Control Center on iOS 18 Rumored to Feature Upgraded Music Widget and HomeKit Improvements

In a social media post last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 will include "updates" to Control Center, and he has now outlined a few specific changes.

iOS 18 Control Center Feature Iridescent 1
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter on Sunday, Gurman said Control Center will feature an upgraded music widget and improved controls for HomeKit smart home accessories. However, he did not provide any further details about these changes, so all we know for now is these will apparently be two focus areas for Apple.

Apple will unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and the first beta should be made available to members of the Apple Developer Program immediately following the presentation. The update should be widely released in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Saturday August 16, 2025 6:45 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report this week, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform will blend...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max's Internal Design With Metal Battery Allegedly Leaks

Friday August 15, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Alleged images of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's internal design have surfaced, offering a potential look inside the device before it is announced by Apple next month. The images were shared by the account "yeux1122" this week, in a blog post on the Korean platform Naver. The account aggregates Apple rumors and leaks, so it is likely not the original source of the images, and it is unclear if they...
apple beta 26 lineup

Mark Gurman Responds to Last Week's Apple Device Leaks

Sunday August 17, 2025 7:03 am PDT by
Last week, Apple released and then pulled a software tool that accidentally contained identifiers for many unreleased devices and chips, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. His findings included new models of the Studio Display, Apple TV, Apple Watches, Apple Vision Pro, iPad mini, HomePod mini, and more. Here is what was uncovered in the file, according to MacRumors contributor ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Reportedly Set to Receive 'Significant Redesign' Next Year

Friday August 15, 2025 1:31 pm PDT by
At least one new Apple Watch model launching next year will feature a "significant redesign," according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. In a paywalled report this week, citing supply chain insiders, DigiTimes claimed that a high-end 2026 Apple Watch model will feature "exterior design" changes, including but not limited to "eight sensors arranged in a ring pattern visible...
Golden Apple Logo

Every Apple Secret That Leaked Wednesday

Thursday August 14, 2025 4:13 am PDT by
Apple made a major slip Wednesday when it accidentally included hardware identifiers in software code linking to numerous unannounced products. The leaked information provided MacRumors with concrete evidence of Apple's hardware development across multiple product categories. Here's everything that was confirmed through the code discoveries: New HomePod mini with updated chip – New...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Chassis Offers First Look at All-Aluminum Body

Thursday August 14, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
An alleged iPhone 17 Pro production leak may provide a first look at the device's milled all-aluminum chassis, which this year includes the camera bump – in contrast to last year's iPhone 16 Pro model that features a glass camera module attached to an all-glass back panel. Originally shared by leaker Majin Bu, the image below could be of a moulding, but it still lines up with rumors that...
iOS 26 Feature

Here's Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 7

Monday August 18, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
The seventh developer beta of iOS 26 is now available. While we are now in the later stages of the iOS 26 beta cycle, there are still some changes. Below, we outline everything new that we have found in iOS 26 beta 7 so far. Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature The seventh developer betas of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 include a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch ...

Top Rated Comments

CarAnalogy Avatar
16 months ago
Shouldn't be hard to improve on what is now kind of a baffling interface.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TwoBytes Avatar
16 months ago
A whole year for updated widgets?
I hope this isn't dramatised as big news; you're gonna love it, etc, as this is minimal effort for something so minor.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
16 months ago
HomeKit playback controls are long overdue for an update. As it currently stands, you have to root around to click the little button that enables you to control what’s playing on your HomePods. Not a great experience. Hopefully they just consolidate everything onto one screen.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
16 months ago
The control center is a mess of a UI and has been for years so anything will be a big improvement. The Homekit part of the control center is extremely annoying when my most used icons may disappear and barley used ones show up, and somehow I have no ability to control what homekit icons are shown on that UI.

It's a very poorly designed and cluttered mess of UI.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rustygh Avatar
16 months ago
? Here's an idea, how about make access to the control center something usable, so it's actually a thing?

I'm saying I like it, it's just a super PITA to get there with pull down from top right?
There has to be a better way?

Give us at least accessibility triple click, add 'open control center' to accessibility shortcuts?

Look, I'm not asking, I'm letting you know, that is why control center is such a nothing burger, it's a PITA!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
16 months ago

I have a library in Apple Music but don't subscribe, so can care less. And, I prefer actual switches in my house so don't care about HomeKit either ...
Cool, thanks for weighing in!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)