When you’re working, gaming, reading a book, or following a recipe on your iPad, it can be frustrating if the screen keeps turning off due to inactivity. In this article, I’ll guide you through adjusting the auto-lock settings to keep your iPad screen on for as long as you need.
How To Adjust Auto-Lock Settings
By turning off Auto-Lock, you can keep your iPad screen on indefinitely. Here’s how to disable Auto-Lock:
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Select Display & Brightness from the Settings menu.
- Tap on the Auto-Lock section.
- Choose Never from the list of options to disable the auto-lock feature.
Your iPad will now stay awake until you manually put it to sleep by pressing the power button or closing your folio case. This will prevent your display from turning off automatically, regardless of whether you touch the screen or not. However, if you use your iPad as a secondary display, there is no need to disable Auto-Lock, as it won’t affect your screen in this mode.
My iPad doesn’t show the “Never” option under Auto-Lock. Why is that?
If your iPad doesn’t display the “Never” option under Auto-Lock, it may be due to certain restrictions or settings such as Low Power Mode. To fix this:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Battery.
- Turn off Low Power Mode.
Once Low Power Mode is disabled, the “Never” option should reappear in the Auto-Lock settings.
Why My iPad Is Going To Sleep While I’m Using It?
If your iPad keeps going to sleep while you’re using it, try these solutions:
- Extend the Auto-Lock Timer: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and increase the timer from 2 minutes to 5 minutes or set it to Never.
- Clean the Screen: Dust or smudges on the screen can interfere with the sensor, so give your iPad screen a thorough cleaning.
- Check the Screen Protector: If you have a screen protector, especially a lower-quality one, it might be interfering with the sensor. Try removing it to see if the problem resolves.
- Check for Magnets: Magnets in your iPad case or nearby objects can cause the screen to turn off. Remove the case and any nearby magnets to see if this makes a difference.
Will Keeping Your iPad Awake Cause Issues?
Keeping your iPad awake for extended periods can potentially cause a few issues:
- Battery drain: It will consume more battery power, requiring frequent charging.
- Overheating: Continuous usage can lead to overheating, affecting performance and potentially damaging the device.
- Reduced performance: Background processes and system maintenance tasks may be delayed, resulting in slower performance and occasional lags.
While these issues are possible, they shouldn’t be a concern. However, I would advise you to lock your iPad when you are done using it.
iPad battery degrades over time, especially if you let it drain out completely. As a rule of thumb, try to charge your iPad when it’s close to the 20% mark.
Lithium batteries have a limit on how many times they can be recharged before they start degrading in performance.
FAQ’s
Can a screen protector cause my iPad to turn off?
Yes, a screen protector, especially a lower-quality one, can interfere with the iPad’s sensors and cause the screen to turn off unexpectedly.
Do magnets really affect my iPad’s sleep mode?
Yes, magnets in cases or nearby objects can trigger the iPad’s sleep mode by interacting with its internal sensors.
What happens when I set the Auto-Lock to “Never”?
When you set Auto-Lock to “Never,” your iPad screen will stay on indefinitely until you manually lock it or turn it off using the power button. Be mindful that this will consume more battery power as the display remains active.
Will preventing my iPad from going to sleep affect its battery life?
Yes, keeping your iPad’s screen on for extended periods will drain the battery more quickly. It’s a good idea to monitor battery usage and adjust the Auto-Lock setting as needed to balance convenience with power consumption.
I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.