How to Prevent the Lock Button from Ending Calls on iPhone

Few mobile experiences are more awkward than accidentally hanging up on a colleague, client, or family member mid-conversation because you reflexively pressed the side power button to lock your display or slip your iPhone into your pocket. By default, iOS treats a press of the side button during an active phone call or FaceTime audio session as a command to disconnect the call. Fortunately, Apple includes an Accessibility setting that disables this behaviour entirely.

Why Enable “Prevent Lock to End Call”?

Enabling this dedicated protection feature eliminates frequent daily calling frustrations:

• Safe Pocketing: Put your phone into your pocket or bag while talking on speakerphone, AirPods, or Bluetooth car systems without accidentally severing the connection.
• Screen Sleep Control: Turn off the glowing OLED display manually in dark environments (like cinemas or bedrooms) without dropping active calls.
• Accidental Grip Protection: Prevents instinctive button clicks from abruptly cutting off critical client meetings or emergency services.

How to Enable Prevent Lock to End Call in iOS Settings

The feature is available on any iPhone running iOS 16 or newer and takes less than a minute to turn on:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
3. Under the Physical and Motor category, tap on Touch.
4. Scroll down toward the bottom of the Touch menu.
5. Locate the setting named Prevent Lock to End Call.
6. Toggle the switch to the ON position (the toggle will turn green).

How Call Controls Work After Enabling This Setting

Once activated, the side button’s functionality during phone calls changes sensibly:

• Single Press: Puts the screen to sleep immediately, locking the display against accidental cheek or pocket taps while your call continues smoothly in the background.
• Muting an Incoming Ring: Pressing the side button while your phone is ringing still silences the ringtone or vibration as usual without rejecting the incoming caller.
• Hanging Up a Call: To intentionally disconnect a call, simply tap the red End Call icon on your screen or use the call controls on your connected AirPods or steering wheel.

What to Do on Older iOS Versions

If your device runs iOS 15 or earlier and does not support this toggle, the recommended workaround while on speakerphone is to press the Home button (or swipe up to the Home Screen) before locking the device, or rely on the proximity sensor to shut off the screen automatically when holding the handset to your ear.