What to Know
- No, you can't remove the camera icon from the Lock Screen of your iPhone, but you can disable the Camera app in Screen Time settings.
- The downside is that disabling the Camera app in Settings prevents you from using the camera until the app is re-enabled.
The only way to disable the camera icon on your iPhone Lock Screen is to completely disable the Camera app in Settings. While I don't recommend keeping this setting permanently enabled, this is a good temporary solution if your camera activates during certain activities, or if you have mischievous loved ones who adore taking dozens of selfies from your Lock Screen.
How to Disable the Camera on Your iPhone Lock Screen
While the steps below are for an iPhone, the same steps will apply if you want to disable the camera icon on your iPad Lock Screen. Be warned: once you disable the Camera app in Screen Time settings, you can't use your iPhone camera until you re-enable the app. Here's how to disable the camera icon on your Lock Screen:
- Open the Settings app and tap Screen Time.
![Tap Screen Time.]()
- Select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
![Tap Content & Privacy Settings.]()
- Enable the Content & Privacy Restrictions toggle, if it isn't already. When enabled, the toggle will be green and to the right.
![Enable Content & Privacy settings.]()
- Select Allowed Apps.
![Tap Allowed Apps.]()
- Tap the Camera toggle to turn it off.
![Disable the Camera toggle.]()
- The camera icon on your iPhone Lock Screen will now be grayed out, and you won't be able to access the camera.
![The Camera icon will now be grayed out.]()
Note
The Camera app will also disappear from your Home Screen and App Library and be grayed out in your Control Center. To use the camera again, follow the steps above and tap the Camera toggle to switch it back on.
Hopefully, the ability to remove the camera from your iPhone Lock Screen will become an offered customization option in future software releases. Until then, this is the best available option. To learn more neat iPhone photography tips, sign up for our free Tip of the Day Newsletter!
FAQ
- Can I turn off the camera icon on my Lock Screen but leave it enabled everywhere else? No, the only way to disable the camera icon requires fully disabling the Camera app in Screen Time settings. Once you disable the app, you must go back into Screen Time settings and re-enable the Camera app to use it from your Lock Screen, Home Screen, and Control Center.
- Can I remove the flashlight icon from my iPhone Lock Screen? No, you can't remove or disable the flashlight icon on your Lock Screen, although you can disable certain features, like Raise to Wake, that help prevent the flashlight icon from accidentally switching on from your Lock Screen. If you often accidentally switch it on, learn how to quickly turn your iPhone flashlight on and off.
