The Control Center: Access and use on iPhone, iPad and Mac

The control center in iOS, iPadOS and macOS offers an overview of tools and settings that are needed frequently. From volume and screen brightness to WiFi, Bluetooth and AirDrop to calculators, screen recording and key brightness, a lot is represented. The whole thing can also be adapted to your own needs, e.g. B. with accessibility features for easier use of the Apple device with restrictions. Here you can find out what the Control Center on Apple devices can do, how you can call it up and how it can be adjusted.

Call up the control center on the Apple iPhone

With the various current models of the iPhone as well as with the iPod Touch, there are two different ways of bringing the Control Center onto the screen. If you are using an iPhone with Face ID (recognizable by the notch and the missing home button), then you wipe down from the top right corner of the display. On an iPhone SE, iPhone 8 or earlier, or iPod Touch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

• iPhone with Face ID: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen
• iPhone with home button and iPod Touch: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen

Customize Control Center on iOS

If you want to add certain controls to the control center on the Apple iPhone or remove them, you can do this via the iOS settings. You can also set whether the overview can be called up while using apps or whether this should only be possible from the home and lock screens. This is how you get the overview:

1. Opens the Settings on your Apple iPhone
2. Now choose control center from the list
3. Removes features with the minus sign in the "Included Controls" list
4. Adds features with the plus icon from the "More Controls" list
5. Arranges the added items by holding and dragging the three lines on the right 

Call up the control center on the Apple iPad

If the Apple iPad is equipped with an operating system in which the Control Center can be used, the procedure is similar to that on an iPhone with Face ID. To access the settings and features overview, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. You will already find the individual tiles and controls for brightness, volume, focus, media playback, flashlight function and more. What shortcuts did you put there? Please leave a comment about it.

Customize Control Center on iPadOS

If you want to add certain controls to the control center on the Apple iPad or remove them, then you proceed in the same way as on the iPhone. You can find an overview of the available controls and the option to adjust their order in the Control Center of the iPad at Settings -> control center. So the procedure is the same as in the list above.

Go to Control Center on Apple Mac

Since macOS 11 BigSur there is also the Control Center on the Apple Mac, iMac and MacBook. It's also hidden in the top right, in the form of a slider icon on the menu bar. Just click on this symbol and the macOS control center will appear. Here WLAN, Bluetooth, AirDrop, display brightness, media volume, keyboard brightness (MacBook) and other things. As on the mobile devices, you can also customize the individual tiles and controls, add some and remove others.

Customize Control Center on macOS

You can also customize Control Center on the Apple Mac by adding or removing controls. The way leads you through the system settings of macOS, which you call up via the Apple menu. You can find this in the top left as a  symbol on the menu bar. Here is the step-by-step guide:

1. Click on the in the top left Apple icon the menu bar
2. Now choose System settings ... from the drop down menu
3. Then click Dock & menu bar an
4. Select the function from the list on the left that you want to edit
5. Adds or removes the features to the control center/menu bar

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.