This secret iOS 18 feature lets you create custom iPhone controls

Apple released iOS 18 made public on September 16, a week after the company announced its new product iPhone 16 offer, Apple Watch 10 series AND more during the September event. The update introduced many new features to the iPhone, such as the ability to block and hide certain applications on iPhone and more ways to customize lock screen AND Control Center. One feature that allows you to create custom controls is called Open Application.

The Open App can be used both on the lock screen and in the Control Center. There are a lot of new controls in iOS 18, but with this you can customize your iPhone to suit your needs.

Read more: Everything you need to know about iOS 18

Here’s what you need to know about Open App and how to access it.

What is an open application?

Open App is a pre-built shortcut that allows you to open any app from the Control Center or Lock Screen after unlocking your iPhone. Lets you create new controls for Control Center and Lock Screen that are not included in the control library. This means you can create launch controls for your favorite game, social media platform, or other app from the lock screen or Control Center.

How to use Open App on the lock screen

1. Open Settings.
2. Obtain Wallpaper.
3. Click the screen you want to customize – the lock screen is always on the left.
4. Click minus (–) next to the control you want to remove at the bottom of the screen – you can only replace these two controls, you can’t add more.
5. Click the plus sign (+) log in to the newly opened space.
6. Obtain Open the application.
7. Obtain To choose in the shortcut menu.
8. Click the app you want to create a shortcut to.
9. Click the space around the shortcut menu.
10. Obtain Done in the upper right corner of the screen.

Now you can access any app from the lock screen by entering your FaceID or password. So if you receive a lot of work-related or other emails on your phone, you can go directly to the Mail app from the lock screen without being distracted by another app.

How to use the app Open in Control Center

1. Swipe down from the top right corner of iPhone to open Control Center.
2. Click the plus sign (+) in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. Obtain Add control at the bottom of the screen.
4. Obtain Open the application. You’ll find it in the Shortcuts section or search for it in the search bar at the top of the screen.
5. Obtain To choose in the shortcut menu.
6. Click the application for which you want to create a control.
7. Click the space around the shortcut menu.
8. Press and hold the new control to move it anywhere you want.
9. To quit, tap an empty space in Control Center or lock the screen.

Now, instead of swiping and searching for an app or game on your phone, e.g NBA 2K24 Arcade Editionyou can quickly find it in your Control Center.

For more information on iOS 18, you can find mine here iOS 18 Reviewwhat is worth knowing about hidden feature in the Phone app and ours iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also check what iOS 18.1 you can transfer to your iPhone.