Is your iPhone Auto-Lock not working after iOS 18 update?
The auto-lock feature on your iPhone will automatically lock your iOS 18 device (your device’s touchscreen will lock and its display will dim – sleep mode) after a set period of inactivity unless you disable this feature. Default is one minute.
You will still receive calls and messages while your device is locked.
Some users are complaining about issues with the auto-lock feature. Users are saying that iOS 18 update has caused problems that auto-lock feature no longer works, as a result, their devices use more energy cutting into the battery life.
If Auto-Lock is not working after iOS 18 update, meaning your iPhone does not go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity, here are the troubleshooting steps to fix the problem.
Note: You can’t change auto-lock settings when in Low Power Mode. If the options greyed out this is because your device is in this mode.
To change auto-lock, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock
Note: information in this article applied to all iOS 18 supported devices.
Fixing iPhone Auto Lock not working after iOS 18 update issue
If your iPhone won’t lock Automatically after iOS 18 update, follow the steps below to fix the issue:
1. Make sure Auto-Lock isn’t set to Never
It is possible that the Auto-Lock feature is set to Never. First, make sure Auto-Lock is enabled on your iOS 18 device. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set the timer (except Never).
2. Restart your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone is a common fix for minor software problems that could be preventing the screen to shut off Automatically. Here’s how to restart your iPhone depending on which model you have:
- iPhones without Face ID: Press and hold down the power button until “slide to power off” appears. Then swipe the red power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. To turn your iPhone back on, press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears directly on the center of the screen.
- iPhones with Face ID: Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until “slide to power off” appears on the display. Then, swipe the red power icon from left to right across “slide to power off”. Wait a few moments, then press and hold the side button again to turn your iPhone back on.
3. Turn off Passcode
Turning off passcode is another way to get rid of the mild glitch that may be causing Auto-Lock to malfunction. You can turn off Passcode by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (you will be asked to enter your passcode) > and tap Turn Passcode Off. Then restart your device and turn Passcode back on.
4.Force Restart Your iPhone
By force restarting your iPhone, you’ll force it to abruptly turn off and back on. Sometimes crashed software can cause Auto-Lock glitches, so restarting your iPhone may fix the problem.
Follow the steps below to hard reset your iPhone:
First, press and release the volume up button. Then, press and release the volume down button. Finally, hold down the side button on the right side of your iPhone until the screen turns off and the Apple logo appears.
5. Change the auto-lock settings
For instance, if your auto-lock is set to 1 minute, change it to 30 seconds. And check if this makes any difference.
6. Disable AssistiveTouch, if it is enabled
I have had success fixing Auto-Lock not working in iOS 18 on my iPhone by turning off AssistiveTouch. Here’s how to turn off AssistiveTouch on your iPhone: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch
7. Update Your iPhone to the latest iOS 18 update
Apple regularly releases software updates to introduce new iPhone features and fix troublesome bugs and errors. So, if you are still experiencing the problem of auto-lock not working in iOS 18, open Settings again and tap General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install if a software update is available.
8. Turn Off Low Power Mode
Is your iPhone’s Auto-Lock settings greyed out? If you experience this, it is likely that your iPhone is in Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode adjusts a variety of iPhone settings to help save battery life. One thing Low Power Mode does is set Auto-Lock to 30 seconds. To fix this, simply turn off Low Power Mode by going to Settings > Battery > and toggle off Low Power Mode.
9. Reset All Settings
Reseting all settings is our last-ditch effort to fix any underlying software problem that could be preventing your iPhone screen from locking automatically. This reset will return all of your iPhone’s settings to factory defaults, so you’ll have to go back and reenter your Wi-Fi passwords and configure your favorite settings.
To reset all of the settings on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer Or Reset iPhone and tap on Reset. Now tap Reset All Settings. You’ll be asked to enter your iPhone passcode, then confirm your decision by tapping Reset All Settings. After the reset is complete, your iPhone will restart itself.
Pro Tips to Fix iOS 18 Auto Lock Not Working on iPhone
You’ve fixed the problem with your iPhone and the Auto-Lock feature is working again! Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your family and friends how to fix Auto-Lock not working in iOS 18 issue. If you have any extra questions, please leave them in the comments below!