Do you always have to tap your phone’s screen to check the time? Or is it always visible, even when you aren’t actively using the phone? If your screen is always on, you most likely have the AOD feature enabled.
With Always On Display, you can glance at your phone to see the time, calendar events, notifications, or even the song playing, all without touching the screen. This is because it shows everything that’s usually on the lock screen but with a dim background.
However, while some people appreciate this convenience, others find it annoying or worry about privacy issues. If Always On Display isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, we’ll show you how to turn it off on various devices and take control of your device.
What is Always On Display Feature?
An Always On Display allows your device to show useful information, like the time, date, battery level, and selected widgets, even when the phone is asleep or inactive. This means you can quickly glance at your phone to check things like reminders, social media news, calendar events, and chat notifications without fully waking up the screen.
AODs have always been a common feature on Android phones for years, and Apple has also started introducing them, starting with the iPhone 14 Pro series. But it doesn’t end with the iPhones. Some smartwatches, such as the Fitbit Sense and Apple Watch, also have AOD functionality.
However, like many other features across Android and iOS devices, the way AOD works on both operating systems also differs slightly.
AOD on iPhone
The Always-On Display (AOD) is only accessible on the iPhone 14 Pro series, 15 Pro series, and the most recently released 16 Pro series. Older iPhones don’t offer this feature, not even if you update your iOS to the latest version since it’s a built-in feature. When activated on an iPhone, it dims the full Lock Screen when the phone is idle.
However, Apple’s AOD implementation clearly shows your clock, widgets, wallpaper, and notifications. Plus, if you wish to personalize the AOD on your iPhone, you can long-press the lock screen and customize it to your liking.
There are also certain situations where the AOD will automatically turn off. For context, if your iPhone is facing down in a purse or pocket or when Low Power Mode or Sleep Focus is enabled.
AOD on Android
Unlike iPhones, which recently implemented AOD in the latest models, Always On Display has always been available on Android phones across different brands, each with its own slight variations. Typically, Android AODs are monochrome and only display the time, date, battery percentage status, and fingerprint scanner icon. For notifications, only app icons appear, unlike the full notifications shown on iPhones.
Depending on the Android device, personalization options for AOD may be limited. You can usually find these options in your phone’s Settings menu. However, AOD on Android and iPhones is not entirely different. Like iPhones, in some cases, like when your phone is facing down, in a pocket, or a bag, the AOD automatically turns off on your Android.
What else? You can disable AOD temporarily using Bedtime mode in the Clock app on Google Pixel devices. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, you can even schedule the number of hours to enable your AOD actively.
How to Turn Off the Always-On Display on iPhone and Android
While AOD is particularly useful for quickly checking essential details on your smartphone, it can sometimes feel too present. For example, with it, there are valid privacy concerns since people can read your notifications.
So, if you’re not feeling it anymore, here’s how to turn off Always On Display on your iPhone and Android devices.
On iPhone
To disable it, follow these three simple steps:
- Open your Settings app.
- Tap on Display & Brightness.
- Go to Always On and switch it off.
On Android
Samsung Galaxy
If you’re new to Androids, finding and using the AOD feature can be tricky since not all phones support it, and the customization options differ by model. To help you out, we’ve put together a set of tutorials to show you how to disable the Always On Display on various Android devices, starting with the Samsung Galaxy.
You can disable the AOD on your Samsung Galaxy phone in two ways: through the Quick Panel or the Settings menu.
Using the Settings Menu:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Lock Screen and AOD.
- Switch off the Always On Display toggle.
Through the Quick Panel:
- From the top of your screen, swipe down to open the notification shade.
- Scroll again to see all its quick settings.
- Click the “Always On Display” icon to switch it off.
Google Pixel
Here’s how to turn off the feature on any Google Pixel phone:
- Head to the Settings menu.
- From there, select Display.
- Tap on the Lock screen menu.
- Scroll down, find the switch for Always show time and info, and toggle it off.
OnePlus Phones
Keep in mind that not all OnePlus phones support Always On Display. That said, here’s how to switch AOD on and off on the models having the feature.
- Go to the Settings app on your OnePlus smartphone.
- Move to Wallpapers & Style and tap on Always On Display.
- Switch the Always On Display toggle to turn it on or off.
For extra features:
- To display music playback or delivery tracking details, click on Contextual info and choose the relevant options.
- You can also scroll down to further customize your AOD by selecting a clock theme, adding personalized Bitmojis, custom patterns, Canvas, and more.
How Does Always On Display Work on iPhones and Androids
One key challenge for phone manufacturers is to make sure that the Always-On Display (AOD) uses very little power. After all, who wants a superfluous feature that drains your battery quickly just to show basic information?
iPhone uses ProMotion display technology for AOD which adjusts the screen’s refresh rate. This describes the number of times the screen updates the image per second. Measured in hertz (Hz), a 90Hz refresh rate means the screen refreshes about 90 times each second, for instance.
ProMotion can scale this from as little as 1Hz to 120Hz. When Always On Display is active, the refresh rate drops to a very low level, like 1Hz, helping to conserve battery life.
On Android devices, AODs usually work by putting on only the specific pixels needed to display information, especially on AMOLED screens. This minimizes battery loss by avoiding lighting up the whole screen.
Some devices combine both methods, using adaptive refresh rates and selective pixel lighting to ensure the AOD uses as little power as possible.
Should I Turn On Always On Display On My Phone?
Now that you know what AOD is all about and how it works, let’s discuss whether or not it’s worth using. Sure, the Always on Display feature is a convenient way to catch important information like the time and notifications at a glance without unlocking your phone.
However, like any other feature, it has its downsides. Here are some disadvantages you should consider to decide whether it’s more beneficial to you being on or off.
Distractions
Having your screen on at all times can be a cause of distraction, especially when you’re trying to work or sleep. Even a dimly lit screen can be enough to disturb your sleep and keep you up at night. Plus, incoming notifications can easily pull your attention away from what you’re doing.
To reduce these distractions, you can set up Focus mode on your iPhone or Do Not Disturb on Androids. These features will mute notifications or dim the screen during some specific times. Hence, there will be limited interruptions.
Potential for Screen Burn-in
AODs can lead to screen burn-in, also called ghosting, especially on OLED screens. This happens when parts of the screen that display the same image for long periods (time or icons, for example) start to deteriorate and appear darker than the rest of the screen.
Battery Drain
If you leave your screen on constantly, it’s no surprise that it might lead to noticeable battery drain. The specific amount of battery power AODs use varies by phone, but it’s generally enough to be significant.
Because of their power consumption, the Always On Display feature doesn’t work with power-saving modes on both iPhones and Androids.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy issues are even more concerning on Apple devices. This is because, with AOD, your notifications are visible to anyone nearby rather than to your eyes only, even when you’re not using your phone.
This can expose your personal information and expose you to potential scams. To safeguard your privacy, you can adjust notification settings on your iPhone to show previews only “When Unlocked” or “Never,” so sensitive details aren’t always on display.
FAQs
