The fastest way to turn on your flashlight from the lock screen

You can add a flashlight button directly to your iPhone lock screen so you don't have to unlock your phone to turn it on. The method depends on which iPhone model you have and which version of iOS is running on it.

On iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer), you add the flashlight through the lock screen customization menu. On iPhones with Touch ID (iPhone 8 and earlier), the flashlight is already built into Control Center, which you can access from the lock screen by swiping up from the bottom. If you want a dedicated lock screen button on an older iPhone, you'll need to use the Shortcuts app instead.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhones with Face ID let you add a flashlight button directly to the lock screen through Settings > Lock Screen > Customize Lock Screen.
  • iPhones with Touch ID can access the flashlight through Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the lock screen without unlocking.
  • The Shortcuts app can create a custom flashlight shortcut on older iPhones, though it requires a few extra steps to set up.
  • Once added, the lock screen flashlight button turns your phone's rear camera flash on and off instantly without opening any apps.

Add flashlight to lock screen on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer

Open Settings and tap Lock Screen. Scroll down and tap Customize Lock Screen. You'll see your current lock screen displayed at the top of the screen with small icons at the bottom — these are your lock screen shortcuts.

Tap one of the empty icon slots at the bottom of the lock screen preview. A menu will appear showing available shortcuts. Scroll down and select Flashlight. The flashlight icon will now appear in that slot on your lock screen. Tap the back arrow or swipe back to save your changes.

To use it, simply tap the flashlight icon on your lock screen. Your phone's rear camera flash will turn on. Tap it again to turn it off. You can add up to four shortcuts total to your lock screen, so you might also add Camera, Timer, or Alarm alongside the flashlight.

Use Control Center to access flashlight on iPhone 8 and earlier

If you have an iPhone 8, 7, 6s, or earlier model, the flashlight is built into Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom edge of your lock screen to open Control Center without unlocking your phone. You'll see a flashlight icon (it looks like a torch) in the top-left corner of the Control Center panel.

Tap the flashlight icon once to turn it on. Tap it again to turn it off. You can also press and hold the flashlight icon to adjust the brightness of the flash by dragging the slider up or down. This method works on any lock screen, whether you're on the home screen or a specific lock screen wallpaper.

Create a flashlight shortcut using the Shortcuts app

If you want a dedicated flashlight button on an older iPhone or want more control over how the flashlight works, you can use the Shortcuts app. Open the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed on iOS 13 and newer). Tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut.

Tap Add Action and search for "flashlight". Select Toggle Flashlight from the results. This creates a shortcut that turns the flashlight on or off each time you run it. Tap the three dots at the top right, then tap Add to Lock Screen. Choose which lock screen you want to add it to, then tap Add.

The shortcut will now appear as a custom icon on your lock screen. Tap it to toggle the flashlight on and off. You can customize the icon and name by tapping the three dots again and selecting Edit Details, though this step is optional.

Troubleshoot if the flashlight button doesn't appear

If you've added the flashlight to your lock screen but the icon isn't showing up, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button, then drag the power off slider. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

If the flashlight icon appears but doesn't work, make sure your iPhone isn't in Low Power Mode, which can disable the flash. Open Settings, tap Battery, and check whether Low Power Mode is turned on. If it is, tap it to turn it off.

On iPhones with Control Center, if you can't find the flashlight icon, swipe down from the top-right corner instead of up from the bottom. On some lock screens, Control Center opens from the top rather than the bottom.

Why you might want the lock screen flashlight

Having the flashlight on your lock screen saves time in situations where you need light quickly — finding your keys in a dark room, checking something in low light, or signaling someone. You don't have to unlock your phone, open an app, or navigate through menus. A single tap does it.

The lock screen flashlight uses your phone's rear camera flash, which is brighter than the screen itself. It drains battery faster than leaving the screen off, so turn it off when you're done using it. If you find yourself using the flashlight often, keeping it on your lock screen is more convenient than digging through Control Center or an app every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add flashlight to lock screen on iPhone 8?

iPhone 8 doesn't support lock screen customization the way newer models do. You can access the flashlight through Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the lock screen, or you can create a Shortcuts app shortcut and add it to your lock screen instead.

Does using the lock screen flashlight drain battery faster?

Yes, the rear camera flash uses more battery than most other features. If you're using the flashlight frequently, your battery will drain noticeably faster. Turn it off when you're done to preserve battery life.

Can I add multiple flashlight buttons to my lock screen?

No, you can only add one flashlight shortcut to your lock screen. If you add it twice, the second one will replace the first. You can add up to four shortcuts total, so you might add flashlight alongside camera, timer, or alarm instead.

What if my iPhone doesn't have a rear flash?

Some older iPhone models don't have a rear camera flash. If your phone doesn't have one, the flashlight option won't appear in the lock screen customization menu. You can still use your screen as a light by opening Control Center and using the screen brightness controls.