Learn how to always show previews of notifications for messages, calls and more on the Lock Screen of your iPhone without having to authenticate with Face ID.
By default, your iPhone hides previews of notifications on the Lock Screen until authorized with Face ID. Though a useful privacy feature, it can be inconvenient in certain situations. In this quick tutorial, we’ll show you how to turn off face unlock for Lock Screen notifications so you always see notification previews without authenticating with Face ID first.
Showing notification previews on the Lock Screen
I don’t mind notifications displaying previews on my Lock Screen because I have nothing to hide from people who have access to my iPhone. And if someone were to steal my iPhone, the least of my worries would be for them to read my notifications.
If you also prefer seeing notification previews of your Lock Screen regardless of Face ID, venture into Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and select Always.
Lock Screen notifications will now always be previewed. Tapping the notification to open it in the app still requires Face ID authentication, like before.
If a particular app won’t show a message preview on the Lock Screen, go to Settings > Notifications and tap said app, then hit Show Previews and select Always.
If that doesn’t help, visit in-app settings to find and turn on notification previews. Many messaging apps, like WhatsApp, let you adjust their notifications from within the app.
Always showing notification previews on the Lock Screen decreases your privacy; whether that trade off is worth the convenience is up to you. Feel free to discuss this topic in the comments down below.
Other notification tips for iPhone: