Early iOS 11 Videos Appear to Depict Prototype Control Center and App Switcher Gestures

ios 11A pair of videos that appear to depict prototype iOS 11 features have been found "deep within the iOS 11 beta image" by developer Guilherme Rambo, who has recently become known for digging deep into iOS code to suss out upcoming features.

According to Rambo, the files were created in May, suggesting they depict iOS 11 iPhone functionality that was scrapped rather than functionality that has not yet been implemented, but there's technically no way to tell.

In the first 13 second video, the Lock screen is demonstrated. The implementation of the Lock screen is similar the current iOS 11 implementation, but there are small changes.

While a swipe downwards pulls down the Lock screen cover and a swipe left opens up the widget view, a swipe right brings up the Control Center. In the current incarnation of iOS 11, a right swipe brings up the camera and not the Control Center.

The second video shows a different implementation of the App Switcher. Instead of double tapping on the Home button, the App Switcher is accessed through a swipe upwards on the Home screen, the gesture used for Control Center. Control Center remains accessible as an app at the right side of the screen, though.

In the current version of iOS 11, an upwards swipe on the Home screen brings up the Control center and not the App Switcher, but the video is reminiscent of the way App Switcher works on an iPad. On the iPad, an upwards swipe on the Home screen brings up the dock, while a longer swipe brings up the App Switcher with access to Control Center.

It's possible Apple originally planned to mimic the iPad App Switcher functionality on the iPhone, but later decided against it for a more familiar set of gestures. It's also possible, though, that the videos offer up a look at how iOS 11 will work once the iPhone 8 is released, since it has no Home button.

If there are any significant changes to the way iOS 11 is used on the upcoming iPhone 8, we'll know soon enough. We're expecting Apple to introduce the new iPhone in September, and if past event dates are any indication, we have just two to three weeks to wait.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

cmChimera Avatar
86 months ago
Two swipes for control center is one too many.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
86 months ago
Swiping up on the iPad brings up the app switcher so it would make sense on the iPhone 8 as well, especially without the home button.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macTW Avatar
86 months ago
Very interesting.

Control center imho should be easy to reach and easy to navigate. It isn't here.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Paddle1 Avatar
86 months ago
This must be why they removed the app switcher 3D Touch gesture.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Grey Area Avatar
86 months ago

Yeah, I literally shudder at the thought of this...
You are easily shaken.


even if you have your iPhone fairly well arranged, let’s say 2 screens total, mixture of some “loose” apps & some in folders.
Switching between say Facebook & a game you’re playing, then back again could be something like this:
Tap “Social” folder on 1st home screen, then tap Facebook... then hit home button, slide over to second home screen, tap “Games”, then tap Candy Crush, then tap the home button again, slide back over to the 1st home screen again, tap on the “Social” folder again, and tap Facebook again, to switch back to it.
Is this guy for real??????????!
I see no reason to doubt GreyOS. I hardly ever use the app switcher. Maybe it depends on how one uses the phone. Generally I do not spend much time on the phone, especially not just to pass time, and usually I do not switch between apps. I take the phone out of my pocket when I need it for some specific task with some app, and afterwards I put it away. All my everyday apps are on screen 1. Rarely do I touch screen 2, and there is no third. In most cases I would not know what bringing up the app switcher will show me, because considerable time may have passed since I last used the phone, and I do not remember for what - my desired app might be right next on the left, or it might be some scrolling away, and not so easily recognizable. It is much easier to press the home button once and then the icon that is exactly where I know it is.

I can see that the app switcher might be practical for other users, but not for me, and maybe not for GreyOS.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mariusignorello Avatar
86 months ago
You can use multiple apps by going to home screen and opening them, you don’t have to use the app switcher to use multiple apps. Surely you are being deliberately obtuse
You really have never used the App Switcher? Not even once? I ask this because it’s such a core function in iOS.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...