If your iPhone does not go into StandBy Mode when it should, there are several steps you can take to ensure that you are doing everything correctly. In this article, I’ll walk you through several effective solutions that can assist you in fixing StandBy mode on your iPhone to get it working.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If StandBy is not working on your iPhone, first make sure the feature is enabled in Settings.
- You should also ensure your iPhone is in the locked state while charging, using either a MagSafe or Qi-based wireless charger, a Lightning charger, or a USB-C connector.
- Ensure that your iPhone is in a stationary horizontal position.
- When these conditions are met, the StandBy mode will automatically activate on your iPhone.
How StandBy works
StandBy is a new customizable Lock Screen mode in iOS 17 that activates only when an iPhone is positioned on its side (i.e. horizontally in landscape orientation) while connected to a charging cable, a MagSafe charger, or a Qi-based wireless charger.
The most obvious use of StandBy mode is as a new-and-improved iPhone alarm clock. StandBy mode lets you customize a fun and full-screen clock face that will let you check the time with a quick glance rather than fumbling in the dark and tapping your phone to see how much more time you have to sleep before your cursed alarm goes off.
StandBy mode could also be useful in the kitchen, letting you keep an eye on the timing of your dinner prep without needing to tap your phone with a greasy fingertip. You might also like to set it to display a rotating selection of photos on your desk while you work. You can customize the look of StandBy mode with widgets, and it’ll also receive notifications and alerts.
StandBy mode works best on iPhones with always-on displays, like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models. It will work on other iOS 17 compatible iPhones, like the iPhone XR, but only until your screen goes to sleep.
The following are iPhone models with StandBy mode:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
How to activate StandBy
Activating StandBy is extremely simple. Here’s how:
- Connect your iPhone to a charger and set it down on its side, as the widgets are designed to take advantage of this orientation.
- Keep the phone stationary and press the side button to activate StandBy.
- Once activated, swipe left and right to switch between the various widgets, photos, clocks and other display options. Once you choose your favorite, scroll up or down to access adjustment options. For instance, swiping up when the alarm clock is on the screen will change the design.
If your phone has an always-on display, your StandBy widgets will run without interruption. For older phones, you’ll have to tap the screen when you want to see what’s going on. The iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max all boast an always-on screen.
StandBy Mode Won’t activate on iPhone: What to Do
Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 17 or later
Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates.
Ensure that StandBy is enabled
By default, StandBy mode is turned on in iOS 17. If you accidentally turned it off, it won’t work. To check if StandBy is enabled on your iPhone, open up Settings > scroll down to StandBy > and switch the activation toggle to the on position.
There are two other settings within this page for turning on Night Mode, which shifts the color tint from vibrant to red when the environment is darker, and notifications.
With the latter setting, you can have critical notifications displayed in StandBy mode, and you can also tap on them to expand to the preview, similar to the iPhone’s lock screen behavior.
Make sure that your iPhone is locked, charging and is placed on its side.
If StandBy mode isn’t automatically activated when you attach your iPhone to a power source, make sure the screen is locked, and that the phone is positioned on its side (i.e. horizontally, also known as landscape orientation) and at an upright angle (i.e. not flat on a desk).
Make sure that Orientation Lock is disabled
If your iPhone’s screen is not rotating when you put it in landscape mode, the Portrait Orientation Lock is probably active. Here’s how to turn it off:
If your iPhone has a Face ID, swipe down from the top right-hand corner of your screen to open Control Centre.
Tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button to make sure that it’s off.
If you’re iPhone has Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen to open Control Centre.
Tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button to make sure that it’s off.
StandBy Mode Won’t Remain On: What to Do
Make sure low power mode is turned off
If StandBy mode turns itself off after a while and refuses to remain viewable on your iPhone’s display, low power mode may be turned on. When low power mode is enabled, your iPhone’s screen will automatically turn off after a few moments of inactivity, so it needs to be off for StandBy mode to remain visible.
To turn off Low Power Mode, go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
Check your iPhone model
If Low Power Mode is disabled and StandBy mode still won’t stay on, check your iPhone model. Continuous StandBy mode requires an iPhone with an Always-on display, and this feature is only available on iPhone 14 Pro or later Pro devices.
Restart your iPhone
If standby is still not coming on, go ahead and restart your iPhone. To do that, press and hold one of the volume buttons (up or down) and the Side button until you see the power-off slider. Drag the slider. Wait until your iPhone turns off fully. After about 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
FAQs
What iPhone models support StandBy mode?
All iPhones that are upgradeable to iOS 17 supports StandBy mode. That level of support spans from iPhone 15 to the iPhone XR. I listed above the iPhones that can support iOS 17.
Does StandBy mode always stay on?
StandBy mode only stays on for iPhone models that support always-on display. These include: iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 pro max. For older models, StandBy mode will automatically turn off when your screen goes to sleep.
What charging dock is compatible with StandBy mode?
StandBy mode works with MagSafe-certified chargers, traditional Qi-enabled wireless chargers, and wired chargers — the iPhone just needs to be horizontal and propped up on a stand or against something to trigger StandBy mode. If you want to take advantage of MagSafe location awareness, you’ll need MagSafe chargers.