iPhone StandBy mode: Methods to use and customise your show

StandBy mode is a headline iOS 17 characteristic that turns your iPhone into a wise show in your nightstand, at your desk or within the kitchen. It’s a sexy solution to put your cellphone to work as a small data board or digital clock whenever you’re not utilizing it.

After all, it really works greatest you probably have a cellphone with an always-on show just like the iPhone 14 or 15 Professional. Nonetheless, it really works on any iPhone with MagSafe operating iOS 17. Better of all, StandBy remembers totally different preferences for various rooms, so you may set it up as a bedside clock within the bed room, a digital picture body in the lounge, or a music controller within the kitchen. Right here’s all the pieces you are able to do with StandBy in your iPhone.

Methods to use iPhone StandBy mode in iOS 17

StandBy is a type of nice iPhone options that you must undoubtedly mess around with. It turns your cellphone right into a devoted data board that you would be able to customise to point out widgets, photographs or your favourite clock face. Plus, whilst you’re utilizing StandBy mode, your Stay Actions present up full-screen, so it’s straightforward to manage music and podcast playback or control a meals supply. And your alarms and notifications will look good, too.

As talked about, Apple added StandBy in iOS 17. So, for those who’re not already operating iOS 17, you must go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace to get it. Upgrading could take about 20 minutes after downloading, so be sure to don’t begin it at a foul time.

If you happen to’re already operating iOS 17, you’ll find out all about utilizing your iPhone in StandBy mode with the article and video beneath.

Desk of contents: Methods to use iPhone StandBy in iOS 17

Methods to put your iPhone in StandBy mode

To make use of StandBy mode, your iPhone must be (a) charging (b) horizontal and (c) held regular in place. The characteristic works greatest for those who personal a MagSafe stand you may plop your iPhone onto. In any other case, you may merely plug in your cellphone with a cable and lean it on one thing. To get StandBy began, simply lock your display screen and place your iPhone horizontally. Be sure that it’s charging. StandBy ought to kick in virtually instantly.

If you happen to place your cellphone on totally different MagSafe stands, it’ll carry up the final view you had open on each. My cellphone at all times exhibits the Clock view on my nightstand and the twin widget view on my desk.

Methods to customise StandBy mode

After StandBy mode is on, you’ve got three totally different views you may entry by swiping left and proper: a twin widget display screen, a photograph slideshow and a full-screen clock.

Faucet and maintain wherever on the display screen to customise a specific StandBy view. You possibly can change out the widgets for stuff you discover helpful, specify which image classes are allowed, and customise the colour of the clock. Observe: You possibly can solely customise StandBy mode whereas the characteristic is energetic; there’s nowhere else in Settings it may be edited.

StandBy mode solely works when your iPhone is positioned horizontally. That complicates issues on iPhone 12 fashions, the place Face ID solely works vertically. So to edit your widgets or carry up the Images display screen, you’ll both have to kind in your passcode or unlock your cellphone earlier than turning on StandBy.

Arrange the twin widget view

The twin widget view is among the greatest iPhone StandBy modes. On this view, you may put two Residence Display screen widgets aspect by aspect to control issues like information and climate. You possibly can group Music and Podcasts, so you’ve got a fast solution to get one thing taking part in. In your nightstand, you may put Clock and Batteries collectively.

Every widget is its personal stack; swipe up or right down to cycle between them. Faucet and maintain so as to add one other widget to the stack or take away them.

You’re restricted to 2 of the small-size widgets; you may’t have one medium widget fill the display screen. A number of widespread widgets are lacking, too, like Shortcuts. (Simply think about for those who might fill an iPad in StandBy with dozens of Shortcut widgets, like a management board!)

If you happen to use third-party apps that assist the characteristic, you may even see some extra, however right here’s the record of StandBy widgets you will get from Apple: App Retailer, Batteries, Books, Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Discover My, Recreation Middle, Residence, Maps, Music, Information, Notes, Images, Podcasts, Reminders, Safari, Display screen time, Shares, TV, Pockets and Climate.

Use the photographs view

The photographs view within the iPhone’s StandBy mode appears similar to the Images Lock Display screen — it rotates between intelligently chosen footage it finds in your library. It’s like a digital image body. (This one would additionally be glorious on an iPad, Apple!)

You possibly can swipe up and down between totally different classes: featured, nature, pets, cities and other people. Faucet the picture to see the situation and date or to open the image contained in the Images app.

I don’t use this one too actually because it’s clearly meant for an always-on show.

Use StandBy as a desk clock

StandBy’s clock view consists of 1 huge clock that fills the display screen. Clock view is useful for bedtime. If you happen to get up in the midst of the night time, the Clock view makes it straightforward to look over to see what unholy hour it’s and the way lengthy till the dreaded alarm goes off.

I truly choose StandBy’s Clock view to the twin widget view. The clock is extra outstanding and gives all the identical data I’d need from a widget anyway.

You possibly can select from just a few totally different clock kinds by swiping up and down between them. The Digital clock, proven above, offers you a little bit bit of additional data to the aspect of the time: the date, the temperature and tomorrow morning’s alarm. Faucet and maintain to customise the first shade.

Analog clock view

If you’d like an oblong, American midcentury-style clock, the Analog clock is for you. You don’t get any climate data with this one, however it’s my private favourite based mostly on appears alone. Faucet the circle within the decrease proper nook to alter the colour of the second hand and different accents.

World clock view

The subsequent clock view, World, exhibits a big dotted map of the world (a la Larry King) with a present view of the place the solar is shining. Time zones you set within the Clock app present up as orange dots on the map. Within the higher left nook, you as soon as once more see your alarm, and beneath that, your present location.

Photo voltaic clock view

StandBy mode’s Photo voltaic view exhibits a digital clock with a nice, gradient-ish background. Faucet the circle within the decrease proper to select from a small collection of colours, however you may’t specify your individual.

Float clock view

This one’s probably the most colourful of all of StandBy mode’s clock views on iPhone. Known as “Float,” it exhibits the time in big, bubbly letters. As every minute goes by, you’ll see a enjoyable animation. To customise the Float view, faucet the circle within the decrease proper nook to modify between colours, together with two-tone choices. This view additionally exhibits your alarm data.

Methods to view full-screen Stay Actions in iPhone’s StandBy mode

When you’ve got music taking part in, a timer operating, a DoorDash supply on the best way or another Stay Exercise operating, you’ll see a little bit icon on the highest of the display screen when your iPhone’s in StandBy mode. Faucet on it to point out the Stay Exercise full display screen. To get again, simply swipe up from the Residence Display screen.

Perhaps you’ve got your cellphone on a stand whilst you’re taking part in music in your HomePod — it is a good solution to management it remotely with huge, apparent buttons. It’s like CarPlay to your desk or your kitchen counter.

Full-screen alarms and notifications

When your iPhone alarm goes off within the morning, have you ever ever confused the Snooze button for the Cease Alarm button? It’s straightforward to combine up. That downside is mitigated for those who depart your iPhone in StandBy mode in a single day. Then, when your alarm goes off, that is what you will note. The Snooze and Cease buttons are side-by-side and given equal prominence. I discover it a lot simpler to differentiate between the 2.

All iPhone notifications get an identical form of therapy in StandBy mode. You first see the icon pop up entrance and middle on the show. Then, after only a second, the textual content fills in to the aspect. It’s very similar to the notification animation on the Apple Watch, besides in fact it’s in your huge iPhone display screen. If you happen to use your cellphone at work (and particularly for those who work on a PC), this will likely be a way more nice solution to discipline notifications.

Identical to with Stay Actions, you may dismiss the notification by swiping up.

How is it utilizing StandBy general?

Lots of people actually love utilizing the iPhone’s StandBy mode. This one characteristic alone appears to be boosting the marketplace for MagSafe charging stands.

Making your cellphone helpful even whenever you’re not utilizing is a sexy characteristic. If you happen to work at a pc, your iPhone needn’t be relegated to sitting idly in your pocket or in your desk — it may develop into a useful show board, a digital image body or a good looking clock.

It’d even push individuals to improve to a brand new iPhone prematurely to allow them to expertise StandBy because it’s actually meant to be skilled: with an always-on display screen.

See our grasp record of different nice iOS 17 options right here.

We initially printed this story on learn how to use StandBy mode on iPhone on September 22, 2023. We up to date the data.