Customize Your Lock Screen Controls with iOS 18 Beta
Apple released the second public beta for iOS 18 on July 29, bringing several new features to iPhones, including enhanced Messages and more ways to personalize your home screen. One highly anticipated feature is the ability to change or remove lock screen controls, a useful addition for those who often accidentally turn on their flashlight.
Beta Caution
iOS 18 is still in its beta phase, so it’s recommended to install it on a secondary device due to potential bugs and battery issues. I installed the beta on an old iPhone XR to avoid disruptions on my primary iPhone 14 Pro. Apple plans to release the final version of iOS 18 to the public this fall, though no specific date has been set.
How to Customize Your Lock Screen?
Here’s how you can make your iPhone lock screen more functional:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Wallpaper.
- Tap Customize under your lock screen.
This will display your lock screen with outlines around editable items like the flashlight and camera controls. You can remove these by tapping the minus (-) sign next to them. After making changes, tap Done in the top right corner.
To add new controls, tap the plus (+) sign that appears after removing an existing control to open the Control menu. This menu lets you add various controls, including Translate and Quick Note.
Additionally, you can use the Open App control to select any app on your iPhone to open from the lock screen. Though you’ll still need to unlock your phone to access the app, it simplifies the process of opening your favorite apps without distractions.
To set this up:
- Select Open App.
- Tap Choose in the new menu to see all your apps.
- Pick any app, then tap outside the menu and tap Done.
- Now, your lock screen will feature controls tailored to your preferences.
Ongoing Beta and Future Updates
Since iOS 18 is still in beta, some features might be buggy or not work correctly. Apple is likely to release more beta updates before the final OS is available to the public. Stay tuned for updates and fixes in the upcoming betas.
For more insights on iOS 18, check out hands-on experiences with the iOS 18 betas, details about RCS messaging, and how to schedule a message to send later. You can also refer to our iOS 18 cheat sheet for a comprehensive overview.
