Hands-On With iOS 11: New Control Center, Redesigned App Store, Files App and More - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Hands-On With iOS 11: New Control Center, Redesigned App Store, Files App and More

Following Monday's keynote event, Apple released its newest iPhone operating system, iOS 11, to developers.

iOS 11 won't be available for public beta testers until June and the general public will need to wait until the fall, but if you want to get a quick taste of what's coming in the update, check out our hands-on video below.


There are subtle design changes throughout iOS 11, with a focus on bolder fonts and borderless buttons. One of the most significant design changes can be seen in the Control Center, which has been entirely overhauled with a new look, deeper functionality, and better customization.

An entirely new App Store has been developed for iOS 11, and for the first time, apps and games are split out into their own sections. There's a "Today" view that's updated on a daily basis with recommendations, developer stories, and more.

Files, a new app, mimics the Finder in macOS and makes it easier to manage files on iOS devices, and Siri has a new, more natural voice. Messages has a new app drawer to make it easier to use stickers and apps, and there's a new built-in person-to-person Apple Pay feature for sending money to friends.

Maps includes indoor maps for malls and airports in select cities, and a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature is designed to keep users safe in the car. Apple Music features friend sharing, Photos includes new Live Photo editing options, and Notes supports handwriting recognition.

Along with these new features, there are several changes that are specific to the iPad. A new bottom Dock has been added, for example, and that dock is accessible from anywhere with a simple swipe up from the bottom of the display. A new App Switcher on the iPad (accessed with a double swipe) shows a tiled view of all the open apps to make switching faster and more Mac-like.

We'll have more videos covering iOS 11 features over the course of the week, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors.com.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Popular Stories

Apple 2026 Back to School Graphic

Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer Just Went Live in Select Countries

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Apple's annual Back to School promotion is now live in select countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The offer provides college students and educational staff with a free item with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model. The exact offer varies by country, with options including a pack of four AirTags, AirPods 4,...
iphone 17 cyber

Apple Closes Unlocked iPhone Loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon Financing

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
Carrier-financed iPhones purchased from Apple will soon be locked to the carrier, ending a workaround customers used to purchase an unlocked iPhone on a payment plan. Until the rule change, buying an iPhone from Apple and opting for financing through Verizon or T-Mobile meant you would get an iPhone not locked to either carrier's network. That's no longer the case, and now iPhones financed...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

New iPad Mini With Four Upgrades Reportedly Launching by October

Thursday July 16, 2026 7:16 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release a new iPad mini model with an OLED display by October this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple already updated the iPad Pro with an OLED display in May 2024, but the iPad mini, iPad Air, and entry-level iPad are all still equipped with LCD screens. The move to OLED technology would result in the next iPad mini offering improved image quality, thanks ...

Top Rated Comments

cwwilson Avatar
119 months ago
We should be able get Control Center to look like this mockup.

Attachment Image
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
119 months ago
Still missing a fundamental feature here: be able to quickly swap from one WiFi network to another right out of the Control Center. Anyone else in the need of this?
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ds6778 Avatar
119 months ago
I mean... how often would someone REALLY be doing that... Seems like a rather silly "feature" to waste resource on.
Umm a lot of people... being able to 3D Touch deeper into Wifi and Bluetooth and actually pick which one you want/need at the moment seems like a huge oversight.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tomtendo Avatar
119 months ago
Still missing a fundamental feature here: be able to quickly swap from one WiFi network to another right out of the Control Center. Anyone else in the need of this?
I mean... how often would someone REALLY be doing that... Seems like a rather silly "feature" to waste resource on.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jay42 Avatar
119 months ago
Swiping down to get back to the lock screen is stupid. I never need to get back to the lock screen and now it's 2 swipes just to check notifications.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ds6778 Avatar
119 months ago
Swiping down to get back to the lock screen is stupid. I never need to get back to the lock screen and now it's 2 swipes just to check notifications.

I agree. I love iOS but this update feels like a “we changed shyt just to change it.” The new lock screen and notification “hybrid” is utterly stupid.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)