How to Customize iPhone Control Center in 2026 (iOS 18+)

Customizing Control Center on iPhone: Settings > Control Center > add, remove, or reorder controls. iOS 26 adds more granular customization per Focus mode and new controls for third-party apps including custom Shortcuts.

Basic Customization

Settings > Control Center > + Add a Control: choose from Apple’s built-in controls.

Remove existing controls: tap the red minus in edit mode.

Reorder: drag handles to rearrange.

Useful controls for note-takers: Screen Recording (with microphone), Voice Memos Quick Record, Shazam (identifies audio), Text Size.

New in iOS 26

Control Center in iOS 26 supports per-Focus-mode customization. You can have different controls visible in Work Focus vs Personal Focus. Add controls: long-press Control Center to enter edit mode.

Third-party app controls: some apps (including Nemos if they implement the ControlCenterWidget) can appear in Control Center for one-tap access.

For Nemos Capture Workflow

Add Screen Recording with microphone to Control Center: swipe down, tap record, mic on. Record audio while doing anything on iPhone. After recording, share the audio to Nemos for transcription.

Add Voice Memos: built-in Voice Memos shortcut in Control Center for instant capture.

Shortcut control: add a Custom Shortcut control that opens Nemos directly. Settings > Control Center > Add Control > Shortcuts > select "Open Nemos."

Control Center in Lock Screen Context

Swiping up from Lock Screen opens Control Center (if not disabled in Settings > Face ID & Passcode). Quick access to controls without unlocking. Note: this means Voice Memos or Shortcuts controls are accessible without authentication.

Control Center as Capture Shortcut

iOS 18 allows any app to add a Control Center action. Nemos adds a quick-capture action — swipe down, tap the Nemos icon, and you're in the capture interface regardless of what app you were in.

This is faster than any dock or home screen shortcut because Control Center doesn't require navigating to the home screen. In the middle of reading an article, watching a video, or in a conversation — one swipe and one tap opens Nemos capture.

Useful pairing: add Nemos Control Center action alongside the default Voice Memo and Camera shortcuts. The three together cover the primary capture modalities: audio (Voice Memo), visual (Camera), and organized capture (Nemos).