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5 Secret IPhone Settings To Keep Your Screen On Forever (The Ultimate 2025 Guide)

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Are you tired of your iPhone screen constantly dimming and locking itself, interrupting your reading, cooking, or navigation? You are not alone. While the auto-lock feature is designed to save battery life and increase security, it can be a major frustration when you genuinely need the display to remain active. As of today, December 21, 2025, there are several powerful, up-to-date methods and hidden settings within the latest iOS to ensure your screen stays on for as long as you need it.

This ultimate guide reveals the definitive steps for every user, from the simple 'Auto-Lock' setting to the advanced 'Always-On Display' feature for Pro models and the powerful 'Guided Access' trick. We'll show you exactly how to take control of your display and prevent that annoying screen blackout once and for all.

The Definitive Method: Disabling Auto-Lock on Any iPhone (iOS 17+)

The primary setting that controls when your iPhone screen turns off is called Auto-Lock. By default, this is set to a short interval like 30 seconds or 1 minute. Changing this to 'Never' is the most straightforward way to keep your screen on indefinitely.

Step-by-Step Guide to Set Auto-Lock to 'Never'

This setting is found within the Display & Brightness menu and is available on virtually all modern iPhone models running the latest iOS version.

  • Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Display & Brightness.
  • Step 3: Tap on Auto-Lock.
  • Step 4: Select the Never option.

Once you select 'Never', your iPhone screen will remain illuminated until you manually press the Side button (or Top button on older models) to lock it. This is the simplest and most effective solution for things like following a recipe, viewing a static map, or keeping a video call active.

The Critical Caveat: Low Power Mode Overrides Auto-Lock

If you find that the 'Never' option is greyed out or if your screen still turns off after 30 seconds, the culprit is almost certainly Low Power Mode (LPM).

When Low Power Mode is enabled, it automatically forces the Auto-Lock setting to a maximum of 30 seconds, regardless of what you have selected in the Display & Brightness menu. This power-saving feature is designed to conserve battery life, and overriding the screen timeout is one of its core functions.

To fix this, you must temporarily disable Low Power Mode:

  • Go to Settings > Battery.
  • Toggle off Low Power Mode. (The battery icon in the status bar will change from yellow back to white/green).

The 'Never' option for Auto-Lock should now be available for selection. Remember that using the 'Never' setting will consume more power and can lead to battery drain, so it should be used judiciously.

Advanced Control: Always-On Display (AOD) for iPhone Pro Models

For users with the latest premium devices, such as the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and newer Pro models running the latest iOS, Apple introduced a dedicated feature called the Always-On Display (AOD).

AOD is different from the Auto-Lock setting. Auto-Lock keeps the *active* screen on, while AOD keeps the *Lock Screen* visible even when the device is locked. This allows you to check the time, widgets, and notifications without tapping the screen.

How to Manage Your Always-On Display

The AOD is typically enabled by default, but you can customize or disable it completely to save power or if you prefer a fully black screen when locked.

  • Step 1: Open Settings.
  • Step 2: Tap Display & Brightness.
  • Step 3: Scroll down to the Always On Display section.
  • Step 4: Toggle the main switch to On or Off. You can also customize options like whether to show the wallpaper or notifications.

This feature works by intelligently dropping the screen's refresh rate to as low as 1Hz, which is highly energy efficient, but it still uses more battery than a completely black screen.

The Power User's Trick: Using Guided Access to Lock the Screen On

Sometimes you need the screen to stay on, but you also want to prevent accidental taps or ensure the device remains focused on a single application, such as a child using a learning app, a presentation display, or a kiosk mode. For this, the accessibility feature Guided Access is the perfect solution.

Guided Access locks the iPhone into a single app and, crucially, prevents the screen timeout from occurring, keeping the display active until the mode is exited.

Enabling and Using Guided Access

This is a powerful accessibility feature that offers granular control over screen activity.

  1. Enable the Feature: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn the toggle switch On. Set a Passcode or use Face ID/Touch ID to exit the mode.
  2. Start Guided Access: Open the app you want to use (e.g., a map, a video streaming app, or a document).
  3. Activate: Triple-click the Side Button (or Home Button on older models).
  4. Start Session: Tap Start in the top right corner. You can optionally tap Options in the bottom left to disable the Touch function, Volume Buttons, or set a Time Limit.

To exit, simply triple-click the Side Button again, enter your Passcode, and tap End. This method is highly recommended for scenarios where you need the screen locked and on, but don't want the user to navigate away from the current app.

Summary of Screen-On Methods and Battery Considerations

Keeping your iPhone screen on is simple once you know the right settings. However, it's essential to be mindful of the trade-off with battery life and power consumption. A permanently illuminated Retina display or OLED screen will drain the lithium-ion battery faster than the default settings.

For most users, setting Auto-Lock to 'Never' is the ideal balance for short-term needs. For those with iPhone Pro models, the Always-On Display provides a low-power solution for checking information at a glance. For maximum control and security, the Guided Access feature is unbeatable.

Always remember to disable Low Power Mode if you cannot access the 'Never' option. By utilizing these iOS tips and display settings, you can finally dictate when your screen turns off, not the other way around.

5 Secret iPhone Settings to Keep Your Screen On Forever (The Ultimate 2025 Guide)
how to keep iphone screen on
how to keep iphone screen on

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