Locking your iPhone is the best way of keeping it safe. It stops anyone from picking up and using it, which is always a good thing. In this article we’ll also show you how to quickly unlock it and start using it again. If you’re up to speed on both, you’ll be able to keep your phone secure yet ready for action.

How to lock your iPhone screen

Here are the three most common ways of locking your iPhone screen, starting with the easiest (because once it’s set up, you don’t have to do anything).

Automatic screen lock

Here’s how to set up your iPhone so it will automatically lock after a certain amount of time. This is a good option of keeping your phone secure when it’s not in your hands, or if it’s ever lost or stolen.

1. Tap the ‘Settings’ app on your home screen. It’s the icon that looks like a gear.

2. Scroll down to the ‘Display & Brightness’ option. It's usually somewher below the ‘General’ settings.

3. Tap ‘Auto-Lock’.

4. Choose the time. You’ll see a list of options ranging from 30 seconds to ‘Never’. This is the amount of time that your iPhone will take to automatically lock when it’s not in use.

Job done. Your iPhone screen will now lock automatically after the amount of time you selected.

Using the side button

You can also manually lock your iPhone screen using the side button. It's the same button you use to power on your iPhone, and it’s usually on the right side. If you want to lock your screen using this method, simply press and release the side button. Your screen will turn off, and your iPhone will be locked. Easy.

Swipe screen lock

You can also lock your iPhone screen using the swipe screen lock method. Here are the steps:

1. Find and press the side button. It's the same button you use to power on your iPhone, and it’s usually on the right side.

2. When the screen goes dark, swipe your finger from the bottom of the screen to the top. This will activate the swipe screen lock.

Your iPhone screen is now locked and secure. To unlock it, just repeat the process and use your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID. If you’re not sure how to do that, read on…

How to unlock your iPhone

Now that we’ve shown you how to lock your phone, we should really show you how to unlock it. There are a couple of ways of doing this, depending upon the security you’ve got set up on it.

Using biometrics

There are two types of biometrics used on iPhones – Face ID and Touch ID.

• Face ID is a facial recognition system that uses the front-facing TrueDepth camera to create a detailed 3D map of your face. It then scans and analyses the features of your face to unlock the iPhone.

• Touch ID is a fingerprint recognition system where you simply place your finger on the home button (or side-mounted sensor on newer models) to unlock the iPhone.

To unlock your iPhone using biometrics, follow these steps:

1. Wake Up Your iPhone by pressing the side or top button (depending on your model) or gently raising the phone.

2. Use your Face ID or Touch ID biometric sensor. For Face ID, look at your iPhone and it’ll scan your face. For Touch ID, place your registered fingerprint on the sensor (or home button on older iPhones).

3. Don’t move! You’ll quickly be authenticated and your iPhone will be unlocked.

Using passcodes

To unlock your iPhone using a passcode, follow these steps:

1. Wake Up Your iPhone by pressing the side or top button (depending on your model) or gently raising the phone. If your screen is locked, you’ll see ‘Enter Passcode.’

2. Enter your passcode using the on-screen keyboard.

3. Tap ‘Done’ or ‘OK’.

If the passcode is correct, your iPhone will now be unlocked.

FAQs

How do I hide notifications on the lock screen of an iPhone?

To hide notifications on the lock screen of an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Unlock your iPhone using one of the above methods.

2. Tap the ‘Settings’ app on your home screen. It’s the icon that looks like a gear.

3. Scroll down and tap ‘Notifications.’

4. Tap on the app that you want to hide notifications for.

5. Inside the app's notification settings, choose ‘None.’

You can repeat these steps if you want to hide notifications for other apps.

How do I set up a new lock screen on an iPhone?

You can set up different lock screens if your iPhone is running iOS 16 or later. Here’s how:

1. Unlock your iPhone using one of the above methods.

2. Tap and hold anywhere on the lock screen to enter the editing mode. You can now swipe right to view all your custom lock screens. If you want to create a new one, tap ‘+’.

3. Now choose a lock screen design from the available options, which are Featured lock screens, Weather & Astronomy lock screens, Emoji lock screens, Collections lock screens or Colour lock screens. The choice is yours!

Can I move the time on an iPhone lock screen?

The bad news is that there’s currently no official way of moving the clock on your iPhone lock screen.

Need any more help?

Thinking about upgrading your iPhone? Apple recently revealed the iPhone 15 family – and they look epic.

Is there anything else you’d like to know about choosing a new phone or mobile phone accessories? Check out our 10 truths you need to know about your phone, or find out what to do with your old phone. If you want to talk to an expert, feel free to pop into one of our stores for a chat.