iOS 11 Preview: Control Center Gets Customizable With 3D Touch

Apple on Monday introduced iOS 11, the next major version of its mobile operating system for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The software update, available this fall, includes a completely redesigned Control Center that fits on one page and is much more customizable thanks to 3D Touch.

Control Center iOS 11 one

Control Center's default appearance (left) and with additional controls (right)

When you deep press on the Music pane, for example, a larger pane with volume, playback, and other controls pops open. Likewise, when you deep press on the pane with Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular Data toggles, a larger pane pops open with AirDrop and Personal Hotspot toggles.

ios 11 control center two

More granular controls appear by deep pressing with 3D Touch

On iOS 11, users can add and organize additional controls and toggles to appear in Control Center through the Settings app. However, the following controls are default and cannot be hidden: the system toggles pane, music, orientation lock, brightness, volume, Do Not Disturb, and AirPlay Mirroring.

Control Center iOS 11 settings

In Settings, users can add and organize additional controls to appear in Control Center

The following controls can be added and organized in Settings:

• Accessibility Shortcuts
• Alarm
• Apple TV Remote
• Calculator
• Camera
• Do Not Disturb While Driving
• Flashlight
• Guided Access
• Home
• Low Power Mode
• Magnifier
• Notes
• Screen Recording
• Stopwatch
• Text Size
• Timer
• Voice Memos
• Wallet

Control Center still lacks a truly customizable drag-and-drop layout, but the return to a single-page design and some customizability are welcomed improvements. The ability to add additional controls such as Low Power Mode and Accessibility Shortcuts will also be appreciated by many users.

control center ios 11 three
The first iOS 11 beta was released to registered Apple developers on Monday. A public beta will be available in late June through the Apple Beta Software Program. The software update should be officially released in September.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

teddybearstand Avatar
90 months ago
Control center looks like a mess and using the volume and brightness scrollers are quite terrible. The customization is welcome, but I hope this design changes before the GM.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
90 months ago
Maybe I am a minority, but 3D Touch is one of my favorite features on the iPhone. I use it for absolutely everything, and it's a huge convenience and shortcut. I think this will play nicely with the control center.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BigDO Avatar
90 months ago
What a mess. iOS losing the polish and going towards Android like chaos.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
90 months ago
It's going to take a little bit of getting use to the new cluttered control center layout.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcfrazieriv Avatar
90 months ago
The complexity of these screens gets worse and worse with every release. What in the heck is going on internally?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mkeeley Avatar
90 months ago
Not exactly stylish is it?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Friday April 12, 2024 11:11 am PDT by
iOS 18 is expected to be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more...