An always-on display (AOD) is a feature that lets your phone show important information even when the screen is 'off'. You can see the time, date, notifications and other information without unlocking your phone or even touching it. In this article we explain what always-on display is, how to set it up and how to personalize it.

What is always-on display?

Always-on display is a screen feature available on phones with OLED or AMOLED screens. With this screen technology, individual pixels can be switched off, which makes it energy-efficient to light up only a small part of the screen.

When AOD is turned on, your phone shows basic information on a dark background. Only the pixels needed for the text and icons are lit, while the rest of the screen stays completely black. This uses minimal battery while still letting you see the time at a glance or check whether you have notifications.

Benefits of always-on display

There are several reasons why people choose an always-on display:

Check information quickly

You don't have to pick up or unlock your phone to check the time or see whether you have new messages. A quick glance at your phone is enough.

Fewer unlocks

Research shows that people unlock their phone dozens of times a day on average, often just to check the time. AOD reduces this behavior.

Personalization

You can personalize your always-on display with different clock styles, colors, images and widgets that make your phone unique.

Turning on always-on display on Android

How you turn on AOD differs by phone brand. Here are instructions for the most popular brands.

On Samsung phones

Samsung phones have extensive AOD options. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Lock screen
  2. Tap Always On Display
  3. Turn on the feature with the toggle at the top
  4. Choose when AOD should be active: Always, Tap to show, As scheduled or Show for new notifications

On Google Pixel phones

Google Pixel phones call this feature 'Always-on display':

  1. Go to Settings > Display
  2. Tap Lock screen
  3. Turn on 'Always show time and info'

On OnePlus phones

OnePlus offers AOD under the name 'Ambient display':

  1. Go to Settings > Customization
  2. Tap Clock on ambient display
  3. Turn on the feature and choose a clock style

Personalizing always-on display

One of the most fun aspects of AOD is the ability to personalize it. The options differ by brand, but here are the most common customizations.

Choosing clock styles

Most phones offer several clock styles for your AOD. From analog clocks to digital displays, from minimalist to detailed with the date and battery percentage. Browse the available options and pick a style that suits you.

Adjusting colors

On Samsung phones you can change the color of your AOD. Choose a single color or let the color change automatically based on your wallpaper. On Pixel phones, the color automatically matches your Material You theme.

Adding images

Some phones, such as Samsung, let you add an image to your AOD. You can show a photo of a loved one, an inspiring quote or a piece of artwork. Go to the AOD settings and select 'Image' as the clock style.

Widgets and shortcuts

Besides the clock, you can often show extra information. Think of the weather, your next calendar appointment, music controls when you're playing music, and icons of apps you have notifications from.

Notifications on always-on display

An important feature of AOD is showing notifications. You can see at a glance which apps you have notifications from without unlocking your phone.

Notification icons

Most AOD implementations show small icons of apps you have unread notifications from. If you see the WhatsApp icon, you know you've received a message.

Notification content

On some phones you can set the AOD to also show a preview of the notification content. This is handy but can be a privacy risk if others can see your phone. You can usually turn this option on or off in the settings.

Interacting with notifications

On some phones you can double-tap a notification icon on the AOD to go straight to that app. This does require you to unlock your phone with your PIN, pattern or biometrics.

Battery usage and always-on display

A frequently asked question is how much battery AOD uses. The answer depends on several factors.

Estimated usage

On average, AOD uses between 1% and 5% of your battery per day, depending on how long the screen is visible and how much information is shown. This is relatively little thanks to OLED technology, where black pixels use no power.

Saving battery with AOD

If you're worried about battery usage, there are ways to use AOD more efficiently:

  • Choose a simpler clock style with fewer lit pixels
  • Use the 'Tap to show' option instead of 'Always on'
  • Set a schedule so AOD turns off automatically at night
  • Lower the brightness of the AOD in the settings

Scheduling always-on display

You don't need to have AOD on all the time. Most phones offer schedule options.

Setting a schedule

Go to the AOD settings and look for 'Schedule' or 'Set schedule'. Set the times during which AOD should be active, for example from 7:00 to 23:00. Outside these hours, AOD turns off automatically to save battery.

Smart schedule

Some phones have a smart schedule that turns AOD off automatically when your phone is in your pocket or bag. The proximity sensor detects this and turns the screen off completely.

Always-on display versus ambient display

Some phones use the term 'ambient display' instead of always-on display. There are subtle differences.

Always-on display

As the name says, the screen is always on and shows information continuously. You can look at your phone at any moment and see the time.

Ambient display

Ambient display only activates when you pick up your phone, tap it, or when a notification comes in. The rest of the time the screen is completely off. This saves more battery than traditional AOD.

Troubleshooting

Is your always-on display not working as expected? Here are some solutions:

AOD doesn't appear

Check whether the feature is turned on in the settings. Some battery saving modes turn AOD off automatically. Also check whether your phone has an OLED screen, because LCD screens don't support AOD.

AOD uses too much battery

If you notice that AOD uses a lot of battery, check whether an app running in the background is keeping the screen awake. Try turning AOD off temporarily to see whether that's the problem.

Conclusion

Always-on display is a handy feature that makes using your phone more efficient. With one glance at your phone you see the time, date and notifications without unlocking the device. Thanks to OLED technology, battery usage is minimal. With the personalization options you can set up your AOD exactly the way you want, from the clock style to the colors and the information shown.

Frequently asked questions

Does always-on display use a lot of battery?

No, always-on display uses relatively little battery, 1% to 5% per day on average. This is because OLED screens only light up the pixels they need and black pixels use no power.

Does always-on display work on every Android phone?

No, always-on display is only available on phones with OLED or AMOLED screens. Phones with LCD screens don't support this feature because all pixels have to be lit constantly.

Can I choose what is shown on my always-on display?

Yes, most phones offer extensive personalization options. You can choose from different clock styles, set colors, add images and decide which notifications are shown.