Customize your iPhone buttons

Take control of your Lock Screen buttons in iOS 18.

Author

Leander Kahney
August 09, 2024

I’ve had the two default buttons (Camera and Flashlight) on my iPhone’s Lock Screen for so long now, it’s hard to envision anything else there.

But if you’re running the iOS 18 beta, you can switch them out for something else.

The choices are enormous. You can select from a huge variety of potential buttons, from the Magnifier app to custom shortcuts.

You can even select different buttons for different Focus modes, like Alarm and Flashlight in your Sleep Focus, or the Translate and Wallet apps for a custom Travel Focus.

The possibilities are endless: Here’s all you need to know.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Keeping a journal of how you feel throughout the day can be key to finding what helps — and what hurts — your mental well-being. Luckily, iPhone makes it easy.

  • CdkeySales’ big Back to School Sale serves up some great bargains on Microsoft Windows, Office and more.

  • It’s your last chance to save a ton on a pair of wireless magnetic charging stands from SwitchEasy.

  • Prism Drive has a good reputation, and this 20TB cloud storage deal for just $79.97 looks like a great buy.

  • We hands-on review a new iPad case that has a very handy trick up its sleeve.

  • Today is the day in Apple history that the company passed a historic milestone.

  • I stuck a bulky AirTag in my wallet after I misplaced it for a couple of weeks (long story: I knew my wallet was around the house somewhere, but it took a fortnight to find it). This credit card-size wallet tracker looks like a better fit.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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One more thing ...

❝

I have a very simple life. I have my family and I have Apple and Pixar. And I don't do much else.

— Steve Jobs, 2004.

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