The updates since iOS 26 arrived have introduced a number of contemporary tweaks and options to our iPhones, together with the power to tone down Liquid Glass, a brand new approach to make sure you don’t by chance change off an alarm, higher AirDrop safety, and way more. However considered one of my favourite changes has nothing to do with any of that – as a substitute, it’s all concerning the Lock Display screen.
Initially launched in iOS 26.1, now you can change off the swipe gesture that opens the digital camera straight out of your Lock Display screen. You’re most likely very accustomed to this gesture – it’s a fast method to get the Digicam app up and working while not having to unlock your telephone and navigate to it the great distance. When you have to transfer shortly and seize a fleeting second, it’s an important possibility.
However the chances are high you’ve additionally by chance activated it greater than as soon as. And it’s precisely this problem that makes me so glad I can lastly flip it off.
A persistent irritation
I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of instances I’ve pulled my iPhone from my pocket, solely to seek out the digital camera app is open with out me realizing. It’s greater than a nuisance—it’s solely attainable to inadvertently launch the digital camera and have it sitting like that in your pocket for a considerable period of time, draining the battery with out you ever figuring out.
That turns this gesture from a light inconvenience right into a a lot bigger downside, particularly if my iPhone hasn’t acquired a lot juice left to start with. I’ve by no means had my iPhone die on me due to an unintentional digital camera gesture, however I’m positive there are individuals who have.
Because of this new setting in iOS 26, although, I can neglect about that ever occurring. A fast foray into the Settings app and I can change off the digital camera gesture for good, nipping this downside within the bud as soon as and for all.

iOS 26 now permits you to flip off the Lock Display screen swipe gesture that launches the Digicam app.
Foundry
The best way to flip off the Lock Display screen digital camera gesture
Disabling the gesture that launches the digital camera out of your Lock Display screen is fast and easy. Observe the steps under and also you’ll by no means need to put up with unintentional camera-induced battery drain once more.
- 1. Open the Settings app in your iPhone
- 2. Navigate to the Digicam part and faucet it
- 3. Scroll to the underside of the listing till you see Lock Display screen Swipe to Open Digicam
- 4. Faucet the toggle subsequent to this textual content to disable the function
Now, swiping from proper to left throughout your Lock Display screen will do nothing – no extra digital camera and no extra unknowing battery drain whereas your telephone sits idly in your pocket.
After all, you would possibly change your thoughts down the road and resolve you really need this gesture again. During which case, simply return to the Settings app and re-enable the toggle, undoing the change. Apple hasn’t eliminated the offending gesture solely and has merely made it an elective function that may be enabled and disabled as you want.
That mentioned, I can’t bear in mind the final time I wanted to make use of this gesture to open the Digicam—particularly now that the Digicam Management is a far faster and extra dependable technique. Failing that, I’ve acquired the Digicam app icon on my Lock Display screen, which is tougher to by chance activate because of it requiring an extended press fairly than a swipe.
So I’m going to overlook the gesture that has plagued my iPhone for therefore lengthy. As an alternative, I now know that each time I pull my telephone from my pocket, I’ll be greeted by a clean Lock Display screen as a substitute of a drained battery. And that’s the form of small tweak that may make a giant distinction.

