Do you find your iPad screen dimming or turning off while you’re reading, watching, or using it hands-free? That’s your Auto-Lock feature in action — designed to save battery life and protect your privacy.
But sometimes, especially during long reading sessions, presentations, or when using your iPad as a display or recipe screen, you might want the screen to stay on indefinitely. That’s when knowing how to turn Auto Lock off on iPad becomes super handy.
In this detailed, beginner-friendly guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions to disable Auto Lock on your iPad, explain what it does, when to keep it on, and how to fix common issues if the setting is greyed out or won’t change.
What Is Auto Lock on iPad?
The Auto-Lock feature controls how long your iPad screen stays on when it’s inactive. When your iPad detects no touch input for a set period, it automatically locks the screen and goes to sleep.
This helps:
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Save battery life
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Prevent accidental taps or pocket touches
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Protect your privacy when you step away
You can choose durations like 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or Never.
Why Does Auto Lock Matter?
Auto Lock is one of those features that works quietly in the background — until it becomes inconvenient.
Here’s why it matters:
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Battery Saver: Shorter auto-lock times mean less power drain.
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Privacy Protector: Locks the screen automatically when idle.
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Device Security: Prevents unauthorized access if you forget to lock it manually.
However, when you’re reading long PDFs, following recipes, or using your iPad as a display, Auto Lock can become frustrating — dimming your screen right when you need it most.
When Should You Turn Auto Lock Off?
Turning Auto Lock off is useful in several real-life situations, such as:
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During presentations or Zoom meetings
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When using your iPad as a teleprompter or monitor
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When following tutorials, cooking recipes, or eBooks
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While using navigation or drawing apps
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When charging and you don’t want interruptions
However, remember: disabling Auto Lock means your screen will stay on until you manually lock it, which can drain the battery faster.
How to Turn Auto Lock Off on iPad (Step-by-Step Guide)
Let’s get to the heart of it — how to actually turn off Auto Lock.
Step 1: Open the Settings App
Tap the Settings icon on your home screen — the one that looks like gray gears.
Step 2: Tap Display & Brightness
On the left sidebar, scroll down and select Display & Brightness.
Step 3: Choose Auto-Lock
Under the Display section, you’ll see Auto-Lock — tap it.
Step 4: Select “Never”
Choose Never from the list of available durations.
That’s it! 🎉
Your iPad screen will now stay on indefinitely until you manually lock it by pressing the Top/Power button.
💡 Pro Tip: When you no longer need your iPad to stay awake, switch Auto Lock back to 2 or 5 minutes to preserve battery life.
How to Change Auto Lock Time Duration
If you don’t want to completely disable Auto Lock, you can simply increase the duration instead.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock.
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Choose from available options like:
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30 Seconds
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1 Minute
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2 Minutes
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5 Minutes
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10 Minutes
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Never
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Select a duration that suits your workflow — 5 or 10 minutes is often a sweet spot for reading or multitasking.
Auto Lock Option Greyed Out? Here’s Why and How to Fix It
Sometimes, you might open your settings only to find the Auto-Lock option is greyed out and can’t be changed. Don’t panic — here’s what’s happening.
Reason 1: Low Power Mode Is Enabled
When Low Power Mode is on, iPadOS automatically shortens the Auto Lock duration to 30 seconds to save energy.
Fix:
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Go to Settings → Battery.
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Turn Low Power Mode off.
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Return to Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock and adjust it freely.
Reason 2: Device Management Restrictions
If your iPad is managed by a school or organization, restrictions might prevent changing Auto Lock settings.
Fix:
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Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management.
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Check for any profiles restricting display or security settings.
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Contact your administrator if needed.
Reason 3: Screen Time Restrictions
Parental controls or Screen Time may limit certain settings.
Fix:
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Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions.
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Ensure Passcode Changes and Auto-Lock aren’t restricted.
Once restrictions are lifted, you can change Auto Lock normally.
How to Disable Auto Lock in Guided Access Mode
If you’re using Guided Access (a feature that locks your iPad to a single app for focus or parental control), Auto Lock behaves differently.
To keep the screen on during Guided Access:
Steps:
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Open Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access.
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Tap Time Limits → Display Auto-Lock.
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Choose Never.
This ensures your iPad won’t sleep while Guided Access is active — perfect for educational or kiosk use.
How to Keep the Screen On While Charging
Want your iPad to stay on continuously while plugged in? Great for presentations, music, or video displays.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock.
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Select Never.
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Keep your iPad connected to power while in use.
⚠️ Note: Keeping the display on 24/7 can generate heat. Make sure it’s in a cool, ventilated area to prevent overheating.
How to Prevent iPad from Sleeping During Video or Presentations
Even with Auto Lock enabled, your iPad typically won’t sleep while playing a video. But if it does:
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Check that Auto-Lock is set to a longer duration or Never.
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Disable Low Power Mode.
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Use Guided Access with Display Auto-Lock set to Never.
For slideshows or AirPlay displays, keeping Auto Lock off ensures smooth presentations without interruptions.
Auto Lock vs. Sleep Mode: What’s the Difference?
These two often get confused, so let’s clarify.
| Feature | Purpose | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Lock | Automatically locks the screen after inactivity | Time-based (30 sec to 10 min) |
| Sleep Mode | Saves power and turns off display | Triggered by Auto Lock or pressing Power button |
| Manual Lock | Immediate lock via Top/Power button | User-initiated |
In short, Auto Lock controls when Sleep Mode activates.
Can You Schedule Auto Lock Times?
Currently, iPadOS doesn’t allow scheduling Auto Lock times directly.
However, you can achieve similar results using Shortcuts Automations:
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Open the Shortcuts app.
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Tap Automation → + → Create Personal Automation.
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Choose Time of Day (e.g., 9 AM).
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Add actions like Set Brightness or Enable Guided Access.
While there’s no native “Auto Lock timer” automation, this can mimic scheduled display behavior for specific workflows.
How to Save Battery Even with Auto Lock Off
Disabling Auto Lock doesn’t mean your battery must drain quickly. Here’s how to manage power efficiently:
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Lower screen brightness manually or enable Auto-Brightness.
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Turn off Background App Refresh (Settings → General).
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Enable Wi-Fi only when needed.
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Keep Bluetooth off when not in use.
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Use Dark Mode for OLED displays.
These small tweaks balance performance and power even with the screen always on.
Troubleshooting Common Auto Lock Issues
1. Auto Lock Keeps Turning Back On
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Ensure Low Power Mode is off.
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Check for MDM profiles that reset display settings.
2. Auto Lock Setting Won’t Save
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Restart your iPad.
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Update to the latest iPadOS version.
3. Screen Still Turns Off After Setting “Never”
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Check if Guided Access or Screen Time is overriding display settings.
Tips for Managing Display and Battery Settings
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Adjust Brightness and True Tone for comfort.
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Enable Night Shift to reduce eye strain at night.
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Set Auto-Lock back to 2–5 minutes when done to extend battery life.
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Use Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode when reading or watching videos.
Key Takeaways
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Auto Lock automatically turns off your iPad screen to save battery.
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To turn off Auto Lock, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never.
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If the option is greyed out, check for Low Power Mode, MDM restrictions, or Screen Time settings.
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Use Guided Access for uninterrupted screen time in single-app mode.
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Turning Auto Lock off is useful but can drain battery faster, so re-enable it when done.
Conclusion
Knowing how to turn Auto Lock off on iPad gives you full control over your device’s display behavior. Whether you’re reading, presenting, or using your iPad as a workstation, disabling Auto Lock ensures it stays awake when you need it most.
Just remember — while it’s convenient, leaving Auto Lock off permanently can reduce battery efficiency. The best approach? Toggle it off when needed, and turn it back on when done. That way, you enjoy both convenience and longevity.
Your iPad, your rules. ✨
FAQs
1. Why is my Auto Lock option greyed out on iPad?
Because Low Power Mode is on or device restrictions are enabled. Disable Low Power Mode under Settings → Battery.
2. How do I keep my iPad screen on while watching videos?
Set Auto Lock to Never or use Guided Access with Display Auto-Lock set to Never.
3. Does turning off Auto Lock affect battery life?
Yes, the screen staying on consumes more power, but you can minimize it by reducing brightness.
4. Can I turn off Auto Lock only for specific apps?
Not directly, but you can use Guided Access or Shortcuts automations to simulate that behavior.
5. What’s the best Auto Lock setting for everyday use?
A 2 or 5-minute timer offers a good balance between convenience and battery life.
✅ Final Tip:
Keep your iPad updated to the latest iPadOS version — Apple frequently improves power management and display control settings.