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If your locked iPhone still shows the clock or widgets on a dim screen, turn off Show Wallpaper to hide just the wallpaper, or turn off Always On Display to make the Lock Screen go dark. If the entire screen is dim while you’re using the phone, check brightness and Auto-Brightness instead.

Hide the wallpaper or turn off the Always-On display

Apple describes Always-On Display on supported iPhones as keeping a dimmed version of the Lock Screen visible when the phone is locked. Its wallpaper and notifications can be configured independently.

  1. Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display.
  2. To keep the clock and other Always-On information but hide the wallpaper, turn off Show Wallpaper.
  3. To stop the Always-On Lock Screen from remaining visible, turn off Always On Display.

These are different settings: the first hides the background image; the second disables the persistent Lock Screen view. Apple’s Always-On Display guide explains the available controls.

Check whether your iPhone supports Always-On Display

Always-On Display is available only on supported models, so the setting may not appear on every iPhone. Apple lists iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, and supported iPhone 17 models. Apple also says the feature is off by default on iPhone Air.

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Check Settings > Display & Brightness for Always On Display rather than assuming your model has it. Apple’s current model and feature information provides the eligibility details.

If the whole screen is too dim, adjust brightness

Show Wallpaper affects the Always-On Lock Screen wallpaper; it does not control screen brightness during normal use. Adjust brightness in Control Center or open Settings > Display & Brightness and move the brightness slider.

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To check automatic adjustments, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Auto-Brightness. iPhone uses its ambient-light sensor to adapt brightness to surrounding conditions. Turning Auto-Brightness off can increase power consumption, according to Apple’s display settings guidance.

Separate appearance and Focus settings from wallpaper dimming

Dark Mode changes the system’s appearance, while compatible wallpaper may also offer a light or dark appearance option in Lock Screen customization. A Lock Screen can be linked to a Focus, which may switch which Lock Screen is active. These options affect appearance or the selected Lock Screen; they are not the Show Wallpaper control for Always-On Display.

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For wallpaper appearance and Lock Screen–Focus linking, see Apple’s Lock Screen customization guide.

Why the Always-On screen may disappear or dim automatically

Always-On Display may turn off in certain circumstances, including when the iPhone is face down or obstructed, away from a paired Apple Watch, in use with CarPlay or Continuity Camera, or when Low Power Mode or Sleep Focus is on. Apple also says it can turn off at the user’s usual bedtime. These are expected behaviors, not by themselves evidence of a display fault.

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Separately, heat can temporarily lower the display’s maximum brightness. If brightness remains reduced while the iPhone is hot, let it cool and check again. Apple describes these behaviors and supported features in its iPhone display support information.

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When the setting does not match what you see

If Always On Display is missing, the iPhone may not support the feature. If the screen changes but the symptom is not explained by the settings above, identify the exact iPhone model and iOS version, then note whether only the wallpaper fades or the entire screen becomes dim. That distinction points to different controls and helps narrow the issue without assuming the phone is defective.

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