If your iPhone screen stays on during a call, it can be annoying — especially if your cheek keeps tapping buttons or you’re just trying to conserve battery. While the screen normally turns off automatically when you hold the phone to your ear, sometimes it doesn’t. Luckily, there’s an easy way to manually turn the screen off during a call using the Side button.
Here’s how to do it.
Press the Side Button to Turn Off the Screen
When you’re on a call and the screen won’t go dark:
- Simply press the Side button (the same one used to lock your phone).
- The display will instantly turn off, but your call will stay active in the background.
- To wake the screen back up, tap the Side button again or raise the phone.
This trick works whether you’re holding the phone to your ear, using speakerphone, or connected to Bluetooth or AirPods.
Why the Screen Might Stay On During Calls
Normally, iPhones use the proximity sensor near the top of the screen to detect when the phone is close to your face — that’s what turns off the display automatically.
If your screen isn’t turning off:
- Your proximity sensor might be blocked (e.g. by a case or screen protector).
- You might not be holding the phone close enough to your face.
- You’re using speakerphone, AirPods, or Bluetooth, which won’t trigger the sensor.