iOS 18 Control Center Layout Changes

Apple introduced a major redesign to the Control Center in iOS 18, transforming it from a rigid grid into a deeply customizable, multi-page hub. This update allows users to rearrange controls freely, resize individual widgets, access dedicated groups for media and connectivity, and incorporate third-party app controls for the first time.

Multi-Page Grouped Layout

The most noticeable shift in iOS 18 is the transition to a multi-page interface. Instead of forcing all controls onto a single screen, Control Center now categorizes functions into distinct, vertically scrollable groups:

  • Favorites: The primary page containing your most frequently used toggles and shortcuts.
  • Media Playback: A dedicated full-screen view for the Now Playing widget, offering larger album art and expanded playback controls.
  • Home Controls: A dedicated view for smart home accessories and scenes.
  • Connectivity: A dedicated hub for cellular data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and VPN.

Users can swipe vertically between these sections or tap the small navigation icons aligned along the right edge of the screen.

Resizable and Freely Arranged Controls

Control Center no longer forces controls into predefined spots. By entering edit mode (via a new "+" icon in the top-left corner), users can drag and drop icons anywhere on the grid.

Additionally, many controls now feature an adjustable handle in the corner, allowing users to resize them dynamically. A control can range from a compact 1x1 icon to a larger 2x2 platter, changing the amount of information or interaction it displays.

A new Controls Gallery acts as a central repository for finding and adding toggles. Accessible through edit mode, this gallery organizes available actions by category and search, making it easy to add system functions as well as supported third-party app actions via the newly introduced Controls API.

Standalone Connectivity Toggles

In previous iOS versions, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and Cellular were locked inside a single, non-customizable platter. In iOS 18, users can pull these controls out as individual, standalone buttons and place them anywhere within the interface for direct, one-tap access.

Hardware Power Button

The top-right corner of the Control Center now includes a dedicated virtual power button. Tapping and holding this icon brings up the standard power-off slider, offering a fast software alternative to using physical hardware buttons.