuring a minus (–) badge.
6. Tap the minus button on the shortcut you wish to replace to clear the slot.
7. Tap the newly exposed plus (+) button inside the empty circular frame.
8. The Controls Gallery sheet slides up. Browse by category or use the search bar to locate your preferred tool (e.g., Timer, Calculator, or Dark Mode).
9. Tap the control to assign it to that corner.
10. Tap Done in the top-right corner to save your modifications.

Assigning Custom Workflows Using the Shortcuts Control

If the built-in system toggles do not meet your exact requirements, you can assign any custom Apple Shortcut to either corner button:

1. In the Controls Gallery, scroll to the Shortcuts section and select Shortcut.
2. Tap the newly placed circular icon to open the shortcut selector picker.
3. Choose your desired macro (such as logging daily water intake, initiating a specific smart home scene, or opening a third-party navigation app).
4. Tap Done to finalize. Pressing the button from the Lock Screen immediately executes the script.

Removing Lock Screen Controls Entirely

If you frequently experience accidental activations inside pockets or prefer an uncluttered, minimalist Lock Screen aesthetic, you can remove both quick actions without replacing them:

1. Enter Lock Screen customisation mode (long press wallpaper > Customise > Lock Screen).
2. Tap the minus (–) icon on both the left and right buttons.
3. Do not tap the plus (+) buttons.
4. Tap Done. Your Lock Screen will display clean wallpaper without corner circular buttons.

Action Activation Dynamics and Haptic Feedback

To prevent accidental triggers, Lock Screen quick action buttons require a deliberate firm press (long press with haptic confirmation) rather than a light tap. When pressed successfully, the Taptic Engine provides tactile click feedback, confirming the action executed.

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