iPhone: Change the auto-lock delay

Contributor Icon Contributed by qmchenry Date Icon June 29, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Apple iPhone

The auto-lock feature of the iPhone causes it to “lock” the touchscreen and turn off the display after so long since your last interaction. The default delay is one minute which may be too short for you (especially if you are writing Tech-Recipes about the iPhone!). If you would like to change the auto-lock delay (or turn off auto-lock completely), follow these steps.


To change the auto-lock settings, tap the Settings icon in the home screen. Look for the General button in the main Settings screen and tap it.

In the General settings screen, tap on the Auto-Lock option which will cause a list of options to slide in. At release time, there are options for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 minutes and Never.

If you choose never, you’ll need to press the sleep/wake button (the thin black button on the very top of the iPhone and to the right as you’re looking at it) to make your phone go to sleep.

Even with the auto-lock feature on, you can still press this button to lock your iPhone.

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  • One of my cousin brought this phone for me from the UK, I am just struggling as usually with new devices.. Was nice to read through your post.. Thanks you.
  • The touch screen tap is like the mouse click, so the app receives a mouse click on tap, when we say lock the touch screen it means not accept the event, it is good to keep the screen lock when not in use for durability..
  • This thing was bugging me a lot, thanks for the instructions.
  • this is really nice... thanks for your suggestions and guidelines.. it would for sure help many getting bugged with this feature like me!!! thanks for sharing this info!!!
  • Corey
    I just upgraded to 3.0 and the option to make it never auto-lock isn't there anymore! Just 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes? What's the deal?
  • TG
    The "Never" option appeared the day I bought it and it disappeared. How do I get it back?
  • Annik
    There is no "Never" option in auto-lock; only 1-5 minutes...
  • CWSensation
    The "Never" option going away has to do with your Exchange account. If the Exchange server admin sets it that way, the option will go away as a security feature.
  • Torry
    My auto lock setting does not have the choice of never. Only 1-5 minutes. Is there a way around this? It locks up in 5 minutes. It changed after the 3.0 update. I have the 16 gb.
  • Torry
    Can I change the passcode lock? It is only on immediately. There is not another option to choose? I have the 16gb. It also changed with the 3.0 update.
  • ploober
    My Iphone does not have the never option in the Aulo lock option?
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