Screen stays dark

It only wakes when you press the button

iPhone · Free · built in

What it does

Stops the screen lighting up when you pick the phone up or tap it, and turns off the always-on Lock Screen.

Cost

Free, built in. Always On is only on some models.

How to set it up

Settings › Display & Brightness › Raise to Wake and Always On Display, both off (on iOS 27 these may have moved to Settings › Appearance). Settings › Accessibility › Touch › Tap to Wake, off.

How easy to get around

Easy: press the side button, or switch them back on.

Worth knowing

Notifications still light up the screen unless they're off or a Focus silences them.

Checked October 2026 · Source