A dark hallway or a dropped key leaves little time to dig through menus, which is why a flashlight on the Lock Screen is so handy. How to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone depends on your model, because newer iPhones use a Lock Screen button while older ones rely on other shortcuts.
This guide shows which iPhones have the button, the quick steps to add it, what works without one, six tips for everyday use, and answers to common questions.
1. Which iPhones Have a Flashlight Button on the Lock Screen?
Apple says you can turn on the flashlight from the Lock Screen by pressing and holding the Flashlight button in the bottom-left corner.
What you can change about it depends on the model and iOS version, so find your iPhone below.
- iPhone 15 and other Face ID models: Use the Customize screen on iOS 18 or later. This is the route for how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone 15, and the same steps apply to other Face ID iPhones that run iOS 18.
- iPhone 8: Open Control Center from the Lock Screen, or set up Back Tap.
- iPhone 7: Use Control Center or Siri.
2. How to Add Flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone?
On iOS 18 or later, the two bottom corners of the Lock Screen hold shortcuts you can change. Follow these steps to put the flashlight back, or to add it for the first time.
- Wake the iPhone and touch and hold an empty area of the Lock Screen.
- Tap Customize, then tap the Lock Screen on the left.
- Tap the plus button in a corner. If a shortcut is already there, tap its minus button first.
- Scroll the list, or use the search bar, and tap Flashlight.
- Tap Done in the upper right.
- Wake the screen and press and hold the Flashlight button to test it.
iOS 18 lets you swap the flashlight and camera shortcuts for other controls, so a missing button usually means someone replaced it. Adding Flashlight again puts it back. If your iPhone does not show Customize, update iOS first, because the screen requires iOS 18 or later.
The flashlight now appears in the corner you chose, and these same steps for how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone also work if you want it on the right instead of the left.
Keep the camera shortcut in the other corner, or replace it with another control you use often.
3. No Lock Screen Button? What Works on Home-Button iPhones
Home-button iPhones do not offer the same customizable Lock Screen controls as newer models, but the flashlight is still easy to access. Control Center is the main alternative, while some models also support shortcuts such as Back Tap or Siri.
iPhone 8: Use Control Center or Back Tap
If you’re searching for how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone 8, you cannot add a dedicated Lock Screen button. Instead, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center, then tap the Flashlight button.
If Flashlight is missing, go to Settings > Control Center and add it to your available controls.
The iPhone 8 also supports Back Tap on compatible iOS versions. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, and check whether Flashlight is available as an action.
iPhone 7: Use Control Center or Siri
For how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone 7, Control Center is also the simplest alternative, but Back Tap is not supported on this model.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the Flashlight button. You can also ask Siri to “turn the flashlight on” or “off” if Siri is enabled for use while the iPhone is locked.
>>> Read more: How to Lock Screen on iPhone? Manually, Automatically, and for Kids
4. 6 Tips for Using iPhone Flashlight
These habits make how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone worth the effort, because they cover brightness, battery, and backup shortcuts.
- Adjust the brightness: Open Control Center, press and hold the Flashlight button, then drag the slider up or down.
- Add it to Control Center:Open Settings, tap Control Center, and add Flashlight so it is always one swipe away.
- Save battery: Turn the light off when you are finished, since a bright LED uses power the longer it stays on.
- Use Back Tap for a quick toggle: On an iPhone 8 or later, assign a double or triple tap to the flashlight action.
- Ask Siri to turn the flashlight on: Say “Hey Siri, turn on my flashlight” when your hands are full.
- Check for a stuck light: If the light stays on, open Control Center and tap the Flashlight button again to turn it off.
5. FAQs
Where is the flashlight on my iPhone Lock Screen?
It sits in the bottom-left corner of the Lock Screen. Press and hold the button until the light turns on, and press and hold it again to turn the light off. If you do not see it, the shortcut may have been replaced.
Why did my Lock Screen flashlight disappear?
On iOS 18 and later, the corner shortcuts can be swapped for other controls. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, tap Lock Screen, and add Flashlight again. It can also disappear after you customize a different Lock Screen, so check the one you actually use.
Can I put the flashlight on a different corner?
Yes, in effect. Customize lets you remove a control from either corner and add another in its place, so you can clear the right corner and add Flashlight there. Then put a different control on the left.
Why does my flashlight turn on by accident?
The button needs a firm press and hold, but a phone in a pocket can still trigger it. Remove the Lock Screen shortcut with its minus button in Customize, or switch off a Back Tap action that you set to the flashlight.
Is there a Lock Screen flashlight on iPhone SE?
The iPhone SE has a Home button, so the reliable options are Control Center, Siri, and Back Tap on models that support it. Whether an on-screen Lock Screen button appears depends on the iOS version installed, so check Customize on your phone.
>>> Read more: How to Turn Off Silent Mode on iPhone with 4 Quick Methods
Final Thoughts
On a Face ID iPhone with iOS 18 or later, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and add Flashlight to a corner. On an iPhone 8 or iPhone 7, use Control Center, Siri, or Back Tap. You are finished when pressing and holding the button, or using your shortcut, turns the light on. If the button is missing, check Customize or Control Center.
With those steps, how to add flashlight to Lock Screen iPhone works on nearly any model.
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