iPhone 14 Pro Always-On Display Not Working? Fixes

If your iPhone 14 Pro’s Always-On Display isn’t working, the fix is usually a quick settings check or a forced restart. Start by opening Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and confirm the toggle is on, then check that Low Power Mode is off, because it automatically disables the feature. If it still doesn’t appear, a forced restart often resolves the glitch.

What the Always-On Display Does

The Always-On Display (AOD) on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max keeps the Lock Screen visible at a reduced brightness and 1Hz refresh rate. It shows the time, date, widgets, and your wallpaper, dimmed so it doesn’t drain battery quickly. Unlike older phones that showed only a clock on a black screen, Apple’s version keeps your full Lock Screen layout, just darker and with the display’s refresh rate dropped to save power.

The feature works with the new LTPO OLED panel, which can drop to 1Hz. It’s designed to be glanceable without waking the phone. You can still see notifications appear in real time, and the screen will briefly brighten when you tap it or raise the phone, then return to the dim state.

Why It Stops Working

There are a few common reasons the AOD stops appearing. The most frequent is that Low Power Mode is enabled, since Apple disables the AOD when battery saver is active. Another is that the display is genuinely off because the phone is face-down in your pocket or on a table, or because the Sleep Focus mode is on, which hides the Lock Screen by default.

Low Power Mode: Turn it off in Settings > Battery.
Sleep Focus: Check Control Center or Settings > Focus to see if it’s active.
Face-down detection: The AOD turns off when the phone detects it’s face-down, to save battery.
Display sleep setting: If you set “Always On Display” to “Off” in the Lock Screen settings, it won’t show.

Step-by-Step Fixes

Work through these in order. Most people resolve it at step 1 or 2.

Check the toggle: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display. Make sure the main switch is green. Also check that both “Show Wallpaper” and “Show Notifications” are enabled if you want them.
Turn off Low Power Mode: Open Settings > Battery and toggle Low Power Mode off. The AOD will turn back on automatically.
Disable Sleep Focus: Swipe down from the top-right to open Control Center, tap Focus, and turn off Sleep. Or go to Settings > Focus > Sleep and toggle it off.
Force restart: Press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This clears temporary software glitches.
Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for a pending update that might fix bugs.
Reset all settings: If nothing works, Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t erase your data, but it will reset Wi-Fi passwords and other preferences.

Battery Life Impact

Apple claims the AOD uses about 1% battery per hour, but real-world usage varies. If you notice your battery draining faster, you can turn off the “Show Wallpaper” option, which saves the most power because the phone doesn’t have to render the full wallpaper. You can also disable “Show Notifications” if you don’t need to see them at a glance.

If you’re worried about burn-in, modern OLED panels are designed to handle static elements by shifting pixels slightly. The AOD moves the clock and widgets periodically to prevent image retention. In normal use, burn-in is unlikely within the phone’s lifetime.

Comparing With Other Phones

Unlike Android phones that typically show a black screen with white text, the iPhone 14 Pro’s AOD keeps the wallpaper visible. Some users find this distracting, especially at night. If you prefer a minimal look, you can turn off “Show Wallpaper” in the AOD settings, which leaves just the time and widgets on a black background.

Also note that the AOD only works when the phone is locked. If you’re using the phone, the display is fully on. The feature also turns off automatically when the phone is in your pocket or face-down, which is a battery-saving measure.

Common Misconceptions

One common myth is that the AOD drains battery excessively or causes burn-in. In practice, it’s designed to be efficient, and the pixel-shifting prevents burn-in. Another misconception is that the AOD is broken if the screen goes completely black after a few seconds. That’s actually the phone detecting it’s face-down or in a pocket, which is normal behavior.

If you’ve set a very short Auto-Lock time, like 30 seconds, the AOD will still appear after the screen locks. The AOD is independent of Auto-Lock. However, if you have “Raise to Wake” off and you don’t touch the phone, the AOD will still show after you lock it, so that’s not the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Always-On Display not showing the time?

If the time is missing but the wallpaper shows, check that “Show Wallpaper” is on in the AOD settings. If the entire screen is black, the phone is likely face-down or in your pocket. Turn it face-up and check again.

Does Always-On Display work with any wallpaper?

Yes, it works with any wallpaper, but the dimming effect looks different on bright versus dark images. A very bright wallpaper will still appear quite bright in AOD mode, which some users find annoying. You can turn off “Show Wallpaper” to avoid this.

Will Always-On Display cause burn-in?

Apple has implemented pixel-shifting and periodic movement to reduce the risk. In normal use, burn-in is unlikely. If you’re concerned, keep the AOD brightness low by using a dark wallpaper.

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

There’s no built-in schedule for AOD alone. However, you can create a Focus mode, like Sleep, that automatically disables the AOD when active. Set the Focus schedule in Settings > Focus.

Why does my AOD turn off when I put the phone in my pocket?

That’s intentional. The proximity sensor detects the phone is in a dark, enclosed space and turns off the display to save battery. It will turn back on when you take the phone out.

Does Low Power Mode affect Always-On Display?

Yes, Low Power Mode disables the AOD entirely to extend battery life. You’ll need to turn off Low Power Mode to get the AOD back.

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

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