Have you ever wondered if holding your iPhone too close to your face could affect your eyesight? With the latest iOS 17 update, Apple introduced a unique feature called ‘iPhone is Too Close’ screen distance alert. This feature warns you if your device is closer than 12 inches from your face for an extended period. It’s a handy way to maintain a healthy screen distance and minimize potential eye strain or risk of myopia (nearsightedness).
In this blog, we’ll take you through the simple process of enabling or disabling this alert. Plus, we’ll share some additional tips on protecting your eyes while using your iPhone.
Step-by-step Guide: Enabling or Disabling ‘iPhone is Too Close’ Alert
Managing the ‘iPhone is Too Close’ screen distance alert is a breeze with these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on Screen Time.
- Tap on Screen Distance.
- Toggle the switch on or off to enable or disable the alert.
If enabled, your iPhone will display a full-screen alert if it’s held closer than 12 inches from your face for a long time. The alert will remind you to move your iPhone a bit farther away.
This feature aims to lessen eye strain and lower the risk of myopia. Although some may find it annoying, it’s beneficial if you want to safeguard your eye health.
Extra Tips for Reducing Eye Strain
Besides using the screen distance alert, follow these additional tips to further protect your eyes:
- Take regular breaks: After 20-30 minutes of screen time, look away for a bit.
- Adjust your focus: Try to look at something in the distance for a few minutes every hour.
- Control brightness: Ensure your screen brightness isn’t too high.
- Use a blue light filter: This reduces the amount of blue light emitted from your screen.
Following these tips can help protect your eyes and prevent eye strain.
More About ‘iPhone is Too Close’ Alert in iOS 17
The ‘iPhone is Too Close’ screen distance alert is enabled by default on all iPhone and iPad Pro models with Face ID. The alert pops up when you hold your device closer than 12 inches to your face for a long time. It stays on your screen until you move your iPhone farther away.
If you decide to disable the alert, you can do so by following the steps listed above. However, if you do so, a notification will still appear in the Notification Center if you hold your iPhone too close.
Conclusion
The ‘iPhone is Too Close’ screen distance alert feature is an effective way to keep an eye on how closely you’re viewing your iPhone screen. It’s a simple, yet significant step towards protecting your eyes from strain and reducing the risk of myopia. Remember, your health always comes first, and while this alert may seem annoying to some, it acts as a gentle reminder to take care of your eyes.
