Enhanced Privacy Control: The New Camera Off Switch Feature in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

The release of iOS 26.1 is drawing near, with the unveiling of the fourth developer beta today. The shift to a weekly release schedule and the availability of public betas indicate that we are approaching the final stages, with a potential public release expected next week.

Although the focus of today’s fourth beta is mainly on refining the user experience, Apple has introduced some last-minute changes to enhance usability. A new setting has been added to tone down the Liquid Glass effect, and users now have control over a long-standing default behavior: swiping to open the camera from the lock screen.

Many iPhone users prefer quick access to the camera to capture moments instantly. Apple has provided various quick access options since the release of iOS 5 in 2011. It started with a Camera icon on the Lock Screen, which later evolved into a swipe-up gesture to avoid conflicting with the traditional “Slide to Unlock” feature of that time.

In 2016, with the introduction of iOS 10 and the overhaul of the Lock Screen, the swipe-to-the-left gesture for accessing the camera was established. The following year, Apple added dedicated flashlight and camera buttons on the iPhone X, complementing the swipe gesture rather than replacing it.

Although having multiple ways to open the camera from the lock screen may seem redundant, Apple likely maintained this setup to avoid disrupting users’ muscle memory. With the release of iOS 18 last year, Apple allowed customization of lock screen buttons but did not address the swipe gesture.

Alongside the introduction of the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple added a Camera Control button, providing users with additional options for opening the Camera app. Despite these advancements, the lock screen swipe gesture remains unchanged and can only open the built-in Camera app.

While Apple has made lock screen buttons fully customizable and introduced APIs for camera app developers to enhance user experience, the lock screen swipe gesture remains exclusive to the built-in Camera app.

In the latest beta of iOS 26.1, a new toggle option labeled “Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera” has been added in the Camera section of the Settings app. This feature allows users to disable the left swipe gesture on the lock screen if they find it more of a nuisance than a convenience.

This update will be beneficial for users who rarely use the lock screen swipe gesture or prefer third-party camera apps over the built-in iPhone Camera app.

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