I designed the ideal Control Center for iOS 18.

Apple's iOS 18 update brings significant changes. Users now have the ability to tint and modify the colors of their app icons, as well as freely organize apps and widgets on the home screen, customize lock screen controls, among other features. One of the standout functionalities is the complete customization of the Control Center. After downloading the beta version of iOS 18 months ago, I had not paid much attention to the Control Center until last Friday when I decided to spend some time setting it up on my iPhone 16.

After about 30 minutes of adjustments, I managed to create what I consider the perfect design for my Control Center. At the top, I included the media playback control, which I resized to be larger than what Apple offers by default. This control highlights the album artwork of the song I'm listening to and shows a progress bar reflecting the remaining time of the audio being played. Right below is the new connectivity control, which allows easy access to airplane mode, Wi-Fi, personal hotspot, among others. While some prefer not to use it, I like being able to access additional settings like Bluetooth and VPN with just a tap.

On the side, I placed the brightness and volume controls, perfectly positioned for easy adjustment with my thumb. Further down, I added six of my most used controls, resized to make them easier to tap. These include Focus modes, the sound switch, QR code scanner, Shazam, screen recorder, and the calculator app. At the bottom, I included additional controls that I don’t use as frequently, such as screen rotation lock, low power mode, Apple TV remote, and Apple Watch locator; I keep them at a smaller size due to their less frequent usage.

Additionally, all my smart home controls are on a separate page, with a full-screen widget that gives me access to individual smart lights, my HomePods, and a work scene that activates my office lights while turning off the remaining lights in my apartment.

While I am pleased with the final outcome, the customization process was not straightforward. As mentioned in a recent article, the editing process of the Control Center can be chaotic. Every time a control is moved or resized, the others tend to relocate erratically, making it difficult to achieve a logical organization. I also experienced situations where controls randomly disappeared after making adjustments.

Despite the challenges, I am thrilled with my Control Center customization. I listen to many podcasts throughout the day, especially during this football season, so a large and prominent control for media playback is essential. The placement of the control over brightness and the increased size of the most used controls prove to be very practical. From an aesthetic standpoint, the design is visually pleasing, starting from a large control at the top to symmetrical rows of controls of varying sizes.

The best part of customizing the Control Center in iOS 18 is the freedom it gives users to design it their way. I have shared a screenshot of my setup on other platforms, where I received various comments on other users' designs. Everyone can create their own version of the Control Center, and although the execution has its issues, with patience and dedication, one can arrive at a configuration that works perfectly according to individual preferences, becoming one of the most valued aspects of my iPhone.