How to Keep iPhone Screen On: Prevent Auto-Lock & Screen Timeout
Want the screen to stay on your iPhone longer? Tired of it dimming or turning off just when you're reading a recipe, following a map, or watching a video? By default, iPhones lock after just 30 seconds in order to conserve battery life — but you can easily change that.
Here’s how to keep your iPhone screen on for longer, or even set the screen to stay on indefinitely, using a few simple settings.
Why Keep the Screen On?
Your iPhone’s screen dims the screen and locks automatically to save battery life and keep your data secure. But sometimes, you just want your screen to stay visible as long as you need:
- 📖 Reading long articles
- 🍳 Following a recipe while cooking
- 🗺️ Navigating with maps
- 🖼️ Showing photos or presentations
Good news: There are easy ways to keep your iPhone screen from turning off without constantly tapping the screen.
How to Change iPhone Auto-Lock Time
To prevent the screen from going dark too quickly, you’ll need to change your auto-lock settings.
Step-by-step:
- Open the iPhone Settings app from your home screen
- Tap Display & Brightness
- Select Auto-Lock
- Choose the amount of time you want your iPhone screen to stay active. Your time options range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, or even Never
⚠️ Choosing Never will keep the screen active until you manually lock the device.
When to Use Each Setting
- 30 sec – 1 min: Best for security and battery saving.
- 2–3 minutes: Great for reading or quick tasks.
- 5 minutes: Ideal when you need a bit more time.
💡 Want your iPhone or iPad screen to stay on while charging? Set Auto-Lock to Never when plugged in.
Want to Keep Your Screen On All the Time?
To stop your iPhone from turning off completely:
- Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock
- Tap Never to allow the screen to stay on indefinitely
🔐 Be careful: Your phone won’t lock automatically. Anyone can access it if left unattended.
Smart Alternatives: Control Auto-Lock Without Sacrificing Security
If you don’t want to completely turn off auto-lock on iPhone, there are smarter alternatives.
Use Guided Access
Locks your iPhone into one app and keeps the screen on.
How to enable:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access
- Turn it on
- Triple-click the side button in any app to activate
Adjust Based on Time of Day
- Morning: Set to 3–5 minutes for busy use
- Evening: Reduce to 1–2 minutes to save battery
While Charging
Don’t worry about battery drain — set longer timeouts when plugged in.
Troubleshooting: iPhone Still Going Dark?
Still seeing your iPhone screen dimming or locking fast even after adjusting?
- 🔋 Low Power Mode: This setting forces the default time of 30 seconds➤ Go to Settings > Battery to disable
- 📱 Device Management (MDM): If it’s a work phone, you may not be able to change the auto-lock
- 🔐 Content Restrictions: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy and check if changes are restricted
Final Tip: Find Your Perfect Balance
You don’t have to dive deep into settings or constantly tap the screen to keep your iPhone awake. Whether you’re using iOS 15, iOS 16, or iOS 17, these tips work on any modern iPhone and iPad — including iPhone 14 and newer.
So next time you want the screen to stay on — whether for a recipe, map, or presentation — you’ll know exactly how to do it, without sacrificing battery life or security.
Take control of your iPhone screen — and make it work for you.
FAQs
Will keeping the screen on damage my battery?
No permanent damage, but it does drain faster. Adjust as needed.
Can I set different auto-lock times for different apps?
Not directly, but Guided Access lets you lock the screen into one app.
My auto-lock setting is grayed out. Why?
Check if Low Power Mode is on, or if restrictions are enabled under Screen Time.
Does this work on iPad too?
Yes! The steps are identical for iPad.
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