How to Use StandBy in iOS 17: Turn Your iPhone into a Smart Display
With iOS 17, Apple quietly transformed the iPhone into something more than a phone. StandBy turns your device into a smart display when it’s charging sideways — showing clocks, widgets, photos, and useful information at a glance.
Whether your iPhone lives on your nightstand, desk, or kitchen counter, StandBy gives it a purpose even when you’re not actively using it. And if you have an iPhone with Always-On Display, it becomes one of the best bedside clocks Apple has ever made.
Let’s break down how StandBy works, how to customize it, and how to get the most out of it.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
What StandBy is and how it works
StandBy settings and device requirements
How to customize widgets, photos, and clocks
How Night Mode behaves in low-light environments
Why Always-On Display improves the experience
Recommended MagSafe stands for StandBy
🔌 What Is StandBy in iOS 17
StandBy is a feature that activates when your iPhone:
Is charging
Is locked
Is positioned horizontally
When enabled, your iPhone becomes a glanceable display showing clocks, widgets, or photos. It’s designed for moments when your phone is sitting idle but still within view.
⚙️ StandBy Settings Explained
To enable StandBy:
Open Settings
Tap StandBy
Turn StandBy on
Common settings include:
Show Notifications
Show Preview on Tap Only
Night Mode
On iPhone 14 Pro and newer, additional display options appear due to Always-On Display support.
📱 StandBy Requirements
StandBy requires:
iOS 17 or later
The iPhone must be charging (wired or MagSafe)
The device must be locked
The phone must be in landscape orientation
StandBy works on all iPhones running iOS 17, but behaves differently depending on hardware.
🧠 Always-On Display vs Non-Always-On iPhones
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models include Always-On Display, allowing StandBy to remain visible indefinitely.
On older iPhones:
StandBy still works
The screen eventually turns off
Motion or touch is required to wake it
This makes StandBy far more useful on Always-On Display models.
🧩 Customizing the Widget Screen
The widget screen is fully interactive and split into left and right sections.
You can:
Touch and hold either side to customize independently
Add multiple widgets per side
Enable Smart Rotate and widget suggestions
Swipe vertically to rotate between widget stacks
Widgets behave similarly to Home Screen widgets and depend on installed apps.
🖼️ Customizing Photo Screens
The photo screen turns your iPhone into a digital photo frame.
Features include:
Built-in photo categories like People, Pets, Nature, and Cities
The ability to hide categories you don’t want
Support for custom photo albums
Automatic photo rotation
You can tap a photo to see when it was taken or jump directly into the Photos app.
🕒 Customizing Clock Screens
StandBy offers multiple clock styles:
Analog
Digital
World Clock
Solar
Floating
Each clock style includes:
Color customization
Subtle animations
Different visual designs
World Clock integrates with cities added in the Clock app.
🌙 How Night Mode Works in StandBy
Night Mode automatically activates in low-light environments.
When enabled:
The display shifts to red tones
Brightness is reduced
Clocks, widgets, and photos remain readable without glare
This makes StandBy ideal for bedrooms and nighttime use.
🔋 Recommended MagSafe Charging Stands
StandBy works best with a stand that holds your iPhone upright in landscape orientation.
Two common options:
Premium MagSafe stands with fixed angles
Affordable 3-in-1 stands for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods
MagSafe makes placing and removing your phone effortless and keeps StandBy reliable.
