Disable Always-On Display on iPhone 14 Pro

Always-On Display keeps the Lock Screen visible with the time, widgets, and wallpaper dimmed, which can drain battery or be distracting. Turning it off restores the standard behavior where the screen stays dark until you tap or raise the phone. You only need your iPhone 14 Pro (or any iPhone 14 Pro Max) with iOS 16 or later—no other tools required.

What You’ll Need

iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max
iOS 16 or later (the setting exists on all versions since launch)

Step-by-Step

Unlock your iPhone and go to the Home Screen.
Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness.
Scroll to the bottom of that menu. You’ll see a section labeled Always On Display with a toggle switch.
Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, and the preview above it will show a black screen.
Press the side button to lock your phone. The screen should stay completely dark when you’re not using it.

That’s it. The setting is global—it affects the Lock Screen, StandBy mode, and any wallpaper or widget you use. If you ever want it back, follow the same steps and turn the toggle on.

Common Mistakes

Confusing it with Raise to Wake: Turning off Always-On Display does not disable Raise to Wake. If your screen still lights up when you pick up the phone, that’s a separate setting under Settings > Display & Brightness > Raise to Wake.
Looking in the wrong menu: Some users search for “Always On” in the main Settings screen and miss it because it’s nested under Display & Brightness. It’s not under Accessibility or Battery.
Turning off only the wallpaper: In the Always On Display settings, there are options to show or hide wallpaper and notifications. If you only turn off the wallpaper toggle but leave the main switch on, the screen will still show the time and widgets. To fully disable it, turn off the main toggle.
Assuming it’s off because the screen dims: The Always-On Display intentionally dims the screen to save battery. If you see a faint clock or widgets, it’s still on.

Tips

Battery savings: Disabling Always-On Display can improve battery life, especially if you keep your phone face-up on a desk. The screen still uses power to show the clock and widgets.
Use Focus modes: If you like the feature but want it off at night, create a Sleep Focus schedule that automatically turns off the Always-On Display. Go to Settings > Focus > Sleep > Add Schedule, then in the Focus settings, tap “Always On Display” and toggle it off for that focus.
Keep notifications private: If you turn off the Always-On Display entirely, notifications won’t appear on the lock screen until you wake the phone. That’s a privacy bonus for some.
Try StandBy: Even with Always-On Display off, StandBy mode (when the phone is charging sideways) still shows a dim clock. To disable that, go to Settings > StandBy and turn off the toggle.

Troubleshooting

Screen still shows the clock after turning it off: First, make sure you toggled the main switch, not just the wallpaper or notifications sub-toggles. If it’s off but the screen still lights up when you lock it, check if Raise to Wake is on—that’s a separate feature. Also, if you have an active Focus mode (like Sleep or Do Not Disturb), it may have its own Always-On Display setting that overrides your global one. Go to Settings > Focus, select the active focus, and ensure “Always On Display” is off there too.

The setting is grayed out: This rarely happens, but if the toggle is unresponsive, restart your iPhone (press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power slider appears, then slide to power off, then turn it back on). If it persists, check for a software update under Settings > General > Software Update.

Battery still drains quickly after disabling: If you notice no improvement, other features like background app refresh, 5G, or screen brightness may be the culprit. Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps use the most power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Always-On Display affect the Lock Screen widgets?

No. Widgets still appear when you tap or raise the phone. It only stops them from being visible while the phone is idle.

Will I miss notifications if Always-On Display is off?

No. Notifications still arrive and appear on the Lock Screen when you wake the phone. They just won’t show while the screen is off.

Can I schedule Always-On Display to turn off at night?

Yes, using a Focus mode. Create a Sleep or custom Focus, then within that Focus’s settings, toggle off “Always On Display.” The feature will only be off during that Focus schedule.

Does Always-On Display cause burn-in on the OLED screen?

Apple designed it to shift pixels periodically to prevent burn-in. However, if you keep the same static wallpaper for years, there’s a small risk. Turning it off eliminates that risk entirely.

Is there a way to keep the time visible but hide the wallpaper?

Yes. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and turn off the “Show Wallpaper” toggle. The screen will show only the time and widgets on a black background.

Does the Always-On Display use a lot of battery?

It uses a small amount—typically 1-2% per hour, depending on your wallpaper and widgets. If you’re a heavy user, disabling it can add about an hour of battery life per day.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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