Control Center & Lock Screen Widgets
Access ARMES anywhere on iOS 18 with one-tap Control Center controls, Lock Screen quick prompts, and Action Button integration.
AI Access at System Level
Starting with iOS 18, Apple allows third-party applications to place interactive controls directly on major system surfaces. ARMES takes full advantage of the ControlWidget framework to give you instant access to your AI agents from anywhere—even when your phone is locked.
Available Controls
ARMES ships with two native system controls:
| Control | Icon | Primary Surface | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask ARMES | Sparkles (sparkles) | Control Center, Lock Screen, Action Button | Configurable quick-action widget. In Control Center edit mode, tap to select any custom or installed agent (defaults to your Default Agent). Tapping opens ARMES directly into a fresh chat with that agent. |
| New Chat | Plus Bubble (plus.bubble.fill) | Control Center, Lock Screen | One-tap button that launches ARMES directly into a fresh, uncommitted conversation with your default agent. |
Configuring Your Agent in Control Center
The Ask ARMES control supports native on-device configuration:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Press and hold an empty area or tap the
+icon in the top left to enter Edit Mode. - While still in Edit Mode, tap directly on the Ask ARMES control button.
- A native Agent Selection sheet opens, displaying your Default Agent at the top, followed by all your custom and installed agents.
- Tap your preferred agent to select it.
- Tap anywhere outside the sheet to confirm, then exit Edit Mode. Tapping the control will now instantly launch ARMES ready to chat with that specific agent.
Setting Up Control Center Controls
To add ARMES controls to your iOS 18 Control Center:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center.
- Press and hold any empty area or tap the
+(Add Control) button in the top left. - Tap Add a Control at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll to ARMES or type
ARMESin the search bar. - Select Ask ARMES or New ARMES Chat.
- Resize or reposition the tile anywhere in your control grid, then tap anywhere outside to finish editing.
Home Screen Shortcuts Widget
Beyond Control Center, you can place ARMES quick actions directly onto your iPhone or iPad Home Screen using Apple's built-in Shortcuts widget:
- Long-press any empty space on your Home Screen until the app icons begin to jiggle.
- Tap the
+button in the top-left corner to open the Widget Gallery. - Scroll down or search for Shortcuts.
- Choose your preferred widget size:
- Single Shortcut (Small): Ideal for a single dedicated button like Search ARMES notes or New ARMES chat.
- Shortcuts Grid (Medium or Large): Displays multiple ARMES quick actions simultaneously.
- Tap Add Widget and place it on your Home Screen.
- While in jiggle mode, tap the newly added widget to configure which ARMES shortcut it runs (e.g., Search ARMES notes, New ARMES chat, or Continue ARMES).
- Tap Done in the top right. Tapping the widget will instantly trigger that ARMES action!
Adding to the Lock Screen
On iOS 18+, you can replace the default Flashlight and Camera buttons on your Lock Screen:
- Press and hold your Lock Screen until the wallpaper gallery opens.
- Tap Customize, then select the Lock Screen preview.
- Tap the
-button on the bottom left or bottom right button to remove the existing shortcut. - Tap the
+button to add a new control. - Search for
ARMESand choose Ask ARMES or New ARMES Chat. - Tap Done in the top right to save your changes.
Lock Screen Biometrics
For your privacy, the Ask ARMES control requires authentication (requiresAuthentication policy). When triggered from the Lock Screen, Face ID seamlessly validates your identity before displaying the prompt sheet.
Mapping to the Action Button (iPhone 15 Pro & Newer)
If your iPhone has a hardware Action Button, you can map it to trigger ARMES instantly:
- Open iOS Settings → Action Button.
- Swipe across to the Controls category.
- Tap the control selector at the bottom and search for Ask ARMES.
- Now, pressing and holding the Action Button from any app, game, or the Lock Screen immediately brings up the ARMES prompt modal!