🕰️ iOS 18 StandBy Mode Tutorial (2026)

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🕰️ StandBy Mode requires iOS 17+. Always-on display requires iPhone 14 Pro or later. iPhone 12-13 dims more aggressively.

StandBy Mode turns any iPhone into a nightstand smart display — clock, calendar, smart home dashboard, photo frame. The best 'set it and forget it' iOS 17+ feature.

🕰️ What Is StandBy Mode

StandBy = iPhone display mode when charging horizontally

iOS 17+Built-in

Place iPhone on side while charging → it transforms into a full-screen smart display showing clock, calendar, photos, weather, smart home controls.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: nightstand iPhone, desk iPhone

Buy MagSafe Stands →

Auto-activates when iPhone is on its side + charging

SmartAutomatic

No app to open — just plug iPhone in horizontally (charging) and StandBy turns on. Display dims at night, brightens during day.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: bedside use, replacing alarm clocks

Buy MagSafe Wireless Chargers →

📐 The Best StandBy Stands

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 MagSafe

MagSafePremiumMulti-device

Best premium StandBy stand. Charges iPhone (MagSafe), Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. iPhone tilts to perfect StandBy angle.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: bedside or desk StandBy with multiple devices

Buy Belkin BoostCharge Pro →

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Foldable

MagSafeTravel-friendlyFolding

Folds for travel, unfolds for nightstand. Charges iPhone + Watch + AirPods. Often cheaper than Belkin.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: budget + travel use

Buy Anker MagGo 3-in-1 →

Apple MagSafe Charger ($39, just iPhone)

Genuine AppleSimple

Just the basic MagSafe puck on a stand. Cheapest StandBy setup. Doesn't charge Watch/AirPods separately.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: minimalists, iPhone-only StandBy

Buy Apple MagSafe Charger →

⚙️ Configuring StandBy Mode

Settings → StandBy → enable + customize

iOS 17+Built-in

Settings → StandBy → ON. Choose: Display always on (24/7), or auto-dim at night. Choose Notifications behavior + Tap to Show More.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: first-time setup

iPhone Settings Books →

Choose Clock face style

Multiple optionsCustomizable

Swipe right while in StandBy → cycles through clock styles: Digital, Analog, World, Solar, Float. Pick what you like.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: customizing your nightstand vibe

Clock Design Books →

📅 StandBy Widgets Setup

Swipe left for Widget mode

Custom widgetsiOS 17+

StandBy has 3 modes: Clock, Widgets, Photos. Swipe between. Widgets shows your calendar, weather, smart home, news, etc.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: at-a-glance dashboards

Smart Home Widgets →

Customize Widget stack

Drag to reorderCustom

Long-press a widget in StandBy → '+' to add new widget, '-' to remove. Build your perfect glanceable dashboard.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: information junkies

Widget Apps →

Best widgets for StandBy

Curated listFrom experience

Top picks: Calendar (upcoming events), Weather, Home (smart home controls), Reminders (today's list), Activity (Apple Watch rings).

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: replacing multiple apps with one glance

Smart Home Books →

🌙 Night Mode in StandBy

Auto-dim at night (red night mode)

Built-inSleep-friendly

Settings → StandBy → 'Night Mode' → ON. iPhone display turns red at low brightness when ambient light drops. Doesn't disrupt sleep.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: bedroom StandBy

Sleep Trackers →

'Wake on motion' for nightstand

Discrete check timeTouch-free

Settings → StandBy → 'Tap to Show' → enable. Tap nightstand → StandBy lights up briefly to check time.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: subtle time-checking at night

Buy Nightstand Stands →

📸 Photos Mode in StandBy

Custom photo album in StandBy

Memories featureCurated

Swipe twice left to Photos mode. iPhone cycles through your Memories / favorite photos. Like a digital photo frame.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: replacing a digital photo frame

Digital Photo Frames →

Choose specific album to show

CuratedCustom

Long-press in Photos mode → 'Choose Album' → pick a specific photo album. Limits to that album only.

💝 Why dads love it: Best for: curated photo display

Photos App Books →