How to turn off the camera swipe gesture on the iPhone lock screen

Tired of opening the camera by mistake on your iPhone's lock screen? Turn off this hidden setting to stop this action in no time.

Many iPhone users unlock their phones dozens of times a day, often without thinking about it. During those moments, a simple swipe can sometimes open the Camera app by mistake. With iOS 26.1, Apple has added a new option that lets users stop this from happening. For the first time, iPhone users can turn off the swipe gesture that opens the camera from the Lock Screen.

How to stop the camera from opening by mistake and disable the lock screen swipe gesture. (REUTERS)

By MD Ijaj Khan

Ijaj Khan is a technology journalist and Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience covering the consumer technology industry. His work spans smartphones, laptops, wearables, gaming, appliances and AI - from hands-on reviews, comparison and buying guides to breaking news and in-depth features that help readers cut through the noise and make informed decisions. Before joining HT Tech, he worked with Jagran New Media, where he sharpened his instincts for fast-paced digital reporting. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Whether he's testing the latest flagship smartphone, tracking a major AI announcement, or putting a gaming laptop through its paces, Ijaj approaches every story with the same goal - making technology feel relevant and easy to understand for everyday users, not just enthusiasts. When he's not in front of a screen for work, he's usually travelling to a new city, hunting for great food, or keeping tabs on what's next in tech before everyone else catches on.

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For years, swiping left on the Lock Screen has opened the Camera app. Apple designed this shortcut to help users capture moments quickly without unlocking the phone. However, the same gesture has also caused frequent accidental launches. Phones placed in pockets or bags often trigger the camera, which can use battery power and store unwanted photos.

Apple has now addressed this issue by giving users direct control over the gesture. The new setting in iOS 26.1 allows users to disable the Lock Screen camera swipe in just a few steps.

How to Disable the Lock Screen Camera Swipe

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on Camera. Inside the Camera settings menu, look for the option marked “Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera.” Turn off the toggle next to this option.

Once you complete these steps, swiping left on the Lock Screen will no longer open the Camera app. The change takes effect immediately, and no restart is required.

Disabling this gesture does not remove access to the camera entirely. Users can still open the Camera app from the Control Center or by tapping the Camera app icon after unlocking the phone. On newer models, including iPhone 16 and later, users can also use the dedicated Camera Control button.

If you decide to bring back the swipe gesture later, you can return to Settings, open Camera, and turn the same toggle back on.