Control Center is arguably one of the most used features on iPhone and iPad. Packed with useful controls that make it super easy to manage many features on iOS and iPadOS! It’s actually so useful that Apple has decided to make it accessible via the Lock Screen by default.
But having Control Center functional on the Lock Screen isn’t such a good idea.
Let’s find out why, and then check out how to disable access to Control Center from the Lock Screen of your iPhone or iPad.
Effects of Control Center Access with Lock Screen
Control Center access via the Lock Screen is extremely convenient. For example, who doesn’t love using the Do Not Disturb or Stopwatch controls without unlocking the screen first? However, this convenience also brings with it many problems.
For starters, you always run the risk of unintentionally opening the Control Center and triggering an unwanted action – it can be a little embarrassing to have your music play loudly in public.
But if that’s not a concern, then this definitely will. Control Center also houses the most important controls that keep Find My iPhone/iPad functional: cellular data and Bluetooth.
Imagine this – a thief steals your iPhone. To derail Find My, all that person has to do is turn off cellular data to disable location tracking. Unlimited Control Center access makes this a real concern.
Even if you have cellular data restricted changes, all the thief has to do is enable Airplane Mode instead. So turning off access to Control Center from the Lock Screen can help prevent this.
Yes, this probably won’t prevent the thief from physically removing the SIM card in your device. But iOS 13 and iPadOS also have Offline Discovery technology that uses Bluetooth beacons to track devices. This means you can track your phone even without cellular data.
Obviously, the lack of access to the Control Center will be a deterrent to thieves, as it is quite difficult to disable Bluetooth. Although the thief may turn off your device, it will automatically engage when Bluetooth is turned back on.
However, disabling Control Center access on the Lock Screen isn’t a great security measure, and it won’t do you any good if a thief’s sole purpose is to sell your iPhone or iPad for spare parts.
Finally, disabling Control Center on Lock Screen won’t matter much on iPhones or iPads using Face ID. The Lock Screen usually pops up when you bring up your device, so you’ll still have seamless access to the Control Center without having to visit the Home Screen.
Disable Control Center in iOS 11 and Above
Disabling Control Center on the Lock Screen of your iPhone or iPad only requires a short visit to the Settings panel, and the steps below will show you how.
Stage 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode. You must enter your Lock Screen password to continue.
Step 2: Go to Allow Access While Locked and then turn off the switch next to Control Center.
Fly:
This should do the trick. Your iPhone or iPad does not allow Control Center access when the screen is locked. You can still access it after unlocking your device. On devices with Face ID, this doesn’t really matter – just looking at your iPhone or iPad will unlock it and you can access Control Center without delay.
Note:
Security Strengthened
As you can see, turning off Control Center access via the Lock Screen prevents others from messing with your iPhone or iPad, and also makes a potential thief think twice. Yes — Accessing the Control Center yourself can be tedious, especially if you rely on Touch ID or a passcode to unlock your device.
But if you carry your iPhone or iPad everywhere, the added security support is well worth the inconvenience. Just don’t think of it as a surefire way to prevent your device from being stolen.
Next: Disabling Control Center on Lock Screen will not get rid of Camera icon. If you’re tired of others taking pictures without your permission, here’s how to turn it off.
