How do I enable standby in settings?

Go to Settings → StandBy → make sure "StandBy" is toggled on. (It is on by default in iOS 17 and later.)

How do I set up your phone on a charger in landscape orientation?

Plug in your iPhone with any charging cable. Place it on its side so the screen faces you — landscape mode. A MagSafe charger stand or any angled stand works well for this.

How do I standby activates automatically?

Within a few seconds of being placed in landscape while charging, StandBy activates. The screen shows a clock and widgets by default.

How do I customize what standby displays?

While in StandBy, long-press the screen to enter edit mode. Tap the + button to add widgets from different apps. Swipe between different widget pages to change what each column shows.

How do I switch between clock styles?

While in StandBy, swipe left or right to change the clock style. Options include a digital clock, an analog clock, a world clock, and a photo frame mode showing your recent photos.

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StandBy is a feature introduced in iOS 17 that transforms your iPhone into a smart display while it is charging. When you plug in your iPhone, set it on its side (in landscape orientation), and place it somewhere you can see it — like a nightstand — the phone automatically enters StandBy mode.

Once in StandBy, the phone can display: - A clock with the date in large, easy-to-read format - Your photos as a rotating slideshow - Widgets like a weather forecast, upcoming calendar events, or the music player - Live Activities like a sports score or delivery tracker

You can swipe between different StandBy views. Swipe left or right to switch between clock styles. Swipe up or down to change which widgets appear. Everything is displayed in large, glanceable format designed to be read from across the room.

With an iPhone 14 Pro or newer, StandBy stays on continuously using Always-On Display technology. On other iPhones, the display briefly turns on when you glance at it (detected by motion) or when you receive a notification.

The clock automatically shifts to a red-tinted display in a dark room, making it much less harsh on the eyes at night. This is called Night Mode and activates automatically based on ambient light.

StandBy works on any iPhone running iOS 17 (iPhone XS and later). For the always-on version, you need iPhone 14 Pro or newer.