Why Can’t I Access Control Center When an App is Open on My iPhone?

The Control Center on your iPhone provides a simple way to access certain features and settings on the device.

Once you become comfortable using it you will find that it’s much easier to do things like adjust the brightness, or turn on the flashlight.

Use these steps to allow Control Center access from within an app on your iPhone.

How to Turn on Control Center Access in Apps on an iPhone

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Control Center.
  3. Tap the button to the right of Access Within Apps.

Our article continues below with additional information on how to enable the Control center in apps on an iPhone, including pictures for these steps.

If you are trying to use private browsing and are unable to, then read our why can’t I go incognito on my iPhone tutorial for more information.

The Control Center on your iPhone can be opened by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, or by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.

The exact method for your device will depend on which iPhone model you have. If you have a Home button, then you swipe up. If you don’t have a Home button, then you swipe down from the top-right.

You can access the Control Center from the Lock Screen, the Home screen, and even when an app is open.

But if you can’t open it when an app is open, then you may need to adjust a setting to allow that behavior.

Our guide below will show you how to open the iPhone Control Center when an app is open.

If you’ve noticed a half moon icon on your screen, then our how to get rid of moon on iPhone tutorial can help you to remove or customize it.

How to Enable Control Center Access from Within Apps on an iPhone (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 11 in iOS 13.6.1.

Step 1: Open the “Settings” app.

open Settings

Step 2: Choose the “Control Center” option.

choose Control Center

Step 3: Tap the button to the right of “Allow Access Within Apps.”

how to access Control Center within apps on iPhone

There will be green shading around the button when the option is enabled. It is enabled in the picture above.

Now that you know how to enable Control Center access within apps on your iPhone, you will be able to start using that really helpful menu as you are using the apps on your device.

If you aren’t able to find the Settings app on your phone, then you can always use one of the search options to locate it instead. Our iPhone Settings app guide can provide you with more information.

You can then test this out by opening an app on the device, then using the method for your device to open the Control Center.

Note that there is a Customize Controls option on this screen. If you select that option you are able to add or remove various buttons from the Control Center.

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