iOS 18 Control Center and Lock Screen Bug

I can’t even access my control centre after installing IOS 18

its not letting me open my phone. i can acces the control center but it wouldnt open anything and it wouldnt let me shut it off. snyone else?

it seems I found out the solution..

Just now accidently change the system language from English to my native Russian and viola, everything is working..

Surprisingly.. try to change the language to different English.. maybe it will help..

I can’t even swipe up to unlock. Can’t swipe to shut down. Can’t swipe to make an emergency call. Nothing works after updating to iOS 18

Yes, I have the same on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The issue does not occur on my iPad Mini 6. I hope the next incremental update fixes this.

If possible, stick with iOS 17.7 until iOS 18.6.. the early versions of the new iOS has always bound to have tons of bugs. Early adopters are Apple’s Guinea pigs to smooth out the new iOS version.

Yes, I had that issue with my iPhone 14 with the volume and brightness sliders on the control center. It’s so strange given that everything else is working. I restarted my device and everything seemed to be working again.

This bug with the Control Center and Lock Screen customization crashing seems to have affected multiple users, and it’s understandable that you’d want a fix ASAP. Since it’s February 28, 2025, and you updated today, I’ll assume you’re on the latest public release or a recent update (like iOS 18.3 or 18.3.1, based on what’s current). Let’s troubleshoot this step-by-step with some practical solutions that have worked for similar iOS 18 bugs.

You can refer to these solutions：iphone-stuck-on-lock-screen

Possible Causes

This issue could stem from:

• A software glitch in the iOS 18 update affecting customization features.
• A conflict with cached data or a third-party app interfering with system settings.
• Regional or language settings triggering unexpected behavior (a known workaround for some iOS 18 bugs).

Solutions to Try

Here are some fixes you can attempt, starting with the simplest:

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

A quick reboot can resolve temporary glitches.

• Press and release the Volume Up button.
• Press and release the Volume Down button.
• Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10-20 seconds).
• Once it restarts, try customizing the Control Center again (Settings > Control Center).

2. Check for a Software Update

Apple often releases patches for widespread bugs. Since you updated today, it’s possible a follow-up fix is already available.

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• 
  
• If an update (e.g., iOS 18.3.1 or later) is available, install it and test again.

3. Change System Language (Temporary Workaround)

Some users on forums like Apple Community have reported success with this odd trick for iOS 18 customization crashes:

• Go to Settings > General > Language & Region.
• Change your iPhone language to another variant (e.g., from US English to UK English, or vice versa).
• Try customizing the Control Center again.
• If it works, switch back to your preferred language and check if the fix holds.

4. Reset Control Center Customizations

If the crash is tied to corrupted settings:

• Go to Settings > Control Center.
• 
  
• Remove all custom controls by tapping the – button next to each one.
• Restart your iPhone (as in Step 1).
• Add controls back one by one to see if a specific one triggers the crash.

5. Disable Background App Refresh

Third-party apps might be interfering with the Control Center:

• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
• Toggle it off for all apps or selectively for recently installed ones.
• Test customization again.

6. Reset All Settings

This won’t delete your data but will reset system settings to default:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
• 
  
• Enter your passcode and confirm.
• After the reset, set up your Control Center and Lock Screen again.

7. Check for Third-Party App Conflicts

Some users on Reddit found that specific apps (e.g., "Capture - Quick Notes") caused Control Center crashes in iOS 18:

• Uninstall any recently added or suspicious apps one by one.
• Test customization after each uninstall to identify the culprit.
• Reinstall only updated versions of those apps from the App Store.

8. Restore via Computer (Last Resort)

If nothing works, restoring your iPhone might clear the bug, though it’s more time-consuming:

• Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer.
• Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
• Select Restore iPhone and follow the prompts to reinstall iOS 18.
• Restore your backup afterward and test again.

Additional Notes

• Since you mentioned others are experiencing this today (February 28, 2025), it’s likely a widespread bug in the latest iOS 18 update. Posts on X and forums suggest Apple’s quality control has been spotty with recent releases, so a fix might be incoming soon.
• If none of these work, contact Apple Support directly or visit an Apple Store. They can run diagnostics and potentially escalate this to engineering if it’s a new bug.

I have the same issue, also I can't chamge the action button to controls too..

and can't change or remove the lockscreen apps.. the camera and the torch either..

iPhone 15 Pro Max..

it seems that this iPhone will be my last one..

ernst157 wrote:

If possible, stick with iOS 17.7 until iOS 18.6.. the early versions of the new iOS has always bound to have tons of bugs. Early adopters are Apple’s Guinea pigs to smooth out the new iOS version.

The vast majority of people have no problems with the dot zero release. Of the people who do have issues, a significant percentage turn out to be not understanding the changes or what they do.

Based on what we're seeing in the forums (and the trades) so far, this release has no major issues and a lower than usual number of people who don't understand how new features work.

And, having worked OK a couple of times on my iPad, the same problem is now manifesting itself there as well as on my iPhone. I wonder what is happening between the installation of the new OS and this bug occurring?

Yes, this has indeed worked. I changed from UK English to US English, made sure editing the Control Center was working okay, which it was, and then reverted to UK English. It’s still working, so let’s see if this is a permanent fix. Thank you for the tip.

I can swipe from the top right and open the control center when the phone is u locked. However, despite having passcode and Face ID settings set to open it when the screen is locked, it will not open.

Lots of problems and bugs across multiple OS updates that never ever improve.

[Edited by Moderator]