In iOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a small but highly requested change for anyone tired of accidentally launching the Camera app while pulling their iPhone from a pocket or bag. For the first time, you can now disable the Lock Screen swipe-to-open Camera gesture.
The Lock Screen camera shortcut has long been a signature iPhone feature, making it easy to capture spontaneous moments with a quick left swipe. However, its convenience often came with a drawback—it was just as easy to trigger the Camera app unintentionally, wasting battery or cluttering your Photos library with accidental shots of your pocket’s interior.
With iOS 26.1, Apple has finally given users control over this behavior through a simple toggle in Settings.
How to Disable the Lock Screen Camera Gesture
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Camera.
- Scroll down and turn off Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera.
That’s it. Once disabled, swiping left on the Lock Screen will no longer open the Camera app. You can still access the Camera quickly from the Control Center, the Camera app icon, or—on iPhone 16 and newer models—the dedicated Camera Control button.
To re-enable the gesture, just return to Settings ➝ Camera and toggle the switch back on. iOS 26.1 was released on November 3, 2025.
