How to Change Lock Screen Shortcuts in IOS 18 (or Remove Them Completely)
In iOS 18, Apple is adding a number of new options to customize various iPhone menus. With Control Center, you’ll be able to change the shortcuts that appear on your iPhone’s lock screen, meaning you can replace those Camera and Flashlight shortcuts with something else.
How to Change Lock Screen Shortcuts in iOS 18
To change the shortcuts on your iPhone’s lock screen, you need to lock the device and wake up its display. Then hold the screen and tap Customize . Tap Lock Screen and you will see the lock screen settings screen. You can click the minus button next to the two shortcuts at the bottom of the screen and then click the plus button.
A pop-up window will open where you can find shortcuts to add to your iPhone’s lock screen. I added Music Recognition and Alarm Clock because I use these features regularly. However, you can browse the list and choose what works best for you. There are two very useful options – Open App and Shortcuts, which allow you to place any app or shortcut from your phone directly on the lock screen.
If you’re unsure about removing the Camera app from the lock screen, you can still access it by swiping left on the lock screen, which is generally faster than holding the camera shortcut on the lock screen anyway.
You don’t need to use any shortcuts on your lock screen.
While it may be tempting to place custom shortcuts on your iPhone’s lock screen in iOS 18, you also have the option to remove old shortcuts entirely and not replace them. This is great for people who constantly accidentally turn on the flashlight, camera, or other actions assigned to the lock screen buttons, or for those who simply like a more minimalist aesthetic.