iPhone StandBy mode: how to set it up and fix it

What is StandBy?

StandBy is a full-screen display that appears when an iPhone is charging, locked and held in landscape. It shows a clock, widgets or photos, and it comes from iOS 17, which Apple released in 2023. You glance at it from across the room, which is why it works best on a desk, a nightstand or a kitchen counter.

How do I turn StandBy on?

1. Update to iOS 17 or later in Settings, General, Software Update.
2. Open Settings and tap StandBy.
3. Switch StandBy on. Optional: choose Night Mode to dim to a red tone in a dark room.
4. Plug in a cable or place the phone on a wireless charger.
5. Turn the phone on its side and lock it. StandBy starts after a moment.

Why will StandBy not start?

Work through the short list. The phone must be charging, locked and in landscape, and it should be held still. A case that tilts the phone, a stand that holds it upright in portrait or a moving car dock can stop it. The feature is also off if StandBy is switched off in Settings.

If everything looks right, restart the iPhone. If the display is dark, see the next section.

Why does the StandBy screen go dark?

On iPhones with an always-on display, StandBy keeps the screen lit at low brightness. On other models the screen turns off after a while, and you wake it by a tap or a motion. Night Mode dims the display in a dark room and turns it off when motion is not detected. You can change these options in the StandBy settings.

Which widgets work best in StandBy?

• A calendar widget showing the next event.
• A weather widget with temperature and rain chance.
• A clock plus a single task or reminders count.
• A small pet or buddy widget that you tap for a quick action.
• Smart home buttons if you have a home hub setup.

Does Musse Buddy work in StandBy?

Yes. The small Home Screen widget of Musse Buddy also works in StandBy. It shows your buddy with its mood and three quick-action buttons. The widgets page recommends the Night theme for a dark bedroom, because a black and low-contrast tile does not light the room. In the car, the same small widget moves to the CarPlay Dashboard on iOS 26.

The widget reads a snapshot that the app writes on the phone, so it needs no network. Because iOS decides when to redraw, a mission count can lag a little. Open the app once to refresh. See widgets and Live Activity for the other shapes.

How should I set up the room?

Place the phone at eye level where you can see it from the bed, with the charging cable reaching a power point. A magnetic stand makes the landscape position stable. Keep the phone away from direct sun, which washes out a dim screen, and check Night Mode if the light bothers your sleep.

Is StandBy bad for the battery?

The phone charges while StandBy runs, so the battery gains on net. An always-on display uses a little power, and overnight charging is a normal case for it. If you worry about long charging sessions, use the optimized charging option in Battery settings, which Apple designed to reduce wear from sitting at full charge.

How do I change what StandBy shows?

1. While in StandBy, swipe left or right to switch between Widgets, Photos and Clock.
2. Swipe up or down on a widget stack to change the widget shown on that side.
3. Touch and hold a stack, then tap the plus to add a widget, or tap the minus to remove one.
4. In the Clock view, swipe up or down to change the clock style, and touch and hold to change the color.
5. In the Photos view, tap and hold to pick albums, such as people or pets.

What if the picture is too bright at night?

Use Night Mode. In a dark room, the display shifts to a warm red tone so it does not wake you or keep you up. The display also stays quiet when the room is dark and nothing moves. If you share a bed, set the phone on the far side and test the brightness for a night before you decide.

You can also pick the Clock view with a dark face, which draws the least light, and leave widgets for the day.

Which iPhones show StandBy best?

StandBy works with iOS 17 on supported iPhones. Models with an always-on display keep the screen visible at low brightness, which makes the feature feel like a real bedside clock. Other models light the screen when you tap or move near them, which is still useful but less constant. Check the specifications of your model if you are not sure.

What is StandBy good for besides a clock?

• A kitchen display for timers, weather and a shopping reminder.
• A desk dashboard that shows your next meeting and a task count.
• A photo frame on a shelf with a slideshow of favorite albums.
• A quiet companion: a small pet or buddy widget that you tap for a quick action.
• A glance at live information through Live Activities, such as a timer or a delivery.

Is there a way to get alerts without waking the room?

Yes. StandBy follows your Focus settings. In a sleep Focus, notifications stay quiet, and the screen stays dim. Critical alerts and alarms can still sound. If a notification lights the room, check which apps may break through your Focus and remove the ones that do not matter at night.

Can I use StandBy while driving?

No. StandBy is for a charging phone that lies still, and your attention belongs to the road. For the car there is a different surface, the CarPlay Dashboard, designed for glances.