StandBy is a new Lock Screen mode in iOS 17, and later, that kicks in when your iPhone is charging and lying flat. This feature turns your iPhone into a more useful display while it charges so you can glance at important info. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with this cool feature.
How to Enable StandBy?
StandBy is like a smart display for your iPhone, showing you quick access to various screens of glanceable info that can be seen from across the room. I find this feature super helpful when my iPhone is charging on the kitchen counter, desk, or nightstand. If I charge my iPhone at night, StandBy adjusts to low light conditions and goes red, so it’s easy on the eyes. StandBy is available on all iPhone models that support iOS 17 and later. But the always-on feature of StandBy is only available on iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro models, so users of other models won’t have the always-on display.
Steps to Activate StandBy
To enable StandBy, I do the following:
Lock Your iPhone: StandBy only works when my iPhone is locked. I make sure to lock my device before I put it on the charger.
Charge Your iPhone: I plug my iPhone into a MagSafe or Qi-based wireless charger or a Lightning charger. The device must be charging for StandBy to kick in.
Position Your iPhone: For StandBy to work, your iPhone needs to be in a stationary horizontal (or landscape) orientation. It also needs to be at an angle, meaning it can’t be flat on the surface. I find I need to use a charging stand in most cases to achieve this setup.
Check Default Settings: StandBy is enabled by default, but I can manually enable or disable it if I want to. To do this, I go to Settings -> StandBy and toggle the StandBy switch.
My Thoughts and Tips
Customize Your Display: Once StandBy is enabled, I love to customize the display. I can choose different widgets or screens to show, like the clock, calendar, or even photos. I can personalize my StandBy experience to my liking.
Use a Charging Stand: I found that using a dedicated charging stand makes my StandBy experience even better. I look for stands that have adjustable angles, so my iPhone is positioned just right for viewing.
Try Night Mode: If I charge my iPhone at night, I like to try out the low light adaptation feature of StandBy. The red tone looks nice and also reduces blue light exposure, which helps me sleep better.
Use Widgets: I use widgets in StandBy. Whether I want to see the weather, my calendar events, or reminders, I have this information at my fingertips.
Customizing Different StandBy Screens
StandBy is a great feature that has three different screens, each with its own functionality that I can access by swiping left/right on my iPhone’s screen. I love that I can customize my experience based on what I need at that moment. Here’s a breakdown of each screen and how I customize them.
Widgets Screen
The Widgets Screen in StandBy mode is my favorite part of StandBy. It’s a dynamic and interactive way to get information at a glance. This screen has two interactive widget stacks side by side that I can swipe up/down independently. It’s like having a mini dashboard on my nightstand or desk!
Interactive Widget Stacks
The stacks are basically blown-up versions of the Home Screen widget stacks and have the same options as Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions. I love that I can have a more immersive experience with my widgets. Here’s how I use this feature:
Interactivity: Many widgets are interactive, so I can interact with them directly from the widget screen. For example, I can tick off to-do items in my Reminders list without opening the app. This saves me time and keeps me organized, especially on busy days.
Non-Interactive Widgets: If I tap on a non-interactive widget like the Calendar an arrow indicator appears on the screen. I like this because tapping the arrow takes me directly to the app instead of launching it. This is a thoughtful design that makes my experience smoother.
Customizing Your Widget Stack
Customizing a widget stack is easy, and I can tailor the information to my liking. Here’s how I do it:
Long Press on the Widget Stack: I long press on the widget stack I want to customize. This will unlock my iPhone with Face ID, so only I can make changes.
Jiggle Mode: Once unlocked, the stack will center on the screen in jiggle mode, which means I can now make changes. I like this visual cue because it’s clear I’m in customization mode.
Add Widgets: To add widgets to the stack I tap the + button in the top left corner. This opens up a menu of available widgets, and I can choose the ones that fit my needs. I like to experiment with different combinations to see what works for me.
Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions: I can also toggle Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions on/off with the buttons on the right. I like Smart Rotate because it shows me the most relevant widgets based on my usage. This keeps my info fresh and tailored to my daily routine.
My Widget Customization Ideas
Prioritize Your Favorites: I like to prioritize the widgets I use most, like my calendar and reminders, so they’re easily accessible. This keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.
Try Different Layouts: I change the layout of my widget stacks based on my needs. For example, if I have a busy week ahead, I might focus on productivity widgets, and during weekends, I might switch to leisure widgets like music or news.
Use Colorful Widgets: I like to use colorful widgets that match my style. This makes my screen look pretty and adds a personal touch to my StandBy mode.
Photos Screen
The Photos Screen in StandBy mode is one of the best features, showing my favorite memories in a beautiful way. This screen is interactive and highly customizable, so I love using it. Here’s how:
Interactive
Tapping on the location or date of a photo will unlock with Face ID or ask for a passcode and take you directly to the image in the Photo Library. This allows me to quickly go back to my favorite moments without having to navigate the entire library; it’s a seamless way to relive memories right from the charging station.
Default Display
By default, StandBy will display featured photos and memories from the library. This will show me special moments that I might have forgotten, and I’ll get a smile every time I glance at my phone. The automatic selection of photos gives me the feel of a digital photo frame that changes throughout the day.
Customize Photos Display
Long Press for Themes: Customization is easy with a long press on the photo. After unlocking with Face ID, you can swipe between specific themes like Nature, Pets, Cities, and People. This allows you to curate based on mood or interest. For example, selecting the “People” theme will show me friends and family, and I’ll get nostalgic.
Add Specific Albums: You can add specific albums to display using the + button. This is useful for showing recent trips or special events. Creating an album for vacation makes it nice to have those memories front and center in StandBy mode.
Hide Unwanted Themes: If there are themes I don’t like, I can hide them using the eye icon. This way, the Photos Screen will only show me content that matters and makes sense.
Ideas for Photos Screen
Create Themed Albums: Themed albums for different occasions like holidays, birthdays or travel adventures can be created for easy access and display in StandBy mode. This way, I can easily access and display specific memories I want to show in StandBy mode.
Rotate Photos: Rotating photos in albums keeps things fresh, and I’ll see new images and different memories. It adds excitement to StandBy.
Use Live Photos: Adding Live Photos to the library will add a dynamic element to the display and make it feel more lively.
Clock Screen
StandBy’s third screen shows the time and date in various themes that can be swiped vertically. These themes are Digital, Analogue, World, Solar and Float. Some themes also show additional information like temperature or next alarm, so it’s more functional while charging.
Theme Options
Float: This theme shows the time in big bubble numbers and allows for custom colors to match your personal style. It’s playful and fun.
Solar: Standard font with a solar flare design in different colors. Unique and easy to read.
Analog: Time with custom accent colors. A classic look that can be tailored to your style.
Digital: Bold numbers and many color options. A digital theme makes time easy to see at a glance. Perfect for those who like a modern and simple display.
World: The world theme shows the time and a map of the world and the current location. Useful for travelers or those who want to keep track of time in different regions. But it’s the only theme that can’t be colored.
Customization
To customize the Clock Screen, press and hold on a clock and swipe up and down to switch between themes. Some themes also allow you to change colors. Tapping the white circular button will allow you to select a different color swatch and add a personal touch to the display.
Night Mode
At night, StandBy mode will adapt to the environment and become darker if the room is dim. The display will turn red so it won’t be distracting while sleeping. This is similar to Nightstand Mode on the Apple Watch, and it works the same way to provide a comfortable viewing experience at night.
Night Mode Benefits
The red tint in Night Mode is designed to reduce blue light exposure, which can disrupt sleep patterns. This is thoughtful of StandBy mode, so it’s easier to keep the room dark and peaceful and have a good night. The transition to a darker display also reduces glare, so it won’t disturb anyone who’s sleeping nearby.
Customizing Night Mode
But there are times when you’re not sleeping, and you want to see StandBy mode at its standard brightness without the red tint. The good news is there’s a setting to disable Night Mode. Here’s how:
Open Settings: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Display & Brightness: Scroll down and tap on Display & Brightness.
Night Mode Settings: Look for the Night Mode or StandBy settings. This may vary depending on your iOS version.
Disable Night Mode: Toggle the switch to disable Night Mode. StandBy mode will now be at standard brightness, and the display will be clear and bright even in low light.
Night Mode Ideas
Use Night Mode for Sleep: When you’re about to sleep, enable Night Mode, and it will create a soothing atmosphere. The red tint will tell your body it’s time to relax and sleep.
Adjust for Activities: If you’re reading or watching videos at night, disable Night Mode temporarily. It would be better to see and more enjoyable without the red tint.
Try it Out: Experiment with the Night Mode settings and find what works for you. Adjust the brightness and color settings to make StandBy mode more enjoyable.
Notifications, Live Activities, Siri
By default, incoming notifications will show up in full screen when the iPhone is in StandBy mode. For example, if an iMessage is received, it will pop up with the sender’s name and Messages icon, so you’ll know a message has arrived. This way, essential notifications won’t be missed even from a distance.
Customizing Notification Previews
If you want a more subtle approach and would rather have StandBy hide the notification preview until you tap it, you can do so. Here’s how:
Open Settings: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
StandBy: Scroll down and tap on StandBy.
Toggle Notification Previews: Look for Show Preview on Tap Only and toggle the switch to enable it. This will hide notifications until you tap on them and display a cleaner and less distracting screen.
Live Activities and Siri
Live Activities will also show up in full-screen style and provide real-time updates for things like sports scores or food delivery status. This feature makes StandBy mode more helpful, so you can stay informed without unlocking your device.
Siri requests and commands also use the full screen in StandBy mode. When you ask Siri a question, the results will show up prominently so you can read and interact with the content.
Notification Note
Note that content that wouldn’t show up in a notification won’t show up in StandBy mode unless the device is nearby and has been unlocked with Touch ID or Face ID. This is a security feature to keep sensitive information private and only accessible to the device owner.
MagSafe Location Awareness
StandBy mode has a feature related to MagSafe that makes the iPhone remember the screen and widget configuration based on the location of the charger. This is useful for those who charge their device in different locations.
How Does It Work?
According to Apple, when you place your iPhone on a MagSafe charger, it can detect the charger’s location and adjust the display settings accordingly. For example, if you charge your iPhone on your nightstand, it will default to the clock screen so you can see the time and any notifications. If you charge in the office, it will switch to the widget screen and show you calendar events, reminders, and weather updates.
MagSafe Location Awareness Benefits
Personalization: This feature allows for more personalization as you can set up different configurations for different locations. No need to manually adjust settings every time you charge your device.
Productivity: If you use your iPhone for work, having the widget screen available while charging in the office will make you more productive. Important information is right there without needing to unlock your device.
Seamless Transition: The transition between screens and configurations is seamless so that you can have a tailored experience without interruption. This makes StandBy mode even more useful and convenient.
MagSafe Location Awareness Setup
To use this feature, just place your iPhone on a MagSafe charger. The device will detect the charger’s location and adjust the display settings. No need to configure anything.
StandBy Mode Won’t Turn On: What to Do?
If StandBy mode doesn’t turn on when you plug your iPhone into a power source, follow these steps to fix the issue:
1. Check the Positioning
First, make sure your iPhone is in the correct position. StandBy mode requires the device to be placed on its side (horizontally, also known as landscape orientation) and upright. It should not be flat on a desk or surface. Using a charging stand can help you achieve the correct angle and orientation so the device can detect that it should enter StandBy mode.
2. Verify StandBy Mode is Enabled
If the positioning is correct and StandBy mode still doesn’t turn on, check if the feature is enabled in the Settings app. Here’s how:
Settings: Open the Settings app.
StandBy Mode: Scroll down and tap on StandBy Mode.
Switch: Look for the switch next to StandBy. If it’s off, tap to turn it on. This will enable StandBy mode.
3. Try Charging Again
Now that StandBy mode is enabled, try charging your iPhone again in the correct orientation. If everything is set up correctly, StandBy mode should turn on when you plug your iPhone into a power source.
More Help
Restart Your iPhone: If StandBy mode still doesn’t turn on, try restarting your iPhone. Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix minor software issues.
Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS. Software updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements. Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update.
Contact Apple Support: If none of the above works, it’s time to contact Apple Support. They can give you more troubleshooting steps or diagnose if it’s a hardware issue.
StandBy Mode Won’t Stay On: What to Do?
If StandBy mode turns off after a while and won’t stay on your iPhone’s screen, there are a couple of reasons why this is happening. Knowing these reasons can help you troubleshoot and keep StandBy mode on for longer.
Auto-Lock Settings
One of the reasons StandBy mode turns off is the iPhone’s auto-lock setting. If the device is set to lock after a short period of inactivity, it will exit StandBy mode. To check and adjust:
Settings: Open the Settings app.
Display & Brightness: Scroll down and tap on Display & Brightness.
Auto-Lock: Tap on Auto-Lock and select a longer time or Never if you want StandBy mode to stay on for a longer period. Keep in mind that selecting Never may drain the battery faster if the device is not charging.
Charging Status
StandBy mode is designed to work while the iPhone is charging. If the device is disconnected from the power source, StandBy mode will turn off. Make sure your iPhone is plugged in, and the charging cable and adapter are working properly.
Battery Settings
Another reason StandBy mode might not work is battery settings. If your iPhone is in Low Power Mode, it may limit some features including StandBy.
Software Issues
Sometimes, software issues can cause StandBy mode to behave weirdly. If you think this is the case, try:
Restart Your iPhone: A simple reboot can fix minor software issues. Press and hold the power button and slide to power off, then turn it back on.
Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS. Updates often include bug fixes that can improve performance. Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update.
Contact Apple Support
If none of the above works, it’s time to contact Apple Support. They can help you more and diagnose if it’s a hardware issue.