How to change Auto-Lock on iPhone (and fix it when it is greyed out)

Auto-Lock sets how long your iPhone waits before the screen turns off. If you cannot change it, Low Power Mode is almost always the reason.

Agha Ali Abbas24 September 20261 min read

The fix

Change how long the screen stays on

1
Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
2
Tap Auto-Lock.
3
Choose a time.
Pick from 30 seconds up to 5 minutes, or Never to keep the screen on until you lock it.

The fix

If Auto-Lock is greyed out

1
Turn off Low Power Mode.
Go to Settings › Battery and switch off Low Power Mode. It forces Auto-Lock to 30 seconds.
2
Check Screen Time.
Go to Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions and make sure changes are allowed, or turn restrictions off.
3
Check for a work or school profile.
Look in Settings › General › VPN & Device Management. A managed iPhone may have Auto-Lock set by your organization.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Auto-Lock stuck at 30 seconds?

Low Power Mode locks Auto-Lock to 30 seconds to save battery. Turn Low Power Mode off in Settings › Battery, or charge past 80%, and the setting unlocks.

Is it bad to set Auto-Lock to Never?

It is fine for a short time, like following a recipe, but the screen uses a lot of battery. Remember to switch it back afterward.

How-To

Back up your Android phone

Back up your Android phone to Google with Google One, back up photos with Google Photos, or use Samsung Cloud, Smart Switch or a computer. Step by step.

24 September 20261 min read