How to use the iPhone’s new, confusing lock screen – CNET

After you update to iOS 10, excitement is expected if not anticipated. But there’s one more thing you’ll need to do before you can start tapping your way around iOS 10: learn how to use the new lock screen.

In iOS 10, gone is the staple iOS feature of slide-to-unlock, replaced with the requirement to press the home button to unlock your device. There’s no doubt it’s going to take some time to get used to. I’ve been using iOS 10 for over a month now, and I still find myself resting my finger on the home button and waiting for Touch ID to unlock my iPhone and show my home screen.

Raise to wake, then unlock

When picking up an iPhone running iOS 10, the screen will automatically turn on. You can then view your notifications, swipe to open the camera (more on that in a minute), or swipe to view your widgets. Sorry iPad users, as of the current beta you still need to wake your tablet via the usual means.

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Left: Screenshot of a locked iPhone 6S. Right: After resting a finger on the home button, the phone is now unlocked but the lock screen is still shown. Notice the text at the bottom instructing you to press the home button to open your home screen.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

A small lock icon will show up at the top of the screen when a device is locked. You can place your finger on the home button to unlock — replacing the lock icon with a quick flash of “Unlocked” — which will allow you to interact with notifications and select widgets. As you can see from Apple’s friendly reminder along the bottom of the screen, you need to actually press the home button to open the home screen.

Slide to view widgets

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Swiping to the right on the lock screen will reveal the Today view. This is where you can interact with widgets, ranging from what’s next on your calendar, Activity app stats or sports scores. The real magic of widgets on iOS 10 won’t happen until developers can release apps built for the new features, but it looks promising!

You can add or remove widgets just as you did on previous versions of iOS (pictured left).

Where’s the camera shortcut?

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See, the camera shortcut does exist on iOS 10!

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

The camera icon that used to sit in the bottom-right corner of the lock screen is no longer present on iOS 10. However, you can still access the camera with a swipe to the left.

Going back to how things used to be

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Thankfully, Apple has provided a way for users to revert the home button’s old behavior. Meaning once you wake your device — either by lifting it, pressing the wake button, or pressing the home button — you can complete the unlock press by resting your finger on the home button (instead of having to push it again).

Open Settings > General > Accessibility > Home Button and enable Rest Finger to Open.