iOS 18: Replace or Remove Lock Screen Camera and Flashlight Icons

[MacRumors]

In iOS 18, currently in beta, Apple is allowing iPhone users to replace the flashlight and camera buttons on the Lock Screen with something more useful, or to make them disappear entirely.

The dedicated flashlight and camera shortcuts you see at the bottom of your iPhone's Lock Screen were introduced in their current form with the release of iOS 11 alongside the iPhone X in 2018, and the two icons have since been a staple, non-customizable feature.

But that's all set to change this September with the launch of iOS 18. The Lock Screen buttons on your iPhone can now be replaced with any Control Center option. This includes system features like Dark Mode, Airplane Mode, Accessibility options, Calculator, and Translate, as well as Shortcuts – making the functional possibilities endless.

• How to Install the Third iOS 18 Public Beta

The change in iOS 18 is part of a broader Control Center redesign, significantly expanding the quick access potential from the Lock Screen. Apple has also opened up this functionality to third-party apps, allowing their icons to be added to the Control Center and, by extension, the Lock Screen buttons.

To maintain user privacy and data security, certain options may require Face ID or Touch ID authentication before granting access from the Lock Screen. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected even with this increased accessibility.

The following steps explain how to switch up your Lock Screen buttons in iOS 18:

1. Press and hold on the Lock Screen after authenticating.
2. Tap Customize.
3. Tap Lock Screen.
4. From there, tap the "-" icon to remove apps that are assigned to those buttons. The Flashlight and Camera apps are the default, so they will need to be removed.
   
   
   
   Next, tap the "+" button and choose a new control to add from the scrolling menu of options.
5. Repeat for the second Lock Screen button if desired.
   Tap Done in the top-right corner to finish.
   
   

Don't forget that if you replace the camera button or remove it completely, you can still easily access the Camera app from the Lock Screen by swiping left across the screen.

Article Link: iOS 18: Replace or Remove Lock Screen Camera and Flashlight Icons

 

[CharlesShaw]

I need to begin thinking about which two new apps I want to be accidentally turning on/opening.

Is there an option to have nothing selected for either spot? [EDIT: found it above the photo. great!]

 

[jz0309]

Great, never liked the camera button on the Lock Screen… there’s a reason to upgrade

 

[citysnaps]

I need to begin thinking about which two new apps I want to be accidentally turning on/opening.

Is there an option to have nothing selected for either spot?

Interesting... I've never had a problem with apps accidentally turning on. Probably because it takes a deliberate press on the buttons. An accidental swipe or brush against the buttons will do nothing.


"Is there an option to have nothing selected for either spot?"

Yes, that's covered in the story.

 

[citysnaps]

I have my two lock screen buttons activate the flashlight and camera. They're very handy and use them both often.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Interesting... I've never had a problem with apps accidentally turning on. Probably because it takes a deliberate press on the buttons. An accidental swipe or brush against the buttons will do nothing.


"Is there an option to have nothing selected for either spot?"

Yes, that's covered in the story.

Thanks. I saw that the "Done" button hadn't been pressed yet with the camera icon removed, so I was hoping it's possible. Yeah, I've managed to turn on the flashlight a few times and don't know, so that will be removed and I'll access it from Control Panel.

 

[klasma]

you can still easily access the Camera app from the Lock Screen by swiping left across the screen.

I might prefer disabling the swiping and keeping the button.

 

[klasma]

Is there an option to have nothing selected for either spot?

First paragraph: “…or to make them disappear entirely”.

 

[CharlesShaw]

First paragraph: “…or to make them disappear entirely”.

Oh, I read the article twice and still missed the sentence above the photos. DOH!

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I just removed both shortcuts. I have flashlight on the action button and can swipe over to the camera. Lock screen looks much cleaner.

 

[TechRemarker]

Downside is that muscle memory goes away when using Apple Maps, because when using Active Maps it takes over the whole lock screen, and thus no access to these two bottom buttons or any home the home screen widgets. So if you frequently access these you will then suddenly have to find another way to access. Crazy you still can't disable apple maps lock screen takeover...

 

[DonutHands]

I don't need a 'clean' lock screen, let me add more than 2 buttons.

 

[Unity451]

I'd have to reprogram my brain.

 

[axantas]

I am iOS 18 Beta…

Evanesco - and they both finally have gone…

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Finally! I can remove both! I've never wanted any icons on my Lock Screen.

Now let me disable swipe for the camera. I don't want anything accessible on my device while locked.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I'd have to reprogram my brain.

Which is probably good for us, they say. I haven't gotten used to the recent changes to WatchOS.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Honestly, just being able to replace/remove the lockscreen shortcuts makes iOS 18 worth it.

 

[contacos]

The funny thing is, I used to complain about the useless camera button on the lock screen but once I changed it to something else, I realized that I apparently used it more than I thought as I kept pressing it to take a photo and was like DAMN IT WHY DOES INSTAGRAM OPEN each time 😅 had to change it back to camera

 

[iObama]

The funny thing is, I used to complain about the useless camera button on the lock screen but once I changed it to something else, I realized that I apparently used it more than I thought as I kept pressing it to take a photo and was like DAMN IT WHY DOES INSTAGRAM OPEN each time 😅 had to change it back to camera

SAME HERE! 😂

I was so excited for this and then it took me like 42 steps to get to the flashlight, so I switched em right back.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

alongside the iPhone X in 2018

Minor correction: it should read as 2017.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Tesla app and Valley Metro app.

Whether I drive or take the bus that way, both apps are available right there. Seriously where was this feature 2 years ago???

 

[vegetassj4]

Customizing the lock screen? What is this Android?

 

[MacAddict1978]

This is probably one of my favorite changes ever.... the stupid flashlight never turns on when you want it to... but it sure turns on when you don't and sure doesn't want to turn off either. I don't know how many times over the yeras I fould feel my leg on fire and find it turned on in my pocket. That you could never get rid of it was always insane. The first setting I change is this one.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Customizing the lock screen? What is this Android?

Apple's really copied 10-year-old Android features in the past few releases - I mean customizable home screens, a very poorly done App drawer - widgets - and now this?

 

[cocky jeremy]

I tried it, but there is nothing better to put on there currently.