Display and appearance
StandBy
Most people call this the bedside clock mode when charging on its side.
Put your iPhone on charge on its side and it turns into a full screen clock, photo frame or widget display.
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 17 and later
- Settings
- StandBy
What it does
When the phone is charging, landscape and roughly stationary, StandBy takes over the screen. You can swipe between clocks, widgets and photos. On a model with an Always-On display it can stay visible continuously.
What changes
When it is on
A charging phone on its side shows the StandBy screen.
When it is off
The phone just charges with the screen off.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- A readable clock overnight without a separate device.
- Widgets and Live Activities visible at a glance while you work.
Good reasons to turn it off
- A lit screen in a bedroom is distracting.
- Notifications shown at full width can be read by anyone in the room.
Battery
Costs you something
Privacy
Costs you something
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On, once the phone meets the charging and orientation conditions.
What your iPhone needs
- Needs iOS 17 or later
Questions people actually ask
- Why will StandBy not turn on?
- It needs charging, landscape orientation and a stable position at the same time.
- Can I hide notifications in StandBy?
- Yes, there is a switch for showing notifications inside the StandBy settings.
If it is not working
- It needs the phone to be charging, in landscape, and reasonably still. A stand or MagSafe puck makes this reliable.
- On models without an Always-On display, the screen dims fully and wakes on movement or touch.
- Night Mode within StandBy tints it red in a dark room.