Guide to Mastering Always On Display

Unlock at a Glance: Your Guide to Mastering Always On Display

In today’s fast-paced world, staying informed at a glance is more valuable than ever. That’s where Always On Display (AOD) comes in handy. This convenient smartphone feature allows you to see essential information like the time, date, and notifications without fully waking your device. This article will walk you through how to use and customize AOD on popular smartphone brands, explore its benefits and drawbacks, and highlight its common uses.  

What is Always On Display?

Always-On Display is a feature available on many modern smartphones, primarily those with OLED or AMOLED screens. These screen technologies can illuminate individual pixels, allowing a portion of the screen to remain active at a low brightness level while the rest stays off. This minimal power usage enables you to see key information constantly without needing to tap or swipe to wake your phone.  

Why Use Always-On Display? Common Uses

AOD offers several practical benefits:

• Quickly Check the Time: No need to press any buttons to see what time it is.
• Stay Updated on Notifications: See at a glance if you have new messages, emails, or app alerts.
• Monitor Battery Percentage: Keep an eye on your battery level without unlocking.
• Control Music Playback: Some AOD implementations allow basic music control (pause, skip).
• View Calendar Events: Some phones display upcoming calendar appointments.  
• Personalization: Customize the look of your AOD with different clock styles, colors, and images.  

How to Enable and Customize Always-On Display

The steps to enable and customize AOD vary slightly depending on your smartphone brand. Here’s a guide for some popular options:

Always-On iPhone (iOS 16 and Later)

While iPhones don’t have a traditional “Always-On Display” with extensive customization like some Android devices, iOS 16 introduced a similar feature.

Steps to Enable:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness.
3. Scroll down and toggle the Always On option to the green “on” position.

Customization:

• With Always On enabled, your Lock Screen wallpaper, widgets, and notifications will be dimly visible when your phone is locked.
• To customize what appears on your Lock Screen (which will also be visible in the “Always On” state):
  1. Long-press on your Lock Screen.
  2. Tap Customize at the bottom.
  3. You can now edit your wallpaper, add widgets, and change the font and color of the clock.

Always-On Samsung Galaxy

Samsung has been a long-time supporter of Always On Display with extensive customization options.  

Steps to Enable:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Lock screen.
3. Tap Always On Display.
4. Toggle the switch to turn it on.

Customization:

• Tap on Always On Display (the text, not just the toggle) to access customization options. Here you can:
  • Display mode: Choose between Tap to show, Show always, or Show as scheduled.
  • Clock style: Select from various analog and digital clock faces, and customize colors.
  • Widgets: Add widgets like music controls, calendar, weather, and more.  
  • FaceWidgets: Access quick actions for certain apps.  
  • Contact information: Display your emergency contact details.
  • Themes: Download and apply custom AOD themes from the Galaxy Themes store.  
  • Show music information: Display details of the currently playing song.  
  • Auto brightness: Allow the AOD brightness to adjust automatically.

Other Popular Android Brands (e.g., Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi)

The location of the Always-On Android Display settings might vary, but the general process is similar. Here are common steps:

General Steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Look for sections like Display, Personalization, Lock Screen & Security, or similar.
3. Search for options like Always On Display, Ambient Display, or Idle Display.
4. Toggle the feature on.

Common Customization Options:

• Clock Styles: Choose from different digital and analog clock designs.
• Notification Icons: Select which app notifications are displayed.
• Ambient Display Styles (Pixel): Customize the appearance of the information.
• Themes and Colors: Personalize the look of the AOD elements.  
• Lift to Show: Some brands offer an option to briefly show the AOD when you lift your phone.
• Scheduled AOD: Set specific times when the AOD is active.

Specific Examples:

• Google Pixel: Navigate to Settings > Display > Lock screen > Always show time and info or Ambient display. You can customize clock styles and choose which notifications appear.  
• OnePlus: Go to Settings > Customization > Clock on ambient display. You can select different clock styles and choose to show notifications.  
• Xiaomi (MIUI): Find the settings under Settings > Always-on display & Lock screen > Always-on display. You’ll find various themes and customization options.

Tip: If you can’t find the setting, use the search bar within your phone’s Settings app and type “Always-On Display” or “Ambient Display.”

Pros and Cons of Using Always-On Display

Like any feature, AOD has its advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Convenience: Quick access to essential information without fully waking your phone.
• Reduced Phone Usage: You might check your phone less frequently for basic info.
• Personalization: Customize the look to match your style.
• Never Miss Important Notifications: Stay informed of incoming alerts.
• Stylish Look: Adds a modern and informative element to your locked screen.

Cons:

• Battery Drain: Keeping a portion of the screen active constantly consumes battery, although the impact is usually minimal on modern OLED displays.
• Screen Burn-in (Minor Risk): While less common on newer OLED panels with pixel shift technology, there’s a theoretical risk of static elements causing screen burn-in over a very long period.
• Distraction (Potentially): Constantly visible notifications might be distracting for some users.  
• Privacy Concerns (in some situations): Sensitive information displayed on the AOD could be visible to others.

Conclusion

Always On Display is a useful feature that enhances the convenience and information accessibility of your smartphone. By following the steps outlined for your specific device, you can easily enable and customize it to suit your needs and preferences. Weigh the pros and cons to decide if this always-available information is the right fit for your daily mobile experience.

Additional helpful information

Some details about how to brighten your phone screen – How Do I Brighten My Phone Screen?: A Step-by-Step Guide