How to use the new StandBy mode on iOS 17

Lock screen widget screen on iPhone against an artful background

We love to see older phones learning new tricks. | Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge

With iOS 17, your iPhone will learn a useful new trick: StandBy mode.

It’s simple — StandBy turns your iPhone screen into a little smart display while it’s charging. We’ve only been using it for a little while, but it’s already a staff favorite. It’s especially handy with the iPhone 14 Pro models since it remains visible at all times thanks to that always-on display, but you don’t need a top-of-the-line iPhone to make it work; it’s supported by all models eligible for the iOS 17 update.

Here’s how to get started using StandBy — we followed these steps on an iPhone 14 running the iOS 17 public beta.

Tap through an onboarding screen and you’re on your way to StandBy mode.