Apple’s Always On Display has been pretty consistent since it debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro. With iOS 26, Apple quietly changed the way it works in a way that might not be obvious.
“Always On” display mode
Instead of just dimming the lock screen background, the system blurs it by default in iOS 26. The tweak makes the clock and widgets stand out more, but it also defeats the purpose of displaying a photo if that’s what you like about the feature. Fortunately, there is also a change to restore the original behavior.
In iOS 18, the Always On screen worked the same way it did in iOS 26. A dimmed version of your lock screen stays visible when your iPhone is locked, giving you quick access to essentials like the time, date, notifications, and widgets. The screen will turn off completely when face-down, covered, in CarPlay, using Continuous Camera, in Low Power Mode, while Sleep Focus is active, or during sleep.
Customization has always been limited, but useful. You can decide whether the background will be displayed at all and whether notifications will be displayed. This means that your always-on display can be clean and service-driven, or retain the personality of your wallpaper and lock screen settings.
iOS 26 makes a big change
With iOS 26, backgrounds are blurred by default when the screen is dimmed. The effect is likely to improve readability, but it changes the appearance of the lock screen. For me, I think I’d rather not show any background than be presented with a blurry version of my lock screen image.
Fortunately, Apple added a switch along with the behavior change to give you control. In Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display, you can turn off blurred backgrounds so that your Lock Screen appears in full clarity as before.
Which behavior do you prefer? Is obfuscation better for privacy and sensitivity, or does it defeat the purpose for you?
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