StandBy is a new lock screen mode in iOS 17 that activates when an iPhone is charging and positioned on its side. It turns your iPhone screen into a smart display that offers fast access to different screens of glanceable information that can be viewed at a distance, when your device is charging on a kitchen, desk, or nightstand, for example. You can use StandBy to turn your iPhone into a bedside clock, a digital photo frame, a display for viewing widgets, a full-screen display of Live Activities, and more.

To initiate StandBy, connect your iPhone to a charger and set it down on its side, keeping it stationary. With the Always On display (on iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max), StandBy stays on to show useful information. For all other iPhone models, it’s easy to bring up StandBy anytime by tapping the screen, gently nudging the table your iPhone is on, or using Siri.

StandBy is on by default, but you can enable or disable it manually by going to Settings > StandBy and toggling the StandBy switch. StandBy is made up of three screens that can be accessed by swiping horizontally on your iPhones display. The first screen displays interactive widgets, the second showcases individual photos, and the third displays a clock face. You can customize the StandBy screens by adding or removing widgets, changing the clock face, and more.