How to Customize the Control Center on Your iPad or iPhone : iPad Pilot News

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The Control Center remains one of the most useful built-in tools on both iPhone and iPad. For pilots using an iPad as an electronic flight bag (EFB), it’s especially valuable—putting key system controls just a swipe away without leaving your aviation app. Whether you’re managing connectivity before engine start, adjusting brightness in cruise, or quickly enabling Focus mode during a busy flight, Control Center is designed for fast access when it matters most.

Over the last few iOS and iPadOS updates, Apple has significantly redesigned how Control Center works and—more importantly—how you customize it. Here’s what you need to know.

Accessing Control Center

On most modern iPhones and iPads, Control Center is accessed by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.

On Face ID devices, this gesture is consistent across both platforms. On some iPad configurations, especially with external keyboards, you may also access Control Center via the menu bar or system controls.

A More Flexible Control Center (What Changed)

Apple has significantly modernized Control Center in recent versions of iOS and iPadOS. The biggest change is that it is now fully customizable and modular.

Instead of a fixed layout with a separate “Include” list in Settings, Control Center is now:

Fully editable directly on-screen
Built around movable, resizable controls
Organized into multiple pages or sections you can swipe between
Designed for personalization based on how you actually use your device

For pilots, this is a meaningful improvement—you can now build a layout that matches your workflow (preflight, inflight, and postflight).

How to Customize Control Center

To edit Control Center:

Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner)
Press and hold on an empty area or any control
Tap Edit Controls (or enter edit mode directly, depending on iOS version)
Add, remove, resize, or reposition controls as needed
Swipe to create and organize multiple Control Center pages

You can now essentially design your own “instrument panel” of system tools.

control center

Standard Control Center Elements

While layouts are customizable, several core system controls remain central to the experience.

Connectivity (Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular)

The connectivity tile groups all major radios into one expandable control. For pilots, this is particularly useful for quickly isolating or restoring wireless connections during preflight.

Now Playing

Provides quick access to media playback and output selection (AirPods, Bluetooth devices, etc.).

Orientation Lock

Locks screen rotation—useful in turbulence or when using the iPad in varied mounting positions.

Screen Mirroring

Connects your device to AirPlay-compatible displays or Apple TV devices.

Brightness and Volume

Vertical sliders allow quick adjustment. These are among the most frequently used controls in aviation environments, especially during changing lighting conditions.

Focus

Replaces the traditional Do Not Disturb system. Focus allows you to silence or filter notifications based on activity—such as flying, driving, or sleeping.

For pilots, this is one of the most important Control Center tools for minimizing distractions in flight.

Custom Controls You Can Add

custom controls One of the strengths of modern Control Center is the wide range of optional tools you can add and organize.

Here are some of the most useful ones, especially for aviation and EFB use:

Screen Recording

Records on-screen activity and saves it to Photos. Extremely useful for:

EFB training
Demonstrating app workflows
Capturing in-flight traffic or weather depiction changes

Calculator

Quick access to a basic calculator (iPhone only). Handy for quick fuel or time calculations.

Flashlight

Turns the camera LED into a flashlight. Press and hold to adjust brightness.

Timer and Stopwatch

Useful for holding patterns, instrument approaches, and fuel/time monitoring.

Quick Note

Creates an instant note from anywhere—ideal for jotting down clearances or ATIS information.

Camera

Quick access to photo and video capture.

Dark Mode

Instantly toggles system appearance for night operations.

Low Power Mode

Extends battery life during long flights or travel days.

Magnifier

Turns your device into a zoom tool for reading charts, documents, or cockpit details.

Voice Memos

Quickly capture audio notes, briefings, or observations.

Home Controls

Access smart home devices if configured.

Wallet

Quick access to payment methods, boarding passes, and travel documents.

Pilot-Focused Tips for Control Center Use

For aviation use, Control Center becomes even more powerful when configured intentionally.

Here are a few practical setup ideas:

Preflight page:

Airplane Mode / Connectivity
Brightness
Wi-Fi controls
Focus mode
Low Power Mode

The Control Center becomes even more powerful when configured intentionally.

In-flight page:

Screen Recording
Timer / Stopwatch
Brightness (quick adjustments)
Focus mode
Volume control

Postflight page:

Notes / Quick Note
Voice Memos
Photos / Camera
Wallet (travel documents)

By organizing pages this way, you reduce workload and keep frequently used tools exactly where you expect them.

Make it Your Own

Control Center has evolved from a simple shortcut panel into a fully customizable system control hub. For pilots using an iPad in the cockpit, it’s one of the most effective ways to streamline routine tasks and reduce distraction during flight operations. With a few minutes of setup, you can turn it into a personalized cockpit-style control panel that supports your flying—not distracts from it.

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Bret Koebbe

Bret is a senior vice president at Sporty's and senior flight instructor for Sporty's Academy. In addition to Bret's teaching responsibilities, Bret leads Sporty's video production and app development team and serves as editor of iPad Pilot News. As an airline transport pilot, Bret is a senior captain in Sporty's corporate flight department.

How to Customize the Control Center on Your iPad or iPhone