Until iOS 18, your Lock Screen always had two Lock Screen controls: Flashlight and Camera. Which was great if you took photos using Apple’s Camera app or frequently used your iPhone to avoid stumbling around in the dark. Less so if you fancied swapping them out for something else.
But now with iOS 18, that’s all possible. This round-up explains how to customize Lock Screen controls, and lists some great apps that support the feature.
How to customize iOS 18 Lock Screen controls
Tap-hold your Lock Screen and then tap Customize. On the Customize Wallpaper screen, tap Lock Screen. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the two standard controls. To remove one of them, tap its ‘–’ button.
There are many Lock Screen controls to choose from.
Next, tap the ‘+’ that replaces the removed control and you’ll see a list of alternatives you can use instead. At the top are those Apple considers useful and important from its own selection. But scroll down and you’ll see controls from third-party apps you’ve installed.
Note that most of these when triggered on the Lock Screen need you to be authorizing your device via Face ID or Touch ID. (In other words, looking at the screen or having your finger on the Touch ID button.) Also, these controls can work with Control Center too – ideal if you like having fast access to some of them, but don’t really want to have them take up Lock Screen slots.
The best custom Lock Screen controls for iOS 18
We’ve scoured the App Store for great Lock Screen controls that are part of great apps. So not only do we find these controls offer valuable, useful functionality, but we also wholeheartedly recommend the apps that incorporate them.
Cameras and scanners
Obscura (free + IAP) is a lauded manual camera with a gorgeous interface. And with its Lock Screen control, it’s now just as easy to quickly access as Apple’s Camera.
Halide (free + IAP) is a top-notch manual camera for pros, which affords you a huge amount of control. And now it can also replace Apple’s Camera on the Lock Screen.
Instagram (free) is still the main hangout for the social media crowd into great snaps. Again, you can now put it right on your Lock Screen, so you never miss a moment.
Simple Scan ($4.99/£4.99 per year) is a fast, efficient document scanner. The Lock Screen control lets you define format, destination and quality. Scans are then a press away.
Meditation and productivity timers
Apps like Zenitizer ask you to define settings for your control.
Zenitizer (free + IAP) provides a system for mindful meditation. The Lock Screen control removes all distractions – press it to kick off a session.
Focus (free + IAP) is an efficient yet flexible Pomodoro timer. Available controls let you start, reset, skip or extend a session, or create a new task.
Focused Work (free + IAP) is also all about productivity through timers. Its controls let you start a new session and access a ‘scratch pad’ to jot down thoughts.
Office apps and utilities
Just Press Record ($4.99/£4.99) is a well-regarded voice recorder and transcription app. When time is of the essence, you can use the Lock Screen control to immediately start recording.
Documents (free) combines a private file manager, browser and media player. Its available controls provide fast access to everything from your inbox to favorites.
Things ($9.99/£9.99) has long been the benchmark for to-do management on iPhone. Its Lock Screen controls get you straight to a new to-do or to your Today view.
Spark (free + IAP) was rethinking email long before iOS 18’s upcoming Apple Intelligence revamp. Controls quickly get you to new email, search, calendar and attachments.
Fitness and wellbeing
Lumy and Longplay are two apps whose controls start Live Activities.
Peak (free + IAP) helps you track fitness metrics by way of its dashboard or Home Screen widgets. Lock Screen controls get you right to goals and key metrics.
Lumy ($6.99/£6.99) is the most visually arresting daylight tracker on iPhone, and with Lock Screen controls lets you quickly start a countdown to golden hour, sunrise or sunset.
GrowPal (free + IAP) wants to help you optimize your fitness and be more active, by way of a slew of stats and tracking. And, you guessed it, controls help you reach these things at speed.
Pixel Pals (free + IAP) is a very silly app that lets you put virtual pets anywhere. Its Lock Screen controls don’t launch anything – they just load in cute animated animals.
Books, movies and music
Book Tracker ($14.99/£14.99) is our favorite app for tracking a book collection. It has loads of controls for instantly getting deep into the app, or just launching its scanner.
Sequel (free + IAP) is a high-quality tracker for media, including movies, TV and video games. Included controls provide fast access to your library and search.
LongPlay ($5.99/£5.99) is an opinionated music app geared towards playing albums. Use its Lock Screen control to play a random album and rediscover your collection.
Some apps have loads of controls. Book Tracker is very much one of them.