iOS 16.2 Lets You Give Your iPhone’s Always-On Display a Rest

Apple’s iOS 16.2 update includes a change(Opens in a new window) to the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max‘s always-on display.

By default, both phones dim when not in use, allowing folks to see notifications, widgets, and the time at a glance. A new setting in iOS 16.2 beta 3, however, addresses complaints that the always-on feature is “too on” by adding options to disable wallpaper and/or notifications when the phone is locked or idle.

Navigate to the Display and Brightness menu to access two new options: Show Wallpaper and Show Notifications. Toggle both off and the Lock Screen will show a pure black wallpaper with only a clock and widgets.

“Looks nice, but I’ll stick with the fun and colorful option,” 9to5Mac editor Chance Miller tweeted on Tuesday, alongside an image showing the iPhone 14 Pro in always-on mode with neither wallpaper nor notifications.

Tweet(Opens in a new window)

Apple’s update, which takes a page from the Android playbook, allows folks to create a more minimal display aesthetic while also saving battery. You can also use the Do Not Disturb workaround to dim the phone’s always-on display and hide the wallpaper.

Since iOS 16 launched earlier this fall, Apple has released various fixes, including one that addressed a camera shake bug on the Pro models and another that fixed the battery icon so it didn’t always look full.

Hands On With the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Lineup