How to use Control Centre on an Apple Watch

2 min read · 9 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Control Centre collects the switches you need quickly: silence the watch, check the battery, find your iPhone, lock the screen for swimming. Since watchOS 10 it opens with the side button, no longer with a swipe up from the bottom, which catches out many people after an update.

These steps are for recent versions of watchOS. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the watch screen, not screenshots.

Step by step

1. Open Control Centre

   Press the side button, the flat button below the Digital Crown, once. Scroll down with your finger or the Digital Crown to see more controls.

   Done

2. Know the connection controls

   Mobile Data switches the mobile connection on models with a plan. Wi-Fi connects or disconnects from Wi-Fi. Airplane Mode turns the radios off.

   Done

3. Check the battery

   The battery control shows the charge in percent. Tap it to switch on Low Power Mode.

   Done

4. Find your iPhone

   Tap Ping iPhone and the phone plays a sound. Touch and hold it, and the phone also flashes its light, which helps in the dark.

   Done

5. Quieten the watch

   Silent Mode stops sounds but keeps the taps on the wrist. Focus switches on Do Not Disturb or another Focus. Theatre Mode keeps the screen dark until you tap it or press a button.

   Done

6. Use the tools

   Flashlight turns the screen into a torch. Water Lock disables touch for swimming and the shower. Volume, AirPlay for choosing headphones, and Text Size are there as well.

   Done

7. Rearrange the controls

   Touch and hold any control until they start to move, then drag it to a new place. Put the ones you use most in the top row.

   Done

8. Add or remove controls

   In the same editing view, tap the Add button to choose more controls, or tap the Delete button in the corner of a control to remove it. Tap Done.

   Done

9. Close it

   Press the side button again, or turn your wrist away from you.

   Done

Good to know

To get the original layout back, open the Settings app on the watch, tap Control Centre and tap Reset Control Centre Layout.

The small icons at the top of the watch face come from here: a moon for Do Not Disturb, a water drop for Water Lock, masks for Theatre Mode, an aeroplane for Airplane Mode.

More on single controls: how to silence your Apple Watch, Water Lock, Theatre Mode, the torch, Low Power Mode and finding your iPhone.

In short: Side button opens Control Centre, scroll for more, tap to switch. Touch and hold to rearrange, Add and Delete buttons to change the set, side button again to close.