To change how long your iPhone waits before the screen locks, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a time. The options run from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, plus Never. Apple notes that a longer Auto-Lock time may use more power, and Low Power Mode sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds while it’s on.
For a Samsung phone, use the Galaxy and older On5 screen-timeout steps below. The iPhone Auto-Lock and Sleep Focus instructions follow here.
The steps come from Apple’s Keep the iPhone display on longer and Set a passcode guides. The Low Power Mode and attention details come from Apple’s Low Power Mode article and its Face ID and attention settings guide.
How to Change the Auto-Lock Time on iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Auto-Lock.
- Choose a time: 30 seconds, 1 to 5 minutes, or Never.
Result: The screen now waits that long after your last touch before it dims and locks. You can still lock the iPhone any time with the side button, as Apple’s Wake, unlock, and lock guide notes.
Why Your iPhone Might Lock Sooner Than Expected
- Low Power Mode is on. Apple lists “Sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds” among the changes Low Power Mode makes, so the Auto-Lock setting may look grayed out. Turn off Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery (on iPhone 15 and later, tap Power Mode first), or from Control Center. Apple says it also turns off on its own once the battery charges to 80% or higher.
- You’re sitting on the Home Screen. Apple says that if you keep your iPhone on the Home Screen and don’t take any action, your Auto-Lock time is reduced by half.
- A work or school profile is installed. Work phone restrictions can limit Auto-Lock changes. Ask your IT team if the longer options are missing.
Keep the Screen On While You’re Looking at It
On iPhones with Face ID, Apple’s Attention Aware Features setting checks whether you’re looking at the screen before dimming the display. Apple says iPhone can use this to keep the screen lit while you’re reading. To check it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Face ID & Attention and turn on Attention Aware Features.
On supported models, the Always On Display setting (Settings > Display & Brightness) keeps a dimmed version of your Lock Screen visible even after the iPhone locks. That doesn’t keep the iPhone unlocked; it only lets you glance at the time, notifications, and widgets.
Turn Off the Dim Always-On Lock Screen
On an iPhone that supports Always-On display, including iPhone 17, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and turn Always On Display off. Apple lists the supported models and this control in its display guide. Press the side button to lock the phone and check that its dim always-on view no longer stays visible. A tap, raise-to-wake action or incoming notification can still wake the screen. Re-enable the same switch to restore the always-on view.
This is separate from Auto-Lock, which sets the inactivity delay before locking, and from Sleep Focus or ordinary brightness. Disabling only Show Wallpaper or Show Notifications inside Always On Display does not turn the feature itself off. If the Always On Display control is absent, check your exact model’s support rather than changing the passcode or assuming every iPhone has it.
Should You Choose Never?
Never is handy for recipes or directions, but anyone who picks up your phone can use it while it’s unlocked, and Apple notes that preventing Auto-Lock may increase power consumption. Choose 3 or 5 minutes when you just need more reading time. If the side button is broken, you can still lock your iPhone without the power button by using AssistiveTouch. If you do choose Never, press the side button to lock the iPhone when you’re done.
Change Auto-Lock in the Older iOS 7 Menu
On an iPhone 5 still using iOS 7, open Settings > General > Auto-Lock and select the desired inactivity time. Later software moved Auto-Lock to Display & Brightness. Test by leaving the phone untouched for the selected period, and use the top or side button to lock manually when needed. Choosing Never keeps the screen awake until you lock it; it does not remove the passcode. Return to the same menu to restore a shorter delay.
Turn Off Sleep Focus Without Changing Auto-Lock
On an iPhone 16, a dark screen and Sleep Focus are separate controls. Use Auto-Lock above for the screen timeout; Sleep Focus filters interruptions around bedtime. To switch an active Sleep Focus off now, open Control Center, tap Sleep, then tap Sleep again. Check that it is no longer active. This manual change can be reversed at the next scheduled bedtime or wake-up time; it does not keep the screen unlocked.
To stop the scheduled Focus while keeping your sleep schedule, open Health > Browse > Sleep, scroll to Your Schedule and open Full Schedule & Options. Turn off Use Schedule for Sleep Focus. Apple says the sleep schedules remain in effect; you do not need to delete a schedule or its wake-up alarm just to stop automatic Focus. Turn that option back on to restore the link, and check the next scheduled bedtime. See Apple’s Sleep Focus instructions. Low Power Mode’s separate 30-second Auto-Lock limit is covered above.
Change Screen Timeout on a Samsung Galaxy or Older On5
On a Samsung Galaxy, open Settings > Display > Screen timeout and select a longer available interval. You can also search Settings for Screen timeout. Samsung’s display-timeout guide documents this path. On the older Galaxy On5 layout from our original tutorial, first open Apps, then Settings, Display and Screen timeout; tap the circle beside your chosen interval. Use the options actually shown on your phone rather than assuming the old tutorial’s 30-minute maximum applies to every Galaxy.
Leave the phone untouched to check the new delay, then use its Power or Side button to turn the screen off when finished. Return to the same menu to choose a shorter interval. Samsung’s current screen-off troubleshooting guide lists intervals from 15 seconds to 10 minutes and notes that longer delays use more battery. On supported models, search Settings for Keep screen on while viewing and enable its switch if you want the display to remain lit while you look at it; availability varies. Display timeout does not remove your passcode or guarantee the same delay before authentication is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Auto-Lock the same as when my passcode is required?
Not exactly. Auto-Lock controls when the screen turns off and locks. Apple says your passcode is still always required in certain cases, such as after a restart or when you haven’t unlocked the iPhone for more than 48 hours, even if you normally use Face ID or Touch ID.
What’s the default Auto-Lock time?
The default is 30 seconds. Your iPhone may show a different time if you or a setup profile changed it.
Related Guides
- How to turn on a privacy screen on iPhone 17
- How to turn off an iPhone 16 or later
- How to set up Face ID and passcode settings on iPhone
Auto-Lock works with your passcode settings. Here’s how to turn off, turn on, or change your iPhone passcode. Some apps have their own switch as well; for example, you can turn off Auto-Lock inside the Pandora app.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.