On iOS, Apple’s Today View and Spotlight search features can be accessed from the iPhone lock screen. This article explains why you might want to disable access to them from the lock screen and how to do it.
In early versions of Apple’s mobile operating system, the entire lock screen of an “iPhone” offered users access to the time, date, all notifications, and the camera and flashlight functions. To access anything else, you had to unlock the “iPhone”. It was easy and safe.
Today, iOS allows optional access to several additional features from the lock screen, including (but not limited to) Today View and Spotlight Search.
In the Today View, which you can access with a left-to-right swipe, you can add widgets and other things you want to see at a glance without unlocking your “iPhone”. A swipe down from the middle of the lock screen reveals the search input box and Siri suggestions, which are the digital assistant’s best guesses of which apps you might want to use at any given time.
While these are worthwhile, handy features available through the lock screen, it means anyone can view and use them when your “iPhone” is locked, and potentially learn things about what’s on your device. If that sounds like a step too far from a security standpoint, you can easily disable access to these features on your “iPhone”. How to do it.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the settings apartment
- Scroll down and tap Face ID and Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
- Enter your passcode at the prompt.
- Scroll down and under Allow access when locked, turn off the switch next to View and search today.
These features will be disabled effective immediately and will no longer be available on the lock screen, giving you an extra level of security.
