iPhone Control Center Buttons on Apple Watch – watchOS 26 brings one of the biggest upgrades ever to the Apple Watch Control Center. Not only can you rearrange the layout, but you can now add third-party controls — and if you change your mind, you can restore everything with a single tap. Here’s how it all works.
A More Capable, Flexible Control Center
The Control Center still offers quick access to essentials like the flashlight, Low Power Mode, and the Ping iPhone button. But with watchOS 26, Apple has opened the door to a much deeper level of customization.
Add iPhone Controls — Even Without a watchOS App
In earlier versions, customization was limited to rearranging icons and enabling Apple’s built-in controls. watchOS 26 changes that. Thanks to the new Control Widget API, iPhone developers can create custom controls that appear on your Apple Watch — even if their app does not include a watchOS version.
These controls execute actions directly on your paired iPhone. Even better, they can also be assigned to the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button or added to the Smart Stack widget. Support is still limited, but this opens the door for much richer integrations going forward.
How to Customize Apple Watch Control Center
To rearrange, add, or remove controls directly on your watch:
- Press the Side Button to open Control Center.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.
- You’ll see two new sections:
- Suggested controls at the top for quicker access.
- From Your iPhone, which includes controls built using the Control Widget API.
- Add, remove, or drag items to reorder them however you like.
Remember: third-party controls only appear if the app developer supports the new API.
Restore the Original Layout
If you want to undo your customizations, Apple makes it simple.
On Apple Watch:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Control Center.
- Tap Reset Control Center Layout.
From your iPhone:
- Open the Watch app.
- Go to My Watch → Control Center.
- Tap Reset Control Center.
