From the ability to swiftly copy the topic from photographs to a completely new customisable Lock Screen with widgets, iOS 16 is jam-packed with fantastic new features. There is no such thing as a perfect new OS release, though. If you recently updated your iPhone to iOS 16, take some time to think about turning off some of these functions even if the new release is full with some fantastic improvements.
Remove the glaring Search icon
We get it, Spotlight is great. But it’s also just a swipe away. iOS 16 replaced the Home Screen page dots with a Search icon, and if you don’t like it (you aren’t alone here), Apple has a setting to go back to the old ways. Go to Settings > Home Screen, and from the Search section, disable “Show on Home Screen.”
Go back to the old Lock Screen notifications
Apple has fundamentally changed the Lock Screen with iOS 16, including the notification system, which now shows up at the bottom of the screen. It’s a great move, and notifications are easier to reach…but on the flip side, they are all jumbled up in a single stack, and you need to swipe to see everything.
iOS 16 does have an option to see all notifications as a list, the way things worked in iOS 15 and before. If you want to switch back, go to Settings > Notifications > Display As and change the default to “List.” After that, all notifications will show up as a list again, one after the other, right below the time.
Stop the Side button from randomly ending calls
If you press the Side/Power button on your iPhone, the call ends instantly. While it’s a great feature to some, it is way too easy to accidentally press. If you find yourself randomly ending calls by brushing against the Side button, there’s an option to disable it: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and enable “Prevent Lock to End Call” for some peace of mind.
Stop personal photos from popping up everywhere
Apple is leaning into the Featured Photos stuff: Your iPhone shows photos of you, your family, and your pets everywhere across iOS, including in widgets, the For You page in Photos, Spotlight Search, and even when you’re creating a new Lock Screen. While some of us like these constant windows into our lives, others might find it over the top, especially when iOS keeps sharing photos you’d rather not see. You can stop the feature, if you’d like, by going to Settings > Photos and disabling “Show Featured Content.”
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