Where to find the auto-lock setting on your iPad
The auto-lock setting lives in the Settings app under Display & Brightness. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then scroll down until you see Auto-Lock. Tap it and you'll see a list of time options: 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and Never. Choose whichever you want, and the change takes effect when ready.
The setting controls how long your iPad waits after you stop using it before the screen locks automatically. If you pick 5 minutes, the screen will lock five minutes after you last touched it. If you pick Never, the screen will stay on until you manually lock it by pressing the top button (or side button, depending on your model).
Key Takeaways
- Auto-lock is found in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, and you can change it in seconds.
- Shorter times (2 or 5 minutes) save battery and protect privacy if you step away; longer times or Never are better if you're reading or watching for extended periods.
- The Never option keeps your screen on indefinitely, which drains the battery faster but is useful when your iPad is plugged in or propped up.
- You can always manually lock your iPad by pressing the top or side button, regardless of what auto-lock is set to.
Why you might want to change auto-lock
A shorter auto-lock time protects your privacy and saves battery. If you set it to 2 minutes and then walk away from your iPad, it locks quickly, so someone else can't pick it up and see your email or photos. It also means your screen isn't burning power while you're not looking at it.
A longer time or Never is better if you're reading an article, following a recipe, or watching a video and don't want the screen to go dark while you're actively using it. If your iPad is plugged in and sitting on a stand, Never won't drain the battery as fast as it would on battery power alone.
What happens when auto-lock activates
When the time you set runs out, your screen goes black and your iPad locks. You'll need to swipe up from the bottom (or press the home button on older models) and enter your passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID to unlock it again. Any apps you had open stay open in the background—they don't close.
If you have notifications set to show on the lock screen, you'll still see them even after auto-lock has kicked in. You can read them without unlocking, but you can't open an app or access your data without unlocking first.
Auto-lock and battery life
Shorter auto-lock times use less battery because your screen isn't lit up when you're not using the iPad. The screen is one of the biggest power drains on any device. If you're on battery power and want your iPad to last longer between charges, setting auto-lock to 2 or 5 minutes makes a real difference over the course of a day.
If your iPad is plugged in most of the time—say it's sitting on a desk or mounted on a wall—the battery impact of a longer auto-lock time is negligible. In that case, set it to whatever is most convenient for how you use it.
Auto-lock doesn't affect scheduled lock times
If you've set up Screen Time or parental controls that lock your iPad at a certain time of day, auto-lock is separate from that. Auto-lock only controls how long the screen stays on after you stop touching it. Scheduled locks happen at the times you set, regardless of auto-lock.
Similarly, if you use a passcode or biometric lock (Face ID or Touch ID), auto-lock doesn't change how strong that lock is. It only changes when the lock activates, not how hard it is to unlock.
Manually locking your iPad before auto-lock kicks in
You don't have to wait for auto-lock to set up. You can lock your iPad anytime by pressing and holding the top button (on iPad Pro and newer iPad Air models) or the side button (on iPad mini and standard iPad). On very old iPad models with a home button, press the top button once.
This is useful if you're about to hand your iPad to someone else or step away and want to lock it right now instead of waiting for the auto-lock timer to run out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set auto-lock to a time that's not on the list?
No. Apple only offers 2, 5, 10, 15 minutes, or Never. You can't create a custom time like 7 minutes or 30 seconds. If none of those options fit your needs exactly, pick the closest one.
What does Never mean, and will it drain my battery?
Never means your screen stays on indefinitely until you manually lock it. Yes, it drains the battery faster than a shorter auto-lock time, because the screen is always lit. Use Never only if your iPad is plugged in or if you're actively using it for long stretches without interruption.
If I change auto-lock, does it affect other people who use my iPad?
If your iPad has multiple user accounts set up through Screen Time, the auto-lock setting applies to the whole device, not individual accounts. Everyone who uses it will see the same auto-lock behavior. If you want different people to have different lock times, you'd need to change the setting each time they hand it back to you.
Does auto-lock work if my iPad is in sleep mode?
Your iPad goes into sleep mode when the screen locks. Auto-lock is what triggers the lock in the first place. Once it's locked and asleep, auto-lock has already done its job. Waking the iPad up requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Can I turn off auto-lock completely?
Yes—set it to Never. But remember that your screen will stay on until you manually lock it, which uses more battery. You can always manually lock it by pressing the top or side button whenever you want.