StandBy on iPhone Duo, explained
Yes, iPhone Duo has StandBy: fold it like a tent for the outer display or a half-open book for the inner one, plugged in or not. How to set it up.
Updated
StandBy — the glanceable full-screen mode that shows a clock, photos or widgets — gets its biggest upgrade yet on iPhone Duo. It no longer needs a charger, and it can use either display.
How to start StandBy on iPhone Duo
On the Lock Screen, partially fold iPhone Duo like a book or like a tent and set it down. No charger is needed.
- Tent: the outer display faces you, in landscape.
- Book: the inner display faces you, in landscape.
Apple only documents these two positions. We haven’t seen StandBy confirmed on the closed phone on a charger, or on the fully open phone lying flat.
Settings only iPhone Duo has
- In Settings > StandBy, choose which positions start StandBy.
- Turn on Only While Charging if you only want StandBy while iPhone Duo is charging.
New faces
- Calendar and Weather faces join the existing Clock and Modular faces.
- The Photos face can show Shared Albums.
- Every face gets more colors, fonts and complications.
To add a face, touch and hold the current one and tap Add. To change one, swipe to it and tap Customize. Depending on the face, you can change its style, font, color, widgets, photos and clock position.
Live Activities and alarms
StandBy shows Live Activities, so you can follow a food delivery while the phone sits unplugged on your desk. As a bedside clock, reviewers report that the inner display glows to wake you when an alarm goes off.
Third-party widgets
Apps that offer widgets can appear in StandBy. We tag apps whose widgets work well there with the StandBy feature label on their pages.
Common questions
Does StandBy on iPhone Duo need a charger?
No. On the Lock Screen, partially fold iPhone Duo like a book or a tent and set it down, and StandBy starts whether it’s plugged in or not. To limit it to charging, turn on Only While Charging in Settings > StandBy.
Which screen does StandBy use on iPhone Duo?
It depends on how you set it down. Folded like a tent, StandBy shows on the outer display. Stood up like a half-open book, it uses the inner display. Both are in landscape.
Does StandBy work when iPhone Duo is closed or lying flat?
Apple only documents the book and tent positions. We haven’t found a source confirming StandBy on the closed phone on a charger, or on the fully open phone lying flat.
Can I use iPhone Duo as a bedside alarm clock?
Yes. StandBy works as a nightstand clock, and reviewers report that the inner display glows to wake you when an alarm goes off.