Unlock Your iPhone with iOS 18’s Open App Feature

With the release of iOS 18 in 2024, Apple introduced some exciting features that can significantly enhance your iPhone experience. Among them is the innovative ability to lock and hide certain apps, as well as advanced customization options for your lock screen and Control Center. One standout addition is the Open App feature, allowing users to create customized controls to launch any app straight from these interfaces.

Open App can be conveniently utilized on both your lock screen and Control Center, letting you quickly access your favorite games, social media platforms, and more. This feature is designed to personalize your iPhone, making it more user-friendly and tailored to your specific needs.

Understanding Open App

Open App is a prebuilt shortcut that enables you to launch any app directly from your Control Center or lock screen after unlocking your device. This feature allows for the creation of new controls for your interface that aren’t available in the standard Controls library, meaning you can set up shortcuts for your go-to applications—be it a game, productivity tool, or social media platform.

Setting Up Open App on Your Lock Screen

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wallpaper.
3. Select the screen you wish to customize—your lock screen will always be the left option.
4. Tap the minus (–) sign next to the control you want to remove at the bottom of your screen; note that you can replace only two controls.
5. Tap the plus (+) sign in the newly available space.
6. Choose Open App.
7. Tap Choose in the shortcut menu.
8. Select the app for which you want to create a shortcut.
9. Tap anywhere outside the shortcut menu.
10. Select Done in the top right corner of your screen.

Now, once you’ve entered your FaceID or passcode, you can access your chosen app directly from your lock screen. This is particularly helpful for users who frequently check emails or messages without the distraction of other applications.

Configuring Open App in Your Control Center

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone to access your Control Center.
2. Tap the plus (+) symbol in the top left corner.
3. Tap Add a Control across the bottom of your screen.
4. Find Open App either under Shortcuts or by using the search bar.
5. Tap Choose from the shortcut options.
6. Select the application you’d like to create a control for.
7. Tap anywhere outside the shortcut menu to exit.
8. Press and hold to relocate the new control as desired.
9. Tap a blank space in your Control Center or lock your screen to save changes.

With this setup, you can swiftly find and launch your favorite apps or games, such as Balatro, directly from your Control Center—no more excessive swiping required.

As iOS continues to evolve, users can anticipate more enhancements and features in upcoming updates, enhancing usability and customization for Apple devices. For those looking to explore more about iOS developments, the potential advantages of the soon-to-be-released iOS 26 and its new features could provide exciting insights into future Apple experiences.