How to Turn Off Auto Lock on an iPhone

When you get a brand-new iPhone, the default Auto Lock settings are 30 seconds. That means after half a minute of inactivity, your phone will dim down and automatically lock the screen.

This built-in system protects the phone’s battery and keeps others from snooping around your phone. But sometimes 30 seconds or even several minutes are not enough, and you’d rather eliminate the Auto Lock feature altogether.

Changing this setting is relatively straightforward, and we’ll guide you through the required steps. However, we’ll also address a few potential issues you might encounter in the process and offer alternative solutions to the problem.

How to Turn Off Auto Lock on an iPhone

Unlocking your iPhone doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, but if you have to do it dozens of times in a short span of time, it can be frustrating. You might need to use your phone for work every few minutes and would rather not have to unlock it every time.

Or perhaps you wind down by scrolling through Twitter, and a period of inactivity leads to Auto Lock, and you’d prefer to avoid that. This is an easy fix, and we’ll show you how it works on both older and newer iOS versions.

Changing Auto Lock Time on iOS 6 and Older

If your iPhone runs on an older operating system, you can still turn off Auto-Lock. Here’s how it works:

1. Open the “Settings” on your iPhone and go to “General.”
   
2. Select the “Auto Lock” option.
   
3. Select “Never.”
   

You’ll see a small blue checkmark next to that option that confirms your selection. Remember that you don’t have to completely turn off Auto Lock if you don’t want to. You can increase the settings from one to five minutes, which might work best for some people.

Changing Auto Lock Time on iOS 7 and Newer

The process of turning off Auto Lock on newer iPhone operating systems is similar, though it involves one more step. Still, it’s a quick adjustment that you can accomplish with the following steps:

1. Open the “Settings” on your phone.
   
2. Select “Display & Brightness” option.
   
3. Tap “Auto Lock.”
   
4. Select “Never” from the list of options.
   

Again, you can set a more practical Auto Lock time to suit your needs. Remember that regardless of this setting, once you press your phone’s side button, the phone will be locked.

How to Fix Auto Lock Grayed-Out Issue

When your iPhone is running low on battery, you won’t be able to change the Auto Lock settings to “Never.” The device’s Low Power Mode automatically turns on and pulls back the Auto Lock feature to the default settings, meaning it Auto Locks after 30 seconds.

Fortunately, users don’t have to abide by this rule and can bypass it by turning off the Low Power Mode. One way to do it is to ask Siri, the iOS virtual assistant, to do it. For example, you can say:

“Siri, turn off the Low Power Mode.”

But if you’re not used to relying on AI for these types of tasks, you can complete the process manually:

1. Go to “Settings” on your phone.
   
2. Select “Battery.”
   
3. Next to the “Low Power Mode,” move the toggle button to off.
   

Once that is done, you can go back to “Settings” and:

1. Select “Display & Brightness.”
   
2. Tap on “Auto Lock” and select “Never.”
   

Note: For iOS 6 and older, “Display & Brightness” is replaced by “General.”

How to Fix a Common Auto Lock Bug on iPhone

While changing Auto Lock settings on iPhone works pretty well overall, you might run into a specific issue from time to time.

Namely, it’s possible while using your iPhone for the screen to go black, show the well-known spinning wheel in the middle of the screen, and suddenly go back to the Lock screen. Understandably, this can be confusing and frustrating and requires an adequate solution.

Often, this problem occurs after installing a new app that might have some glitches that cause your iPhone to have issues. The only way to be sure that’s the case is to delete the app in question and check if the problem persists.

If it does, then the recommended action is to check for any software updates. The good news is that Apple stays on top of this issue, and if indeed there is an upgrade waiting for you, it’s easy to find it:

1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
   
2. Go to “Settings” and select “General.”
   
3. Tap “Software Update.”
   
4. If an upgrade is available, tap the “Download and Install” option.

If you’re still having issues with the Auto Lock feature after that, it’s best to take it to Apple-licensed repair service and ensure it gets adequate attention.

Using Raise to Wake Option on iPhone

Permanently turning off the Auto Lock feature on iPhone has its benefits, but it can also lead to problematic situations.

For example, if you forget to lock your phone manually, anyone can access your personal information or use your phone without you knowing.

Plus, an unlocked phone in a backpack or a pocket could lead to accidental phone calls or texts that can cause some awkward situations. That’s why Apple has introduced the Raise to Wake feature, which efficiently solves this problem.

This integrated option relies on motion sensor detection, which automatically turns your device on every time you pick it up.

As long as no one is touching the phone, it remains locked, but the moment you get it out of the pocket, no need to go through the unlocking process.

All you have to do is enable the Raise to Wake option, which is only available on iOS 10 and newer. Here’s how:

1. Select “Settings” followed by the “Display & Brightness” option.
   
2. The “Raise to Wake” option is right under the “Auto Lock.” Toggle the button to “On.”
   

Make sure the change was applied immediately. Lock your phone, put it down, pick it up and check if it automatically unlocks.

The feature works well overall, but depending on the condition of your device, it might not be as fast as some users would like it to be.

Controlling Your iPhone’s Auto Lock Feature

When you’re watching Netflix on your iPhone, your device will not Auto Lock even if you put the device down. That’s because streaming is considered activity, even if you’re not watching it at that moment.

However, if you check your messages and put your phone down, the Auto Lock feature comes on and locks the device. If you’re in a middle of a texting spree, the Auto Lock can be bothersome, but fortunately, there’s a way to turn it off.

If you’re experiencing Auto Lock-related bugs, checking for new software updates and deleting problematic apps can do the trick.

However, the Raise to Wake option is an alternative solution worth considering. It can keep your phone and data safe while still unburdening you from having to unlock your iPhone every few minutes.

How many times per day do you unlock your iPhone? Let us know in the comments section below.