How to Customize Control Center on iPad: Put Controls First

To customize Control Center on an iPad, open Control Center and tap the `+` button on iPadOS 18; you can then add, remove, move, or resize supported controls. On iPadOS 17 or earlier, open `Settings > Control Center` to choose and reorder controls. These steps put Screen Recording, Low Power Mode, Accessibility, and other supported shortcuts within easier reach.

Check which iPadOS version you’re using first

Before you start, you need an iPad with the relevant iPadOS version installed. The version determines whether you edit Control Center on the screen or in Settings.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap About.
4. Find iPadOS Version or Software Version to see the installed version.

If the version starts with 18, use the iPadOS 18 instructions in the next section. If it is 17 or earlier, use the Settings-based method.

You can also check for an available update by opening Settings and going to:

Settings > General > Software Update

Finish any update before arranging your controls. Updating changes which customization method is available.

Add, remove, move, or resize controls in iPadOS 18

iPadOS 18 lets you edit Control Center without leaving it. The changes are saved as you make them, so there is no separate Save button.

1. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the iPad screen.
2. Tap the + button in the upper-left corner. Control Center enters editing mode, and controls show editing handles or removal buttons.
3. Tap Add a Control to open the control gallery. The gallery lists the controls available on your iPad.
4. Tap the control you want to add. It appears in the current Control Center area.
5. Drag a control to a new position. Keep your finger on the control, move it to the location you want, and release it.

Before removing a control, check whether you still need it for an occasional but necessary task, such as orientation lock, Guided Access, or accessibility features.

6. Remove a control by tapping its remove button while editing. It disappears from Control Center, but removing it does not uninstall an app or disable the underlying feature.
7. Resize a supported control by dragging its resize handle. Larger controls are easier to tap, while smaller controls leave room for more items. Not every control supports resizing.
8. Tap outside the editing area or close Control Center when you are finished. The layout is saved automatically.

To add Screen Recording, Low Power Mode, or an Accessibility control, use the gallery instead of searching through Settings. If a control does not appear in the gallery, it may not be available on that iPad or under its current configuration.

How to customize Control Center on older iPads

On iPads running iPadOS 17 or earlier, use Settings to choose which controls appear and, where supported, their order. These versions do not provide the iPadOS 18 editing gallery, free-form placement, or control resizing.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Control Center.
3. Review the controls under Included Controls. These are the shortcuts currently shown in Control Center.
4. Tap the red minus button beside a control to remove it from the included list.
5. Tap the green plus button beside a control in More Controls to add it.
6. Drag the reorder handle beside an included control to change its position when your iPad shows that handle.
7. Close Settings when you are finished. The changes apply automatically.

The exact controls available depend on the iPad model, iPadOS version, and features enabled on the device. Older iPadOS versions use a fixed Control Center arrangement, so you can select and reorder supported controls but cannot resize them or place them in separate custom pages as you can in iPadOS 18.

If you cannot find a control in More Controls, check for an iPadOS update and confirm that the feature is supported on your iPad. Do not assume that every control available on a newer iPad is available on an older version.

Build a layout you can actually use one-handed

Put the controls you use most near the part of the screen you can reach comfortably. Brightness, volume, orientation lock, and Screen Recording are sensible candidates for prominent positions. If you often use Low Power Mode or an accessibility shortcut, place those controls where you can see them instead of requiring another trip through Settings.

iPadOS 18 can organize Control Center into separate groups or pages. While editing, swipe through the Control Center areas to review them, then move controls into the group that matches how you use them. Keep everyday device controls together and put less frequent tools, such as accessibility or Home controls, on another page. After closing the editor, swipe within Control Center to move between groups.

Do not make every control large. Resize only controls that benefit from a bigger touch target or need to show more information. A crowded first page is slower than a short swipe to a well-organized second page.

Before removing anything, review controls you use only occasionally. Orientation Lock is easy to forget until an app rotates unexpectedly, and Screen Recording may be needed only once in a while. Leave those controls available if you do not want to reopen Settings or the edit gallery later.

Make sure the changes stuck—and restore anything you removed

Control Center saves its layout automatically. To confirm the change, close Control Center completely, reopen it from the top-right corner, and check that the controls appear in their new positions. On iPadOS 18, swipe through the Control Center groups or pages to confirm that moved controls are where you expected. On iPadOS 17 or earlier, compare the visible arrangement with the Included Controls list in Settings.

If you removed a control by mistake, restore it using the method for your iPadOS version:

1. On iPadOS 18, open Control Center from the top-right corner.
2. Tap the + button to enter editing mode.
3. Tap Add a Control.
4. Select the missing control in the gallery. It returns to the current Control Center area.
5. Move or resize it if needed, then close Control Center.

On iPadOS 17 or earlier, open Settings and go to:

Settings > Control Center > More Controls

Tap the green plus button beside the control, then drag it within Included Controls if you want to change its order. Reopen Control Center afterward. Seeing the restored shortcut in the panel confirms that the layout has been updated.

Conclusion

Check the iPadOS version first, then customize in the right place: directly in Control Center on iPadOS 18 or through `Settings > Control Center` on older versions. Keep frequently used controls on the first page, group less frequent tools separately when available, and reopen Control Center to confirm that the saved layout works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I customize Control Center on any iPad?

You can customize Control Center on iPads that support the relevant iPadOS version, but the available controls depend on the iPad model and installed software. iPadOS 18 offers on-screen editing, while iPadOS 17 and earlier use Settings.

Why can’t I resize a Control Center control?

Resizing is available only in iPadOS 18, and only supported controls can be resized. Older iPadOS versions use a fixed control size.

Will removing a Control Center control delete the feature?

No. Removing a control removes only its shortcut from Control Center. The related feature or app remains on the iPad, and you can add the control again later.