Control Center

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What is Control Center?

Control Center is a feature on iOS devices that was introduced by Apple with iOS7 but has been revised periodically since then. Essentially, Control Center brings quick access to frequently used and important features such as volume, brightness, wifi, bluetooth, Do Not Disturb mode, Airplane mode, and Orientation Lock. It also serves to control media playback and acts as the launching point for Apple protocols such as AirDrop and AirPlay and activates useful tools such as the Clock or Camera App. On newer iPads, it also turns on the Flashlight App.

Notable changes to the Control Center were implemented in iOS10 where the features were spread out over three pages (general features, media playback and HomeKit if implemented). In iOS11, the feature was reverted back to a single page but Apple gave users greater customization by allowing them to add or remove features that were important to them. In iOS 12, Apple made a conscious decision to separate the control center from the multitasking (aka app switcher screen).

How to Activate Control Center

Activating Control Center is dependent on the iOS version that is currently installed:

• Prior to iOS11, users accessed Control Center in the same manner - by swiping upward from the bottom of the screen or by double clicking the home button
• In iOS11, Control Center was activated by swiping up from the bottom of the screen which revealed the Dock. Continuing to swipe up would then access the Control Center
• in iOS12, iPad users will need to swipe down from the top-right corner. The Control Center icon (long horizontal line) will appear just below the battery icon. Swiping upward from the bottom of the screen or double clicking the home button in iOS12 now only activates the app switcher or multitasking screen and not the Control Center as well. This change brings the iPad more in line with gestures introduced in 2017 when the iPhone X was released without a home button.

To hide Control Centre, users tap the top of the screen or press the home button.

For most iOS versions, you will see all of the options on one page. On iOS10, Control Center is spread over three pages (if HomeKit is utilized). Features are toggled on or off by pushing the appropriate button. Here is a basic summary of the features available depending on the iOS version (some features may vary depending on the model of the iPad - for example, iPad Air 2, iPad Pros and iPad (2017) do not have a mute switch. Instead, that feature is toggled in Control Center.

iOS11

Features displayed on the Control Center will vary depending on the customization. Users now have the option of including the addtional following functions or shortcuts in the Control Center:

• Flashlight (iPhone, iPad Pro 12.9 inch 2nd generation, iPad Pro 10.5 inch, iPad Pro 9.7 inch and iPod touch only), Timer, Calculator, Alarm, Stopwatch, Voice Memos or Camera App shortcuts
• Accessibility Shortcuts
• Apple TV Remote
• Do Not Disturb While Driving
• Guided Access
• Low Power Mode
• Magnifier
• Screen Recording
• Text Size

iOS12

Similar to iOS12, features displayed on the Control Center will vary depending on the user's customization. Users have the option of including the same fuctions as before as well as the following added features:

• QR Code scanner
• Audio output options
• Hearing Aids
• Home app (iPhone and iPad only)
• Night shift
• Notes
• True Tone (iPad Pro 12.9 inch 2nd generation and iPad Pro 10.5 inch only, iPad Pro 9.7 inch, iPhone 8 or X and later only)
• Wallet (iPhone and iPod touch only)