How To Turn Off Always On Display on iPhone [Video]Image Credit: shalom levytam · Source ↗

How To Turn Off Always On Display on iPhone [Video]

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For users looking to manage their screen visibility and battery preferences, understanding how to turn off Always On Display on iPhone provides a straightforward way to keep the screen entirely dark when locked. Apple configures Always On Display to be on by default, keeping a dimmed version of the Lock Screen visible to show the time, widgets, and notifications.

Testing conducted on an iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27 outlines the exact menu steps required to adjust this functionality, as well as the built-in conditions that cause the display to turn off automatically.

What Changed

Apple enables Always On Display automatically out of the box on compatible devices. When active, the feature maintains a dimmed rendition of the Lock Screen even after the user locks the device, keeping information like the time, widgets, and incoming notifications constantly glanceable.

However, users who prefer a completely dark screen upon locking their device can change this behavior. Testing on an iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27 demonstrates that the feature can be fully disabled or customized according to individual preference through standard system settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To turn off Always On Display on a supported device like the tested iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27, follow these precise steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
3. Select Always On Display.
4. Turn off the main Always On Display switch.

According to findings and documentation, when Always On Display is switched off, your screen turns off entirely when the iPhone is locked.

Customization and Alternative Options

Users do not necessarily have to choose between keeping the feature fully active or turning it off entirely. Apple provides granular toggles within the settings menu for personalization.

Instead of turning off the master switch, users can keep Always On Display enabled while modifying secondary preferences. Available adjustments include turning off:

  • Show Wallpaper
  • Blur Wallpaper Photo
  • Show Notifications

These options allow individuals to tailor what remains visible on the dimmed screen, reducing visual distractions while keeping basic glanceable data available if desired.

Automatic Display Behavior

Beyond manual user controls, Apple integrates several contextual triggers that cause the display to turn off automatically. According to Apple’s system design, the screen switches off on its own under specific conditions:

  • When the iPhone is placed face down.
  • When the iPhone is covered.
  • When the device is not near a paired Apple Watch.
  • During an active CarPlay session.
  • While Continuity Camera is in use.
  • While Low Power Mode is turned on.
  • While Sleep Focus is active.
  • At the user’s usual bedtime.

These safeguards help manage power and privacy by ensuring the display remains active only when relevant to the user’s immediate context or proximity.

Sector Impact and Business Implications

Features that impact device visibility and screen behavior hold relevance for mobile interface design and hardware management. For enterprise deployments, device administrators and individual professionals often evaluate display settings to optimize battery retention or maintain discretion in professional environments.

While Apple turns the feature on by default to showcase lock screen widgets and live information, providing an explicit kill switch ensures that users and organizations can align device behavior with their specific operational needs or power conservation policies.

Limitations and Constraints

The ability to manage Always On Display depends on running compatible software versions and using supported hardware, such as the iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27 tested in recent evaluations. Users on older hardware architectures that do not support the capability will not find these settings. Furthermore, users must rely on Apple’s predefined automated triggers for temporary display blanking, as custom rule creation beyond the built-in Focus modes, CarPlay, and sensor states is restricted.

Attribution

Details regarding menu navigation, automated display conditions, and default settings are sourced from technical testing and documentation, including evaluations of an iPhone 18 Pro Max running iOS 27 and hardware reports provided via iClarified.

What to Watch Next

As Apple continues to iterate on iOS releases—such as iOS 27—observers will monitor whether additional customization toggles or sensor-based automation parameters are introduced for Lock Screen management. Future updates may refine how glanceable information interacts with power-saving states and user proximity detection.