Display and appearance
Raise to Wake
Most people call this the screen turning on when you pick the phone up.
Your iPhone uses its motion sensors to notice when you lift it and turns the screen on without you pressing anything.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 10 and later
- Settings
- Display & Brightness
- Raise to Wake
What it does
The accelerometer recognises the movement of a phone being picked up or tilted towards your face and wakes the Lock Screen. On a Face ID model that is usually enough to unlock as well.
What changes
When it is on
The screen lights up whenever you lift or tilt the phone.
When it is off
The screen stays dark until you tap it, press a button, or raise it to a Face ID prompt deliberately.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Checking the time or a notification needs no button press.
- It pairs well with Face ID for near instant unlocking.
Good reasons to turn it off
- The screen lights up in your pocket, in bed, or on a bumpy journey.
- Every unnecessary wake costs a little battery.
- You do not want the screen lighting up next to someone who is asleep.
Battery
Costs you something
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On.
Questions people actually ask
- Why does my screen turn on when I pick up my phone?
- Raise to Wake is on. Turn it off under Display and Brightness.
- Does Raise to Wake use battery?
- A little, because every wake lights the display. It matters most if the phone is being jostled all day.
If it is not working
- If it never works, check that the phone is not in Low Power Mode, which does not disable it but can change how it feels.
- Tap to Wake is a separate switch, so turning one off leaves the other working.