Customize iPhone 14 Pro Always-On Display: Step-by-Step

This guide walks you through every option for customizing the Always-On display on your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max. You’ll learn how to show or hide the wallpaper, notifications, and other elements, and how to schedule the display to turn off automatically at night. No special tools are needed—just your iPhone and a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

• iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16 or later (the steps are the same for iOS 17 and 18).
• Your passcode or Face ID to access Settings.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your Home Screen or in your App Library.
2. Go to Display & Brightness. Scroll down and tap “Display & Brightness.”
3. Tap “Always On Display.” It’s near the top, just below “Auto-Lock.”
4. Toggle “Always On Display” on. If it’s already green, leave it. This is the master switch—everything else only works when this is on.
5. Choose what to show. You’ll see three toggles (depending on your iOS version):
   • Show Wallpaper: When on, your lock screen wallpaper appears dimmed. Turn it off for a cleaner, more minimal look that also saves battery.
   • Show Notifications: When on, notification icons and banners appear. Turn it off if you find them distracting or want more privacy.
   • Show Time: This is always on and cannot be turned off—the time is the core of the Always-On display.
6. Adjust the lock screen appearance. To change how the dimmed wallpaper looks, you need to edit your lock screen itself:
   • Press the side button to wake your iPhone, then long-press the lock screen until the customization screen appears.
   • Tap “Customize” and then tap the lock screen (the left thumbnail).
   • Change the wallpaper, add widgets, or change the font. These changes will appear in the Always-On display when “Show Wallpaper” is on.
7. Set a schedule (optional). If you don’t want the display on all night, go to Settings > Focus > Sleep (or any Focus you use at night). In the Focus settings, tap “Options” and enable “Dim Lock Screen.” This will turn off the Always-On display when that Focus is active. Alternatively, you can just toggle off “Always On Display” manually before bed.
8. Exit Settings. Press the side button to lock your phone and check the result. The display should show the time, any widgets you added, and—if enabled—your wallpaper and notifications, all dimmed.

Common Mistakes

• Turning off the master switch accidentally. If you toggle “Always On Display” off at the top, none of your other settings matter. Make sure it’s green.
• Expecting the display to stay on when the phone is face down. The Always-On display automatically turns off when your iPhone is face down, in your pocket, or in a bag. This is a battery-saving feature, not a glitch.
• Thinking you can hide the time. The time is always shown—Apple doesn’t allow you to remove it. If you want a completely blank display, you’ll need to turn off Always-On entirely.
• Forgetting that Focus modes override settings. If you have a Focus scheduled (like Sleep), it may dim or turn off the display even when you want it on. Check your Focus settings.
• Using a wallpaper that’s too bright. The dimming effect is subtle on some bright wallpapers. Choose a darker wallpaper for a more subtle Always-On look.

Tips

• Save battery: Turn off “Show Wallpaper” and “Show Notifications.” The display will only show the time and any widgets, which uses significantly less power.
• Use a minimal lock screen: Create a lock screen with a solid black wallpaper and no widgets. This looks almost like an OLED “black” mode and is very battery-friendly.
• Add widgets that update frequently: The Always-On display updates widgets periodically. If you use a weather widget, it will show the current temperature without waking your phone.
• Use a Focus for nighttime: Create a “Sleep” Focus that turns on automatically at bedtime. In that Focus, enable “Dim Lock Screen” to turn off the Always-On display automatically.
• Check battery usage: If you notice your battery draining faster, go to Settings > Battery and see if “Always On Display” is listed under “Battery Usage By App.” If it’s high, consider disabling wallpaper or notifications.

Troubleshooting

• The display isn’t staying on. First, make sure “Always On Display” is toggled on in Settings > Display & Brightness. Then check if your phone is face down or in a pocket—it will turn off. Also, check if Low Power Mode is on: Low Power Mode disables Always-On display automatically. To turn it off, go to Settings > Battery and toggle off Low Power Mode.
• The wallpaper isn’t showing when Always-On is on. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and make sure “Show Wallpaper” is toggled on. Also, if you have a Focus with “Dim Lock Screen” enabled, that will override this setting.
• Notifications aren’t appearing. Check that “Show Notifications” is on in the Always-On settings. Also, make sure your notification settings for the specific app are set to show on the lock screen (Settings > Notifications > [App] > Lock Screen).
• The display is too bright at night. You can’t adjust the brightness of the Always-On display directly—it’s fixed. But you can turn off “Show Wallpaper” to reduce glare, or use a Focus to turn it off entirely during sleep hours.
• After updating iOS, the display looks different. Apple occasionally tweaks the Always-On appearance. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and re-check your toggles—sometimes they reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Always-On display cause burn-in?
A: Apple designed the display to shift pixels slightly over time to prevent burn-in. In normal use, burn-in is highly unlikely. If you notice any ghosting, restart your iPhone.

Q: Can I set a schedule for the Always-On display?
A: There’s no built-in schedule. However, you can use a Focus (like Sleep) with “Dim Lock Screen” enabled to automatically turn it off during certain times.

Q: Why is my Always-On display off when I’m not using my phone?
A: The display turns off when the iPhone is face down, in a pocket, or in a bag. It also turns off when Low Power Mode is enabled. If none of those apply, check the master switch in Settings.

Q: Can I remove the time from the Always-On display?
A: No. The time is always shown—it’s the primary function of the feature. You can only hide the wallpaper and notifications.

Q: Will the Always-On display work with any wallpaper?
A: Yes, any wallpaper will work. However, dark wallpapers look better and use less battery because the display dims them further.

Q: Does the Always-On display show the battery percentage?
A: Not by default. You can add a Battery widget to your lock screen, and it will appear on the Always-On display as long as you have “Show Wallpaper” on (or even without it, if you have widgets enabled).

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