Apple introduced the Always-On Display with the iPhone 14 Pro, allowing the screen to dynamically dim while continually showing your wallpaper, clock, and widgets. While it is a visually impressive feature, many users find it distracting—especially when the phone is sitting on a desk—and it does consume a small amount of extra battery power throughout the day.
If you prefer your iPhone screen to be completely pitch black when you press the power button, you can easily disable the Always-On Display.
How to Turn Off the Always-On Display
This setting is managed within the main display preferences of iOS, not within the Lock Screen settings.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
- Scroll down the menu and tap on Display & Brightness.
- Scroll near the bottom of this page until you find the section labelled Always On Display. Tap it.
- At the very top of the next screen, you will see a master toggle switch for Always On Display. Toggle this switch to the Off position (the switch will turn grey).
Once you flip this switch, the feature is immediately disabled. The next time you lock your iPhone, the screen will turn completely black, just like earlier iPhone models.
Alternative: Keep Always-On, but Hide the Wallpaper
If your primary issue with the Always-On Display is that the colourful wallpaper is too distracting, but you still want the convenience of seeing the time at a glance, Apple offers a middle ground.
Instead of turning the master switch off, keep the Always-On Display active, but look at the two options directly beneath it:
- Show Wallpaper: Turn this toggle Off.
- Show Notifications: Turn this toggle Off.
By configuring it this way, your iPhone screen will still remain “on” when locked, but it will be entirely black except for a dimly lit digital clock and your date widget. This provides the utility of a bedside clock without the glaring distraction of a full-colour wallpaper glowing on your desk.
