How to Customise and Replace Lock Screen Corner Shortcuts on iPhone in iOS 18

Since the introduction of the iPhone X, Apple’s Lock Screen has featured two persistent corner buttons: the Flashlight (Torch) in the lower-left and the Camera in the lower-right. While useful for quick captures, these fixed buttons frustrated many users: the Camera shortcut was redundant given that swiping left across the screen already opened the camera, and the Torch button was frequently triggered accidentally inside pockets or bags. With the release of iOS 18, Apple fulfilled one of the most requested personalisation features: users can now fully customise and replace Lock Screen corner shortcuts with hundreds of alternative controls, system utilities, custom Siri Shortcuts, or third-party apps.

What Can You Assign to iOS 18 Lock Screen Shortcuts?

Apple’s updated Lock Screen Controls Gallery provides access to a comprehensive suite of utilities:

• System Utilities: Calculator, Dark Mode toggle, Low Power Mode, Timer, Stopwatch, Alarm, Voice Memos.
• Accessibility Tools: Magnifier, Live Speech, VoiceOver, Hearing Devices, AssistiveTouch.
• Connectivity & Media: Aeroplane Mode, Cellular Data, Remote for Apple TV, Shazam music recognition.
• Custom Siri Shortcuts: Launch any multi-step automation, smart home scene, or custom workflow directly from the locked screen.
• Third-Party Apps: Direct action buttons from supported App Store applications.
• Clean Slate: Remove corner buttons completely for an uncluttered lock screen wallpaper.

Step-by-Step: Changing Lock Screen Shortcuts on iPhone

Editing your corner shortcuts takes place directly inside the Lock Screen gallery studio:

1. Wake your iPhone and unlock it using Face ID or Touch ID, but remain on the Lock Screen (do not swipe up to the Home Screen).
2. Touch and hold (long-press) anywhere on the wallpaper canvas to enter the Lock Screen gallery.
3. Swipe to the specific wallpaper setup you wish to modify and tap Customise at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap the Lock Screen preview tile on the left.
5. Look at the bottom two corners of the display: you will notice minus (–) badges overlaid on the Flashlight and Camera icons.

Step 2: Removing the Existing Controls

Before assigning a new shortcut, remove the default tool:

1. Tap the minus (–) badge on the Flashlight icon in the lower-left corner to delete it.
2. Tap the minus (–) badge on the Camera icon in the lower-right corner to delete it.
3. Both corner slots will now display open plus (+) icons.

Step 3: Choosing Replacement Shortcuts from the Controls Gallery

Now populate the corner slots with tools that match your daily productivity requirements:

1. Tap the open + (Plus) icon in the lower-left corner.
2. The Controls Gallery slides up from the bottom of your screen.
3. Browse through categories or type into the search bar at the top (e.g. search for Calculator, Timer, or Shazam).
4. Tap your desired control. The icon immediately docks into the lower-left slot.
5. Repeat the process for the lower-right corner slot:
   • Productivity Recommendation: Pair Calculator on the left with Voice Memos on the right.
   • Power User Recommendation: Select Shortcut and choose a custom automation that toggles your smart home lights.

Step 4: Saving Your Lock Screen Customisation

To lock in your changes:

1. Tap the Done button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Tap the Lock Screen wallpaper to exit the gallery editor.

Testing Your New Corner Shortcuts

Lock your iPhone and wake the display to test your setup. Just like the original controls, activating a shortcut requires an intentional, firm press (Haptic Touch) until you feel a crisp haptic tap. If the assigned action requires user authentication (such as opening the Calculator or executing a sensitive Shortcut), Face ID confirms your identity seamlessly without interrupting execution.