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How to turn Always On Display on or off on a Samsung Galaxy phone

By Updated 15 November 20263 min read

Devices: Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0) and Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5) · Checked November 2026

Real screenshot · Galaxy S26, One UI 9.0

In short

Open Settings, Lock screen and AOD, Always On Display and tap the switch. When to show sets whether it appears always, only when you tap the screen, on a schedule, or for new notifications. Samsung says you can't use it while any Power saving mode is switched on.

You glance at the phone and the time is just there. That is Always On Display: it shows the time, date and notifications on the dark screen while the phone is locked.

5 of 5 steps show a real screenshot from our Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0) and Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5).

Steps

0 of 5 steps
  1. 1

    Open Always On Display

    Open Settings, tap Lock screen and AOD, then Always On Display. Samsung also gives a second way: search Settings for Always On Display.

    Android screenshot: Open Always On Display
  2. 2

    Switch it on or off

    Tap the switch next to Always On Display. On means the clock shows on the dark screen. On our Galaxy S26 it was on.

    Android screenshot: Switch it on or off
  3. 3

    Open When to show

    Tap Always On Display itself to open its page. On our Galaxy S26 the page has the switch at the top, a preview of the clock, then Show Lock screen wallpaper, Erase background, Show Now bar and When to show, which read Tap to show. Tap When to show.

    Android screenshot: Open When to show
  4. 4

    Choose when to show it

    On our Galaxy S26 it was set to Tap to show. The other choices are Auto, Always, As scheduled and For new notifications. Under Auto, the phone says it shows all the time unless it detects that you are sleeping, that it is face down, or that it is in a dark place and has not moved for at least 5 minutes.

    Android screenshot: Choose when to show it
  5. 5

    Check Power saving

    Samsung says Always On Display can't be used while a Power saving mode is switched on. Check Settings, Battery, Power saving. On our Galaxy A57 it was Off, and the Power saving page itself does not mention the Always On Display.

    Android screenshot: Check Power saving

If you do not see this option

If this does not work

  • Not on the Cover screen of a Z Flip Samsung says the Always On Display is not available on the Cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip series.
  • The switch has no effect Turn off Power saving first, because Samsung says the Always On Display is not available in a Power saving mode.
  • It disappears in your pocket? If When to show is set to Auto, that is expected. Samsung says Auto hides the display when the phone is in a purse or pocket. Choose Always if you want it on all the time.
  • Cannot find Clock style? Samsung says that from One UI 6, the Always On Display simply borrows the Lock screen's clock style. Extra Always On Display styles can be downloaded from Themes, AODs.

Good to know

To stretch the battery further: how to turn on Power saving on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Samsung notes you can turn the Always On Display off if you want to save some battery power. Tap to show or As scheduled are a middle way, because the screen stays fully dark most of the time. To change what it looks like rather than when it shows, see how to customise the Always On Display.

Watch these steps

Video thumbnail: How to turn Always On Display on or off on a Samsung Galaxy phoneWatch on YouTubeThe same steps, recorded on our Galaxy S26 · opens YouTube

About this guide

Device
Android
Shown on
Samsung Galaxy S26 (SM-S942N, Korean model), One UI 9.0, Android 17 (build CP2A.260605.016.S942NKSU5BZJB), Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16
App
Settings
Path
Settings › Lock screen and AOD
Real screenshots
5 of 5 steps
Checked
November 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

The screenshots are from a Samsung Galaxy S26 with One UI 9.0 and Android 17, apart from the last, from our Galaxy A57 with One UI 8.5. Samsung says which screens and settings you see can depend on your network, software version and phone model.

Sources

Links checked November 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

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