Do you cringe when your screen goes black during a crucial task? If so, you’re not alone. Phone displays are, by default, designed to automatically turn off after a predetermined period when they aren’t in use. Fortunately, there’s a way to switch off the feature if you find it annoying.
If you’re trying to figure out how to stop your iPhone’s screen from turning off every few minutes, you’re in the right place. In this article, you’ll learn how to achieve longer screen times and save yourself the trouble of having to unlock your phone every few minutes. Keep reading to find out more.
Stop the Screen Turning Automatically Off When Not Using the iPhone
By default, your iPhone’s screen goes to sleep when not in use, thanks in part to the “Auto-Lock” feature. The iPhone’s Auto-Lock feature plays a significant role in maximizing the battery life of your phone. The feature also secures your device against intruders because it’s hard for someone to access a locked phone.
Through the “Auto-Lock” settings, you can set your iPhone’s screen to never go to sleep. That way, you’ll always have your screen on(unless you manually lock it), even if that means shorter battery life.
To stop the screen from turning off on iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the “Settings” app.
- Select “Display & Brightness.”
- From the options, select “Auto-lock.”
- To stop your screen from turning off, choose the “Never” option.
With the above settings, your screen should remain on display all the time unless you manually press the power button. Also, note that your phone’s display will automatically turn off when you put your phone into “Power Saving Mode,” even when the setting is activated. This is because screens are power intensive and need to be turned off to save your phone’s battery.
Should you want to reverse the above changes, follow these steps:
- Launch “Settings.”
- Go to “Display & Brightness.”
- Open the “Auto-Lock” menu.
- Choose the duration you’d like your screen to go to sleep after.
Stopping the iPhone Screen From Turning Off During a Call
iPhones have proximity sensors designed to automatically turn off your display when holding your phone near your face during a call. Unfortunately, the iPhone doesn’t provide an intricate way of disabling the feature. As a result, your only option is to keep the proximity sensor away from your face and other objects. You can also press the home button once or twice to wake your phone from sleep mode, but this is a temporary fix.
If keeping the phone away from your face doesn’t resolve the issue, chances are, the proximity sensor isn’t working correctly. If you’re confident that your proximity sensor is faulty, here’s what to do.
Force-Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your phone is known to resolve any temporary problems. For that reason, this should be the first thing you should try if your proximity sensor isn’t working correctly. To force-restart your iPhone, simultaneously press the “Power” and “Volume down” buttons until the Apple logo appears.
Remove the Screen Protector or Cover
Some screen protectors and phone covers might interfere with the sensitivity of the phone’s proximity sensor, causing it to act in a way it shouldn’t. Therefore, removing screen protectors and phone cases might resolve the problem.
Wipe the Top of the Screen With a Clean, Dry Towel
Your phone is bound to accumulate dust and dirt over time. This dirt might block ports, including speakers and camera ports, and yes, the proximity sensor might also get compromised.
Update Your Operating System to the Latest Version
You might think that the issue is with your phone when it’s the current version of your IOS that has a bug. To update your iPhone, follow these steps:
- On your phone, go to “Settings.”
- Select “General.”
- From the options, tap on “Software update.”
- Wait a few seconds for your phone to detect the available updates.
- Click on “Download and Install” to install the latest updates.
- Enter your phone’s passcode to initiate the update
Disable the “Reduce Motion” Feature
If the above fixes don’t work, try disabling the “Reduce Motion” feature.
- On your iPhone, launch the “Settings” app.
- Scroll down and open the “Accessibility” menu.
- From the options, select “Motion.”
- Turn off “Reduce Motion” by tapping the toggle switch.
Disable the “Raise to Wake” Feature
Some users have also reported success after turning off the “Raise to wake” feature in their settings. Here’s how to disable the feature:
- On your iPhone, go to “Settings.”
- Open the “Display & Brightness” menu.
- Turn off the toggle switch against the “Raise to wake” option.
Reset All the Settings
If the above fixes haven’t worked, resetting all the settings might do the trick. To reset your iPhone settings, follow these steps:
- Open the “Settings” app.
- From the options, select “General.”
- Go to “Reset All Settings.”
- Key in your phone’s passcode to continue.
- Tap on “Reset All Settings.”
Please note that resetting your settings won’t delete your phone’s data, so there’s nothing to worry about.
If the above fixes haven’t resolved the issue, you might want to get your phone checked by a certified Apple hardware specialist.
How to Stop the iPhone Screen Turning Off When the Sensor Is Covered
By default, your screen turns off when you cover the proximity sensor. Considering that the sensor is right at the top of the screen, it’s so easy to cover it accidentally. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t provide a straightforward way to turn off the feature for those who find it annoying.
However, you can follow these steps to bypass the feature:
- Press the home button to lock the screen.
- Cover the proximity sensor with a finger or tape.
- Unlock the screen and see if that resolves the problem.
Enjoy Longer Screen Times
As you can see, stopping your iPhone’s screen from turning off isn’t impossible. In most cases, you can do so by navigating to the Auto-Lock settings and choosing the never option. However, setting your screen never to turn off has consequences.
For instance, your battery is bound to drain faster than phones with displays that go off after a few minutes. Also, you can jeopardize your security because it makes it super easy for an intruder to access your phone without your permission or knowledge.
Have you ever stopped your iPhone’s screen from turning off? Did you use any of the tips outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.