StandBy mode is one of the most popular features introduced in iOS 17. It transforms your iPhone into a smart display when it is charging and positioned horizontally. It is perfect for viewing the time on your nightstand, monitoring live sports scores, or keeping an eye on your calendar while working at your desk. Here is everything you need to know to set up and use StandBy mode.
How to Enable and Activate StandBy
StandBy is enabled by default when you update to iOS 17, but it requires specific physical conditions to activate:
- Your iPhone must be connected to power (either plugged in via a cable or resting on a MagSafe wireless charger).
- The iPhone must be placed on its side in a landscape orientation.
- The screen must be locked and resting at an angle (not perfectly flat on a table).
If you meet all three conditions and the screen goes dark, simply tap the screen, and the StandBy interface will automatically appear.
How to Customize StandBy Widgets and Clocks
The StandBy interface is completely customizable. You can swipe left and right to switch between three main views: a dual-widget view, a full-screen photo frame, and a large full-screen clock.
- Widget View: In the dual-widget view, you can swipe up and down on either the left or right side of the screen to cycle through your widget stacks. To edit the stack, touch and hold any widget. From there, you can tap the “+” icon in the top corner to add new widgets, or tap the “-” icon to remove ones you do not need.
- Clock View: When viewing the full-screen clock, swipe up and down to change the clock style (such as Analog, Digital, World, or Solar). You can touch and hold the clock to customize its color scheme.
Managing StandBy Display Settings
You can fine-tune how StandBy operates by navigating to Settings > StandBy on your iPhone. From here, you can tap on Display to choose whether the screen turns off automatically when the room is dark, or if it should stay on constantly (available on iPhone 14 Pro and newer). You can also toggle Night Mode, which intelligently shifts the display to a dim red color in low-light environments so it won’t interrupt your sleep.