iPhone lock screen is completely useless as a lock screen.

[colonel179]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the very first function and reason to exist of a lock screen is to avoid having accidental inputs and have your iPhone ON unintentionally, right?

The iPhone is completely useless at doing so. The very first and worst offender at this is the stupid swipe for camera! How many freaking ways of accessing the camera do we need? Worst of all, it's one that can't be disabled so you can just activate it by accident super easy when putting the phone on your pocket or whatnot.

Then, there are other functions that you can access even if your phone is locked, like the flashlight. So what the hell is the point of the lock screen in an iPhone?

I hate that there are so many things that you can't disable. Why don't Apple make an option for people that don't want to keep it simple?
For example: I don't need three ways to access the freaking camera (lock screen button, swiping left and control center.

With Face and Touch ID, it should not be any way to use the phone at all until you unlock it. I get that when you have to input a PIN or a passcode that there are functions that you might want accessible even before unlocking, but with Face and Touch ID everything is seamless, so the screen should be completely un-operational until it's unlocked.

Rant over!
It's just that I've been a fan of iPhone since 4S, but I'm getting really tired of the OS and the many features it's missing and many annoying thing it has. I'm not saying Android is better because I've never used one, so I don't know, but it's just weird that Apple focuses more on stupid features than functional ones. At least they could have a balance each iOS release, but they never do.

For example: The Phone app is the same since ever! It has NOTHING! You can just dial and that's it. It's due for a complete overhaul and it needs so many features that even Motorolas had back in 2006!

I really don't know If I want to switch it up. I love the Xperia but I don't have any idea on what to expect with Android, but I also want to know something different. I'm conflicted. That's the reason of my rant, sorry.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Never had anything activated accidentally. First you'll have to touch the screen or press the sleep/wake button to wake up the screen. Then you would either long press on the flashlight icon or swipe on the screen for camera. How could that happen accidentally? 🤔

 

[EuroChilli]

Been using various iPhones for some 6 years now, without a ‘wallet’ cover, never had an issue.

They don’t need to do anything about the phone app, it only needs to do one of 2 things, text/sms being the other, but there’s another app for that.

Quite frankly, I miss my Ericsson GH688. It did only 2 things, the only things I need a phone to do. I still have the thing, I might see if I can get it to work again (only needs a new battery)

 

[now i see it]

The purpose of the Lock Screen is to keep unauthorized users out. That’s all.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you don't like how some apps are still being triggered as you put your phone in your pocket on the counter etc., I believe you can go into settings and get better control by removing the ability of a lot of apps to work from the Lock Screen.

 

[Kataran]

Look under the Face ID Passcode and you can limit the actions that are available when locked

 

[pbonitati]

I agree with OP. I'm tired of the OS as well and at least for me it's buggy as all hell lately. Both Android and iOS have their good points for sure with Android being much more customizable. I do like both OS's but I'm afraid the "perfect" phone lies somewhere in between the two, which as we know doesn't exist. Pick your poison I guess.

Speaking of options: I'd like to be able to change swipe down on home screen. When using iOS this really bothers me as the search comes down. I'd much rather have my notification shade come down. Options!!!!!!!! Johnny number 5 need options.

Screw this I'm firing up my S21 Ultra!

 

[mprime_17]

I've never had any accidental activation but I kinda agree with OP, the swipe to left/right for the camera and widgets shouldn't exist (especially the camera as there's a freaking button already!)

 

[Kataran]

I prefer the Bigfoot ease of swiping left and tap and hold the shutter button for lightening fast video captures because the big man is not gonna stop and pose for me

Keeping the camera app on default when opened leaves you with to many steps to get the format and selection right. By that time the cop is already putting his smoking gun back in its holster. <-Humor Only

 

[JR17358]

Couldn't agree more with OP. Not only is the camera available from the lock screen but the camera also grants access to the Photo Library, so all of your photos can be accessed without being able to unlock the phone. IMO there should be a way to remove camera AND flashlight access for that matter - just as you can prevent access to Control Panel - otherwise the lock screen is a joke.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Couldn't agree more with OP. Not only is the camera available from the lock screen but the camera also grants access to the Photo Library, so all of your photos can be accessed without being able to unlock the phone. IMO there should be a way to remove camera AND flashlight access for that matter - just as you can prevent access to Control Panel - otherwise the lock screen is a joke.

How to remove camera from iPhone Lock Screen in iOS 18 and iOS 17 - iGeeksBlog

Want to remove the camera from your iPhone's lock screen? This article explains how to disable camera access on your iPhone when running iOS 18 or iOS 17.

www.igeeksblog.com

 

[JR17358]

The problem with the Screen Time "solution" to remove the Camera from the lock screen is that it also removes the app from the Home screen (ie the "un-lock screen") so you have to resort to a 3rd party camera app or else give up the camera function entirely - unless you want to change the screen time settings before using the camera. If the camera worked the same way as Control Center it would be an improvement - you can disable that on the lock screen but still access it once unlocked.

 

[I7guy]

Couldn't agree more with OP. Not only is the camera available from the lock screen but the camera also grants access to the Photo Library, so all of your photos can be accessed without being able to unlock the phone. IMO there should be a way to remove camera AND flashlight access for that matter - just as you can prevent access to Control Panel - otherwise the lock screen is a joke.

It is not true about all photos available from camera app. With an iPhone with faceid the photos are available because you are authenticated.

 

[JR17358]

I7guy Thanks for the correction and I tested this and you are correct - the Photo Library is only visible if you get authenticated - otherwise you can only access the camera and the camera access to the photo library is blacked out. Still no excuse for not having this work better than the way it does. IMO

 

[ian87w]

Pretty much all smartphones today defaulted with the ability to start the camera by swiping on the lock screen, even on most Android phones, and I have never had issues with it.

I do notice that many people with FaceID iPhones trigger their LED flashlight by accident often thanks to that flashlight button on their lock Screen. Now that’s dumb. I see this as an issue for people who tend to hold their phones when carrying it. I don’t understand Apples decision there, especially since it’s also accessible through control center.

 

[EM2013]

I don’t accidentally open the camera but it’s redundant to have a camera button on the Lock Screen & swipe to activate it. Never understood that.

 

[ian87w]

I don’t accidentally open the camera but it’s redundant to have a camera button on the Lock Screen & swipe to activate it. Never understood that.

I think swiping to access the camera is the first method in earlier versions of iOS, and imo that’s the better method as it’s less likely to be triggered accidentally compared to a button. And it keeps the lock screen clean.

Then with the full screen iPhones, Apple added that two stupid redundant buttons that’s not user configurable. The flashlight is the dumbest. I’ve seen too many iPhone users with their flashlights turned on by accident.

Ever wondered why no Android OEMs copied that Lock Screen button method? Because it’s dumb.

 

[EM2013]

I think swiping to access the camera is the first method in earlier versions of iOS, and imo that’s the better method as it’s less likely to be triggered accidentally compared to a button. And it keeps the lock screen clean.

Then with the full screen iPhones, Apple added that two stupid redundant buttons that’s not user configurable. The flashlight is the dumbest. I’ve seen too many iPhone users with their flashlights turned on by accident.

Ever wondered why no Android OEMs copied that Lock Screen button method? Because it’s dumb.

I can understand the flashlight for a slightly quicker access but the camera is just redundant. They should just have a toggle to get rid of the buttons.

 

[ian87w]

I can understand the flashlight for a slightly quicker access but the camera is just redundant. They should just have a toggle to get rid of the buttons.

The flashlight is accessible from control center, and the extra swipe will prevent user from turning it on accidentally. Imo it’s dumb having it as a non configurable button at the lock screen.

Yes, the buttons should be made optional. Android phones may copied the looks, but still only have swiping to activate the action, not a dumb button.

 

[Taz Mangus]

The flashlight is accessible from control center, and the extra swipe will prevent user from turning it on accidentally. Imo it’s dumb having it as a non configurable button at the lock screen.

Yes, the buttons should be made optional. Android phones may copied the looks, but still only have swiping to activate the action, not a dumb button.

You have to press and hold the flashlight button for about 1 second before it will activate. It is hard to actually activate by accident. Same for the camera button.

I find that I do activate the camera by accident from time to time with the Left swipe.

 

[danny842003]

Think i've accidentally activated the torch maybe one or twice. Still the benefits of having easy access far outweigh the negatives from those one or two minor inconveniences.

 

[Cayden]

You have to press and hold the flashlight button for about 1 second before it will activate. It is hard to actually activate by accident. Same for the camera button.

I find that I do activate the camera by accident from time to time with the Left swipe.

I’m probably one of the unlucky few, but the way I often carry my phone when it’s not in my pocket makes it so the flashlight button lines up with the pad of my pinkie and turns the flash light on. It happens every week or so. I’m always holding my phone when this happens, so I catch it pretty quick, but it does happen. I personally like the button and would keep it even if there was an option to run it off, but it’s actually not too hard to activate by accident

 

[ian87w]

I’m probably one of the unlucky few, but the way I often carry my phone when it’s not in my pocket makes it so the flashlight button lines up with the pad of my pinkie and turns the flash light on. It happens every week or so. I’m always holding my phone when this happens, so I catch it pretty quick, but it does happen. I personally like the button and would keep it even if there was an option to run it off, but it’s actually not too hard to activate by accident

You're not alone. I've seen many iPhone users with their flashlight accidentally turned on, often. This is not a rare occasion. Simply grasping your phone can accidentally trigger the flashlight. I can understand it if Apple made the button customizable or optional, but they don't. It's dumb. It's so dumb that no Android OEM bothers to copy it.

 

[I7guy]

The flashlight is accessible from control center, and the extra swipe will prevent user from turning it on accidentally. Imo it’s dumb having it as a non configurable button at the lock screen.

Yes, the buttons should be made optional. Android phones may copied the looks, but still only have swiping to activate the action, not a dumb button.

Maybe research showed in an emergency when the phone can’t be authenticated the flashlight should be available? Camera button same rational. Camera is available when not authenticated.

 

[I7guy]

[…]. It's so dumb that no Android OEM bothers to copy it.

And how is the “flashlight “ activated on android on a non-authenticated phone?