How to Customise and Organise the Redesigned Control Centre on iPad in iPadOS 18

In iPadOS 18, Apple completely rebuilt Control Centre, transforming it from a static grid of system toggles into a multi-page, modular dashboard. For the first time on the iPad, users can freely resize control buttons, rearrange tiles onto separate functional pages, integrate third-party application actions via the Controls API, and tailor dedicated panels for media playback, HomeKit automation, and network connectivity.

Taking advantage of the large display surface of the iPad, the redesigned Control Centre turns common quick settings into a personalised command deck accessible from anywhere across iPadOS.

Accessing and Entering Control Centre Edit Mode

Opening Control Centre on iPad retains the familiar gesture, but editing layout and controls has moved directly into the interface itself:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPad screen.
2. Control Centre expands. Notice the new navigation icons running along the far right edge of the screen, marking different pages.
3. To enter editing mode, tap the Add Control button (the + icon) in the top-left corner of the Control Centre panel, or touch and hold any empty background area.
4. All widgets and buttons enter "jiggle mode," displaying resizing handles and removal badges.

Adding, Resizing, and Repositioning Controls

The updated iPadOS 18 grid supports flexible button configurations ranging from compact single-cell icons to wide horizontal banners.

Adding Controls from the Controls Gallery

1. While in edit mode, tap Add a Control at the bottom of the screen.
2. The Controls Gallery opens, categorised by system utilities (Accessibility, Connectivity, Display, Media) and supported third-party apps.
3. Browse through available actions or use the search bar at the top to find specific controls (such as Dark Mode, Shazam, Magnifier, or Timer).
4. Tap any control to drop it directly onto the active page.

Resizing Control Buttons

Many controls support multiple dimensions:

1. Locate the curved resize handle at the lower-right corner of a control tile.
2. Drag the handle outward or inward to switch between a circular 1×1 toggle, a 2×1 capsule button, or a larger 2×2 rectangular widget.
3. Larger sizes expose richer contextual information—for example, expanding the Timer control displays countdown time directly on the tile.

Rearranging and Moving Controls

Touch and drag any control across the grid. Other tiles dynamically shift around to make room. If you drag a tile toward the bottom edge, iPadOS automatically flows the control onto a subsequent page or creates a new one.

Navigating and Customising Control Centre Pages

iPadOS 18 organises controls into dedicated functional groups accessible via a continuous vertical swipe or by tapping the right-hand sidebar icons:

• Favourites Page (Heart icon): Your primary custom landing page containing top everyday tools and utilities.
• Media Playback Page (Music icon): An expansive, full-width Now Playing interface displaying album artwork, scrub bars, output destination selector (AirPlay), and volume sliders.
• Home Controls Page (House icon): Displays your favourite smart accessories, scenes, and security cameras configured in Apple Home.
• Connectivity Page (Antenna icon): Dedicated network controls for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular Data, Personal Hotspot, AirDrop, and VPN toggles.

You can add your own custom pages by dragging controls down past the final page while in edit mode.

Removing Unwanted Controls and Exiting Edit Mode

1. To remove any unwanted control, tap the circular Minus (-) badge on the upper-left corner of the tile while in edit mode.
2. Removing a control does not delete its corresponding app; it simply hides the quick action from Control Centre.
3. When you finish arranging your layout, tap Done in the upper right or tap anywhere outside the Control Centre canvas to save changes.

Adding Custom Shortcuts to Control Centre

Beyond built-in Apple tools, you can place custom automation routines directly into Control Centre:

1. In the Controls Gallery, search for Shortcuts.
2. Select Shortcut to place the tile on your layout.
3. Tap the tile in edit mode to choose the exact custom shortcut from the Shortcuts app you wish to trigger.
4. Resize and reposition the shortcut tile to create immediate one-tap triggers for complex tasks like batch image conversion or smart home routines.