Now consumers are enjoying many newly released iPhone features. One of the most interesting inclusions is the This set of tools transforms your lock screen into a variety of useful widgets, such as alarm clocks, photo frames, and more.
What is StandBy?
StandBy is a new feature that allows you to change the lock screen to access a series of widgets. This can be very useful when your phone is connected to a charging dock or when you just want to take a quick look at something without having to unlock your shiny iPhone. There are several widgets available for this mode, including alarm clocks, photo frames, Siri, incoming call windows, and large notification boxes. Third-party apps have been quick to offer support for StandBy, so tomorrow is likely to bring a host of new options.
How to use StandBy
Getting started with StandBy is extremely simple. Plug your iPhone into a charger and place it on its side, as the widgets are designed to take advantage of this orientation. Hold the phone steady and press the side button to activate StandBy. Once activated, swipe left and right to switch between different widgets, photos, clocks, and other display options. Once you choose your favorite, scroll up or down to access the setting options. For example, swiping up when the alarm clock is on the screen will change the layout.
If your phone has an always-on display, your StandBy widgets will run without interruption. For older phones, you’ll have to tap the screen when you want to see what’s going on. The iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature an always-on display. If you’re worried about the bright screen disrupting your sleep, simply turn on night mode and the screen will automatically adjust to the low ambient light, covering everything in a non-intrusive red tint.
How to turn off standby mode
Have you finished lovingly looking at the alarm clock? Disable StandBy by heading to settings and then look for StandBy as an option. Once you open it, simply click it to the off position like you would with Bluetooth or WiFi.
How to customize the available widgets
The default widget when you first start StandBy is the alarm clock, and there are several more options of its own available by swiping left and right. However, there is an easy way to customize the available widgets, allowing you to remove some from the stack and add others.
To start this process, simply long-press any widget while StandBy mode is activated. Once the phone is unlocked via Face ID, you’ll see the full stack of widgets in the center of the screen in a motion mode reminiscent of deleting apps. Look for the “+” icon at the top left of the screen to add widgets. Each widget will have a “-” attached to the thumbnail icon. Click that to remove the widget from your stack.
