Apple has released iOS 16.2 and it comes with some interesting new features, particularly for users of the premium iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
As well as satellite connectivity being activated for those in the UK and other regions following US and Canadian activation in November 2022, the update introduces the ability to customise – or even completely disable – the always-on display technology introduced to this year’s top iPhone range.
I personally like the always-on display tech, as it makes it easy to check the time and any incoming notifications without picking up my phone, but some owners simply can’t get on with the fact that it looks like a dimmed display and not the standard completely black screen used by Android alternatives up until this point.
There’s also the argument that disabling the always-on display tech would boost battery life, and while that is true, there’s much debate about how much battery life it uses as the LTPO display of the premium iPhones allows it to drop down to a power-efficient 1Hz, down from its maximum 120Hz.
The good news is that you can disable the wallpaper, incoming notifications or the always-on display tech entirely with Apple’s new update – and it’s pretty easy to do too. Here’s how to do it.
How to customise (or disable) the always-on display on iPhone
- Time to complete: 2 minutes
- Tools required: An iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max running iOS 16.2
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Lewis Painter / Foundry
Open the Settings app (the app with a cog icon) on your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16.2.
Select Display & Brightness.
Lewis Painter / Foundry
Scroll down through the Settings menu until you find the Display & Brightness settings. Tap it.
Tap Always On Display.
Lewis Painter / Foundry
Towards the bottom of the Display & Brightness menu you’ll find a new Always On Display setting, introduced in iOS 16.2. Tap it.
Customise your always-on display experience.
Lewis Painter / Foundry
From this menu, you can customise the always-on display.
While it’s fairly limited right now, you can disable the wallpaper on the always-on display, providing a more Android-esque always-on display experience. You’ve also got the option of removing notifications from the always-on display, keeping prying eyes from reading your incoming texts and other notifications.
To disable either of these functions, simply toggle them off in the menu.
If you simply detest the always-on display functionality, you’ve got the option of disabling it altogether by toggling off the always-on display. If disabled, the screen will completely power down when locked like with previous iPhones.
And you’re done! Once you lock your iPhone, you should see the updated always-on display (or not, if you disabled it).
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Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer
Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.