How to Disable Ability to Return Missed Calls When iPhone Is Locked - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Disable Ability to Return Missed Calls When iPhone Is Locked

by

In iOS, it's possible to return missed calls directly from the iPhone Lock Screen. This article explains why you might want to disable access to this feature, and how to go about it.

iphone x speakerphone call handsfree
In early versions of Apple's mobile operating system, all a user could access on their ‌iPhone‌'s Lock Screen was the time, date, any notifications, and the camera and flashlight functions. To do anything else, like return a missed call, you had to unlock the ‌iPhone‌ first.

These days, iOS allows for optional access to several additional features from the Lock Screen, including (but not limited to) the ability to return missed calls. But what if you don't want missed call notifications showing up on your iPhone when you leave it unattended? Fortunately, you can disable the Return Missed Calls feature in the following way.

  1. Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
  3. Enter your passcode at the prompt.
  4. Scroll down, and under "Allow Access When Locked," toggle off the switch next to Return Missed Calls.

disable return missed calls lock screen

The Return Missed Calls feature will be disabled with immediate effect, and will no longer be available from the Lock Screen, giving you that added level of privacy and security.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Product

Thursday July 2, 2026 8:04 am PDT by
Apple's first product release of summer 2026 occurred this week, but do not get too excited, as it is merely the Beats Solo Buds in a new color. Beats Solo Buds are now offered in orange through Best Buy in the U.S., with availability set to expand to 7-Eleven stores in Japan on July 4. Apple already offered orange Solo Buds in India for free with the purchase of an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 ...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

iPhone 18 With 9GB RAM Still Won't Support Two New iOS 27 Features

Friday July 3, 2026 12:10 pm PDT by
The lower-end iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be equipped with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a social media post, Kuo said the 1GB increase in RAM will ensure that Apple Intelligence features continue to run smoothly on the pair of devices. The higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra...
iPhone X 2022 Upload

'iPhone Ultra' Likely to 'Repeat the iPhone X Story'

Sunday July 5, 2026 10:28 am PDT by
Apple will likely "repeat the iPhone X story" by unveiling its foldable iPhone at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but starting foldable iPhone pre-orders at a later date, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo today said manufacturing challenges have limited early production of the foldable iPhone, which will reportedly be named iPhone Ultra. As a result, he...