iPhone StandBy Mode: How to Use and Customize It

How to Turn on StandBy Mode on iPhone (Step by Step)

StandBy turns your iPhone into a smart bedside clock and glanceable dashboard while it charges. It works on any iPhone running iOS 17 or later, whether you use MagSafe, standard Qi wireless, or a lightning cable.

1. Check your settings.Open Settings, tap StandBy, and toggle StandBy to on.
2. Plug in your phone.Connect your iPhone to a charger via MagSafe, a wireless charging stand, or your charging cable.
3. Lock the screen.Press the side button to lock your phone before placing it down.
4. Prop it horizontally.Set your iPhone on its side at an angle rather than flat on a table.

StandBy triggers within a couple seconds. If your phone sits completely flat on a desk, the tilt sensor will not activate the mode. Prop it against a water bottle, a book, or an upright charging stand.

How to Switch Between Widgets, Photos, and Full-Screen Clocks

StandBy comes with three primary screens. You switch between them simply by swiping left or right across the display.

The first view is the dual-widget screen. It shows two interactive widgets side by side, such as an analog clock and your calendar. Each side acts as a Smart Stack, meaning you can swipe up and down on either half to flip through different tiles.

Swipe left to open the Photos view. This screen turns your iPhone into a digital photo frame. It pulls curated albums from your library, including Featured shots, Nature, Cities, or Pets. Tapping the screen brings up the date and location of the photo, and tapping the screen unlock opens the image in your Photos app.

Swipe left once more to reach the full-screen Clock view. This screen offers five distinct clock layouts: Digital, Analog, World, Solar, and Float. Swipe up or down on the clock face to pick your favorite style.

How to Customize Your StandBy Widgets and Smart Stacks

The dual-widget screen is completely customizable. You can replace the default Apple widgets with third-party tools, your favorite habit trackers, or friend widgets to see pictures from your crew right on your nightstand.

1. Enter edit mode.Press and hold down on either the left or right widget stack until the tiles jiggle.
2. Remove unwanted tiles.Tap the minus button on any widget you do not want in your stack.
3. Add new widgets.Tap the plus icon in the top left corner to browse the widget gallery and select your favorite tools.
4. Save your setup.Tap Done in the top-right corner to lock in your custom stack.

If you enjoy setting up an aesthetic layout on your standard lock screen, you will appreciate how easy this is. For more styling inspiration, take a look at our guide to aesthetic widget ideas and our walkthrough on how to add widgets on iPhone.

You can also toggle Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions on or off at the bottom of the edit screen. Turning off Smart Rotate keeps your chosen widgets fixed in place instead of letting iOS guess what you want to see based on your daily routine.

While you set up your screens to keep up with friends, check out Bobble. It puts 3D bobbleheads of your close friends right at the top of your phone. You see what everyone is up to throughout the day, like gym or asleep, straight from your home screen and widgets.

Make your Bobble →

Why StandBy Mode Isn’t Working or Shuts Off (Fix It)

If StandBy refuses to kick on, one small detail is usually tripping up the sensors. Here are the most common reasons and how to resolve them.

• The phone is lying flat: StandBy requires an upright tilt. If your phone rests flat on a nightstand or charging pad, it will not start. Angle it upright on a stand or lean it securely on its side.
• Low Power Mode is active: When Low Power Mode is on, iOS pauses several background activities and may shut off the screen immediately. Turn it off in Settings under Battery.
• Portrait orientation lock is not the culprit: Many people assume rotation lock blocks StandBy. iOS actually overrides orientation lock once the device is connected to power and tilted horizontally while locked.
• Loose charging connection: If your cable wiggles loose or your wireless charger pauses charging, StandBy exits immediately. Ensure your phone shows the charging battery indicator.
• Live Activities interference: If an active timer or app misbehaves, it can keep the standard Lock Screen open. If you run into tracker glitches, check our guide on Live Activities not working.

How to Keep StandBy Screen Always On

The single biggest surprise for most people is that StandBy shuts off after about 20 seconds on most iPhones. A permanent, overnight glow requires hardware support or a simple touch.

Only iPhone models equipped with an Always-On display can stay illuminated continuously. That hardware feature is built into the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and newer Pro models. On all standard non-Pro models, the screen naturally sleeps to save energy and protect your battery.

If you have a Pro model with an Always-On display, verify your display preferences:

1. Open StandBy settings.Go to Settings and select StandBy.
2. Tap Display.Open the Display sub-menu.
3. Select Always On.Toggle Always On to keep your clock visible throughout the night.
4. Configure Night Mode.Enable Night Mode so your display tints red in dark rooms to avoid straining your eyes.

If you own a standard iPhone, your screen will shut off. But you do not need to pick up the phone to see the time. Tapping your nightstand, nudging your desk, or tapping the screen gently wakes the display back up instantly.