Modern iPhones are equipped with a motion-sensing feature called “Raise to Wake.” By default, the moment you pick your phone up off a desk or pull it out of your pocket, the screen automatically lights up. Apple designed this feature so you can quickly glance at the time or check your incoming notifications without having to physically press any buttons.
However, this hypersensitive feature can often become more of a nuisance than a convenience. If you carry your phone in your hand while walking or jogging, the screen will constantly flash on and off with every swing of your arm, rapidly draining your battery. If you prefer to have absolute control over when your screen activates, you can easily turn this automated feature off.
Disabling the Raise to Wake Feature
Because this feature controls the physical display, the toggle switch is located within the main Display settings, rather than the Accessibility or Battery menus.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
- Scroll down the main list of options and tap on Display & Brightness.
- Scroll down the page, past the brightness slider and the True Tone settings.
- Look for the section labelled Raise to Wake.
- Tap the green toggle switch next to it to turn it Off (the switch will turn grey).
How to Wake Your Phone Afterwards
Once you disable the automated motion sensor, your screen will remain completely black and turned off, no matter how vigorously you shake or move the device. To check your notifications or unlock your phone, you must perform a deliberate physical action.
On newer iPhones that do not have a physical Home button (such as the iPhone X, 12, 14, and later models), you can simply tap the glass screen once with your finger to wake the display. Alternatively, on any iPhone model, you can press the physical Power button (the Side button) once to illuminate the screen.