How to Remove Camera on iPhone Lock Screen [Any iOS]

iPhone lock screen has followed the same formula for years, with camera on one corner and flashlight on the other. Now, in recent iOS, Apple allows you to remove camera from iPhone lock screen easily. Even on older iOS versions, there are workarounds to disable or block the camera on the lock screen so it won’t launch by accident in your pocket. This guide shows you exactly how to do it, step by step, no matter which iPhone you have or what version it runs.

And if you’re completely locked out of your iPhone, because Face ID won’t scan or the passcode is forgotten, we’ll also walk you through unlocking it using Passixer iPhone Unlocker.

How Does Camera Appear on iPhone Lock Screen

On any iPhone running iOS 5 and later, the Camera can be launched straight from the lock screen in several ways. Apple designed it this way so that you never miss a good moment. And don’t worry, nobody can peek at your old photos. The iPhone will ask for the passcode whenever you click on the Photo Preview button.

Now, whenever you want to capture something, here are the main ways to access camera on your iPhone lock screen without entering the passcode:

1. Use Bottom Right Camera Icon

By default, you’ll see a Camera icon at the bottom-right corner of the lock screen. Press and hold it for a second and then release. The Camera will open instantly and is ready to shoot photos or videos using your usual controls.

2. Swipe Left on the Lock Screen

If pressing the camera icon feels slow, just swipe left across the lock screen. That’s it. Your iPhone will launch the camera app immediately without needing to unlock.

3. Open Control Center

You can also launch the Camera from the Control Center. For instance, on Face ID models, swipe down from the top-right and tap the Camera icon.

4. Launch Camera with Side Button on iPhone 16/16 Pro

The new iPhone 16 or 16 Pro comes with a dedicated side button to launch the Camera. You can use it to first launch the Camera and then as a shutter while shooting.

5. Use the Action Button

On iPhone 16, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, the Action Button can open the Camera while locked out.

For this, first go to Settings > Action Button. There, assign Camera as its function. And you can even set your preferred mode—Photo, Video, Selfie, or Portrait.

6. Use Back Tap

If you like gesture controls, you’ll first have to go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and set the Camera to open at either Double Tap or Triple Tap.

That’s it, tap at the back of your iPhone to open the Camera while on the lock screen.

Tip: Create Your Own Shortcut

Aside from these, you can also create a custom Shortcut.

How to Remove Camera from iPhone Lock Screen

While you can remove Camera from lock screen, the method will depend on whether you’re on iOS 18 or an earlier version. We’ll cover each option in detail.

For iOS 18 or Later

For a long time, the Camera icon was fixed to the iPhone lock screen. On iOS 18, Apple allows you to remove the Camera icon or even replace it with another app, including widgets of third-party apps.

Let’s go through the steps:

Step 1. Press and hold your iPhone’s lock screen after unlocking. Tap the Customize button and choose Lock Screen.

Step 2. Your lock screen will open in edit mode and you’ll see a minus (-) icon floating above the Camera and Flashlight controls. Tap the minus icon on the Camera to remove it.

Done. The Camera icon will disappear.

Step 3(optional). You can tap Done and leave it like that. Or you can tap the plus (+) icon to pick a new app. Then, choose from Apple’s 61 built-in controls (like Calculator) or search for third-party apps.

When you’re done, just hit Done at the top right. Your new app will show up on the lock screen, right where the Camera used to be.

For iOS 18 Lower

iPhones running iOS 17 or earlier do not give you full control over removing the Camera from your lock screen. Still, let’s start with the basic options that you can use to reduce its accessibility.

Way 1: Remove Camera from Control Center

One option is to stop people from pulling up the Camera using the Control Center swipe.  

Step 1. Open the Settings app and go to Control Center.

Step 2. Tap the red minus (-) next to Camera under Included Controls. That takes away camera access when swiping down from the top-right.

Way 2: Use a Shortcut to Block Camera Launch

Redditors also suggest setting up a shortcut that automatically turns off the screen every time the Camera is triggered. However, many users say it doesn’t work for them on the lock screen.

Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1. Choose Create Personal Automation in the Shortcuts app. Select App.

Step 2. Tap Choose next to App and add Camera as the app. Then, make sure only “Is Opened” is selected. Tap Done.

Step 3. Tap Next and then choose Add Action.

Step 4. Type Lock Screen in the search bar and tap it.

Step 5. Hit Next. Then toggle off both Ask Before Running and Notify When Run. Finally, tap Done.

Now, when someone tries to open the Camera from the lock screen, the iPhone will just lock itself again, stopping the app from launching.

How to Lock/Disable Camera on iPhone Lock Screen [Any iOS]

Instead of completely removing Camera from iPhone lock screen, you can block camera access and here are 3 ways to get it done. 

Way 1: Use Screen Time Restrictions

By using Screen Time, you can disable the Camera app system-wide. Once this is done, the Camera shortcut on the lock screen will no longer work. And it will block all lenses (rear and front-facing), no matter how many your iPhone has.

Meanwhile, the Camera and FaceTime apps themself will disappear from your device. So, you cannot make video calls or scan QR codes. This also puts restrictions on the camera function inside third-party apps like Snapchat or Instagram. Face ID, however, will still work normally.

So yes, this method is a bit all-or-nothing. However, if you need to lock down the Camera completely via Screen Time, here’s how to do it.

Step 1. Go to the Screen Time menu in the iOS Settings. Then, choose the Content & Privacy Restrictions option.

Step 2. Next, tap Allowed Apps. You’ll see a list of core iOS apps that you can allow or block. Simply turn off the toggle next to the Camera.

Step 3. Exit to your Home Screen. The Camera app and FaceTime will both disappear. And if you press the lock button to check your lock screen, you’ll notice the Camera icon is now grayed out, meaning that you can’t launch it when Screen Time is on.

Way 2: Turn Off Raise to Wake

All iPhones since iPhone 6s (2015) come with the Raise to Wake feature. It’s meant to light up your iPhone screen the moment you lift the phone.

Yes, turning this off doesn’t disable the camera itself. However, the screen will stay off until you press the power button yourself, even on Face ID models and the camera shortcut on the lock screen will become harder to trigger unintentionally.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Head into Settings and tap Display & Brightness.

Step 2. Turn off the Raise to Wake toggle.

Way 3: Turn Off Tap to Wake

Tap to Wake first came with the iPhone X. And it is similar to Raise to Wake. Any tap on your screen will wake up the display. However, this also means a random touch could launch the Camera on the lock screen, either through the shortcut or by swiping left. So, turning Tap to Wake off will make it difficult for the camera to wake on the lock screen.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Settings, choose Accessibility and tap Touch.

Step 2. Find Tap to Wake and switch it off.

How to Remove iPhone Lock Screen Without Passcode or Face ID

If you’ve forgotten the iPhone passcode and Face ID or Touch ID won’t work, Passixer iPhone Unlocker can get you back into your iPhone.

Passixer can remove the screen passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID and unlock your iPhone easily. Even if your iPhone was locked with a complex and lengthy custom alphanumeric passcode, it doesn’t matter. Passixer can wipe it within a few minutes. So, you can start using the iPhone like before.

Whether it’s an old phone or even a locked second-hand device, Passixer is available for all iOS versions, including the latest ones. Plus, it’s simple enough to use at home without any technical knowledge.

Key Features of Passixer:

• Delete the previous or disabled Apple ID from your iPhone, so you can sign in with a new one.
• Bypass iCloud Activation Lock from second-hand iDevices when you can’t reach the previous owner.
• Remove MDM profiles from company-owned or school-issued iPhone/iPad.
• Remove Screen Time without passcode and data loss.

Steps to Remove iPhone Lock Screen Using Passixer iPhone Unlocker:

Step 1. Run Passixer iPhone Unlocker on your Mac or Windows PC. Select Wipe Passcode from the main interface.

Step 2. Use a certified USB cable to connect your locked iPhone or iPad. Passixer will detect the device and show its info. Click Start to download the correct firmware automatically.

Step 3. When the firmware is ready, enter 0000 and press Unlock. This will erase the screen lock, whether it’s a passcode/Face ID/Touch ID.

Step 4. A “Wipe Passcode Successfully” message will appear shortly. Your device will restart and display the setup (Hello) screen, just as new.

How to Remove Camera from Android Lock Screen

Some Android phones, like Samsung or Xiaomi models, let you remove the Camera shortcut or swap it with another widget. However, it doesn’t work on all Android devices.

Here’s how it works on a Samsung device:

Step 1. Press and hold any empty space on the lock screen. Then, enter your PIN to access the lock screen editor. There, long-press the Camera icon.

Step 2. A menu will slide up with all the actions you can use. Select No app to delete the camera or hit the + icon to assign something else, like Flashlight or DND.

And that’s it. The Camera icon disappears.

Conclusion

That covers all the methods to remove the camera from your iPhone lock screen. No matter which iPhone model you’re using, these steps will help you control the camera better.

And if your iPhone is locked or disabled because of a forgotten passcode or Face ID, you can use Passixer iPhone Unlocker to remove it. Passixer allows you to unlock iPhone safely and set up your device again.