Can we finally disable the camera when sliding the lock screen?

[AMTYVLE]

Please tell me they let us turn off an annoyance on the lock screen in iOS 26...

It's really aggravating when you go to swipe left to clear a notification on the lock screen and the whole lock screen slides with it and opens the camera. What is the point of this anymore? Newer iPhones have the camera control button on the side and even if you don't own a newer iPhone you can add a camera widget/button on the lock screen itself. Also, when walking with your iPhone in your hand and you look down and the camera is on because your fingers slide the lock screen to the left while walking.

Instant aggravation.

 

[TimFL1]

There is no way to disable the camera gesture on the lock screen in iOS 26.

 

[Ctrlos]

It would be nice if that gesture instead summoned the control centre. They could then move it to the RH-side of the multitasking screen elsewhere.

 

[Rayansb]

I'd never say no to customization. It would be wonderful if Apple actually let us choose what happens when we slide the locked screen but no. Maybe in iOS 45.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I keep suggesting to Apple to let us disable that as I don't want ANYTHING available on my phone while locked, including the camera. I suggest you do the same.

Until they change it, I keep the default camera app disabled via screen time. That does disable the swipe-to-camera feature, but you do lose the app altogether.

Product Feedback

We would love to hear your comments about any of our hardware and software products. Send us your thoughts.

www.apple.com

 

[HouseLannister]

Can we finally...

disable the camera gesture on lock screen?
disable App Library?
disable the Today View?
split-screen apps on an iPhone?
choose our own app icons?
tune our animation speed?
change the grid size of our home screen?
put more than four icons in the dock?
get push notifications for Gmail in Mail.app?
remove our Apple Card from Safari autofill?
have a clipboard history?
have a functional digital assistant?

No, you cannot.

 

[james_b]

Please tell me they let us turn off an annoyance on the lock screen in iOS 26...

It's really aggravating when you go to swipe left to clear a notification on the lock screen and the whole lock screen slides with it and opens the camera. What is the point of this anymore? Newer iPhones have the camera control button on the side and even if you don't own a newer iPhone you can add a camera widget/button on the lock screen itself. Also, when walking with your iPhone in your hand and you look down and the camera is on because your fingers slide the lock screen to the left while walking.

Instant aggravation.

I was literally going to write a post like that but then I saw you already did it. Thank you very much. Can't tell how much I hate that swipe-left-to-open-camera gesture. It's simply appalling that it can't be turned off. It's the only thing I really want in iOS 26 instead of all that Apple Intelligence nonsense.

 

[MacManiac76]

If there was ever a need for an accessibility setting that needs to be addressed it is this annoyance. They have to get this request every year and just choose to ignore it because that is just Apple's way it seems with so many simple usability requests.

I literally curse at the developers/engineers when this stupid gesture is activated. It still amazes me that so many devices/software fail to do the user experience stage of the development process.

 

[Silverstring]

If there was ever a need for an accessibility setting that needs to be addressed it is this annoyance. They have to get this request every year and just choose to ignore it because that is just Apple's way it seems with so many simple usability requests.

I literally curse at the developers/engineers when this stupid gesture is activated. It still amazes me that so many devices/software fail to do the user experience stage of the development process.

Not defending it, I want the customization of the left swipe, too.

Still, how do you conclude that this is the result of “fail(ing) to do the user experience stage of the development process,” as opposed to a deliberate choice made after the UX stage is complete? You even intimate as much in your first paragraph when saying they “just choose to ignore it”.

Again, I’m with you in wanting the change, but I’m also willing to allow for the possibility that our shared stance on the swipe didn’t rate when the UX stage was in process/done.

Wondering if you have any other info that points to a failure to do that UX stage, as opposed to us experiencing a false consensus effect by thinking this is a no-brainer that a significant amount of people ask for/want.

 

[richpjr]

I'd never say no to customization. It would be wonderful if Apple actually let us choose what happens when we slide the locked screen but no. Maybe in iOS 45.

That would be great if we could do this.

 

[MacManiac76]

Not defending it, I want the customization of the left swipe, too.

Still, how do you conclude that this is the result of “fail(ing) to do the user experience stage of the development process,” as opposed to a deliberate choice made after the UX stage is complete? You even intimate as much in your first paragraph when saying they “just choose to ignore it”.

Again, I’m with you in wanting the change, but I’m also willing to allow for the possibility that our shared stance on the swipe didn’t rate when the UX stage was in process/done.

Wondering if you have any other info that points to a failure to do that UX stage, as opposed to us experiencing a false consensus effect by thinking this is a no-brainer that a significant amount of people ask for/want.

I wasn't only referring to Apple, I have other apps and devices that seem to have pointless "features" that are never either fixed or addressed.
As far as this camera access gesture that shares the exact same gesture with swiping away a notification makes no sense. Personally I have never seen a post or comment praising the fact that this gesture exists to access the camera from the lock screen compared to several every year despising its existence. There's up to three other ways to do it with newer iPhones with the Action Button, Camera Control button and the ability to add an icon for it at the bottom left or right of the lock screen.

 

[sameer249]

As of most recent Android and iOS versions, you cannot natively disable the camera shortcut on the lock screen without third-party tools or workarounds—especially on stock Android and iPhones.

🛠️ Workarounds:
Android (Some models): Use System UI Tuner or custom launchers (on rooted devices).

iPhone: There's no built-in way, but Screen Time can restrict Camera app access entirely.

 

[Polaroid]

I wasn't only referring to Apple, I have other apps and devices that seem to have pointless "features" that are never either fixed or addressed.
As far as this camera access gesture that shares the exact same gesture with swiping away a notification makes no sense. Personally I have never seen a post or comment praising the fact that this gesture exists to access the camera from the lock screen compared to several every year despising its existence. There's up to three other ways to do it with newer iPhones with the Action Button, Camera Control button and the ability to add an icon for it at the bottom left or right of the lock screen.

I always swipe to access camera. I use the switch and other shortcut buttons for other stuff. I praise it.

 

[Cobalt Blizzard]

It is hilarious, by default, we have swipe to access camera, lockscreen shortcut, and not Camera Control button.