New Control Center Controls in iOS 18

Apple’s iOS 18 introduces a major redesign of the Control Center, replacing the rigid, fixed grid with a modular Controls Gallery. Alongside third-party app integration and resizable tiles, the update unbundles several previously locked features and adds dozens of standalone system toggles. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the new system toggle controls available in the revamped iOS 18 Control Center gallery.

Standalone Connectivity Toggles

In prior iOS versions, core wireless controls were confined to a single, non-customizable platter. iOS 18 introduces individual, standalone toggles that can be placed anywhere on the grid:

  • Wi-Fi: Instantly toggle Wi-Fi connectivity without opening the grouped platter.
  • Bluetooth: Independently enable or disable Bluetooth connections.
  • Cellular Data: A dedicated single-tap switch for mobile data access.
  • Personal Hotspot: Direct activation of hotspot tethering.
  • Airplane Mode: An isolated toggle to instantly turn off all radios.
  • AirDrop: Direct control over AirDrop discoverability states.
  • VPN: Quick connection management for active VPN profiles.
  • Satellite: Direct access to emergency satellite messaging tools on supported iPhone models.

Accessibility Controls

iOS 18 expands system-level accessibility controls into the gallery, providing fast access to advanced assistive technologies:

  • Eye Tracking: Toggle on-screen navigation via eye movement detection.
  • Music Haptics: Activate iPhone haptic vibrations tuned to Apple Music tracks.
  • Vehicle Motion Cues: Toggle animated screen dots designed to reduce motion sickness while in transit.
  • Live Speech: Instantly open the interface to type phrases that the iPhone speaks out loud.
  • Vocal Shortcuts: Enable custom phrase triggers for system tasks.
  • Hover Text: Toggle text enlargement for highlighted screen areas.
  • Voice Control: Quickly activate or suspend hands-free voice commands.

Utilities and Hardware Controls

Several essential system utilities and hardware-specific toggles are now directly selectable in the gallery:

  • Silent Mode: A dedicated software toggle to mute or unmute the device, especially beneficial for devices without an Action button.
  • Translate: Launch immediate speech or text translation from the Control Center.
  • Open App: A generic launcher control that can be assigned to open any installed application.
  • Dark Mode: A distinct, standalone switch to invert interface themes without expanding the display brightness slider.
  • Scan Document: Direct trigger using the Notes infrastructure to capture physical documents.
  • Timer and Alarm: Independent, quick-set buttons for clock tools.
  • Ping My Watch: Direct button to trigger an audible sound from a paired Apple Watch.

Shortcuts and Quick Actions

The updated gallery integrates deeply with the Shortcuts app:

  • Run Shortcut: Users can select any custom shortcut to function as a native Control Center button, effectively allowing infinite custom toggle behaviors, such as toggling smart home devices, setting system settings variables, or automating daily workflows.