iOS 26.1 to Bring Surprising New iPhone Lock Screen Option

Apple's upcoming iOS 26.1 software update is introducing a feature that iPhone users have been requesting for years – the ability to disable the Lock Screen camera swipe.

As found in the latest iOS 26.1 beta, the Camera section of the Settings app includes a new "Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera" toggle. This finally gives users control over the left-swipe gesture that launches the Camera app from the Lock Screen. Turning it off disables the feature entirely.

The quick camera access will have been convenient for many, but it can also be pretty frustrating. It's easy to accidentally trigger the gesture, and until now there's been no way to prevent someone from using it to snap unwelcome photos on your locked iPhone (short of disabling the Camera app completely, which isn't exactly practical).

Apple plans to release iOS 26.1 later this October alongside corresponding updates for iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS.