Always On Display: Samsung Galaxy Watch On/Off

To turn the Always On Display (AOD) on or off on a Samsung Galaxy Watch, open Settings > Watch display > Always On Display and toggle the switch. You can also find the same toggle in the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone under Watch settings > Display. This setting controls whether the watch face stays visible at a reduced brightness when you lower your wrist.

What Always On Display Actually Does

When enabled, the watch keeps the screen active at all times instead of turning it off when idle. The display dims to a minimal state—often showing just the time, date, and a few complications—while still consuming power. When you raise your wrist or tap the screen, it returns to full brightness. This is different from the “wrist wake” feature, which turns the screen on only when you lift your arm.

The feature is available on all recent Galaxy Watch models (Watch 4, Watch 5, Watch 6, Watch 7, and the newer Watch Ultra), running Wear OS. Older models like the Galaxy Watch 3 and earlier (Tizen OS) also have it, but the menu path may differ slightly—look for Settings > Display > Always On Display.

Why You Might Want It On

Quick glance: You can see the time without raising your wrist—useful in meetings, while driving, or when your hands are full.
Customization: Many watch faces look great in AOD mode, showing a minimalist version that matches your style.
Consistency: Some users prefer the watch to always look “live” rather than a black void.

However, the main trade-off is battery life. AOD can reduce battery life by 15–30% depending on the watch model, screen brightness, and how often you glance at it. For a typical 40mm Galaxy Watch 6, that might mean dropping from two days to about one and a half days.

Step-by-Step: Turning AOD On or Off on the Watch

Press the Home button (the upper right button) to open the app drawer.
Tap Settings (the gear icon).
Scroll down and tap Watch display.
Tap Always On Display—it’s a toggle switch.
If you want to adjust brightness while AOD is active, go back to Watch display and tap Brightness. You can set a separate lower brightness for AOD mode.

On some models, you can also enable AOD from the quick settings panel: swipe down from the top of the watch face, tap the pencil icon to edit, and drag the AOD toggle into your quick settings.

Step-by-Step: Turning AOD On or Off via the Phone App

Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone (it’s called Galaxy Watch on newer phones).
Make sure your watch is connected via Bluetooth.
Tap Watch settings.
Tap Display.
Toggle Always On Display on or off.

Changes sync to the watch immediately. This is often easier if you find toggling on the small screen fiddly.

Common Problems and Fixes

AOD not working? If you’ve enabled it but the screen still goes black, check that Power saving mode is off. Power saving mode automatically disables AOD. Go to Settings > Battery > Power saving and turn it off.

Watch face doesn’t show AOD? Some third-party watch faces don’t support AOD or show a generic digital clock. Try a Samsung watch face or one that explicitly mentions AOD support in its description.

Battery drains too fast? If you want AOD but need longer battery, try a watch face with fewer complications, lower the brightness, or turn off raise wrist to wake (since you don’t need it if AOD is on). You can also set a schedule for AOD—on some models, you can set it to turn off during the night automatically.

Battery Impact and How to Mitigate It

Always On Display is the single biggest battery drain after the screen itself. On a typical 40mm watch, you might lose 10–20% more battery per day compared to having it off. For a 44mm or 46mm watch with a larger battery, the impact is proportionally less.

To get the best of both worlds:

Use Bedtime mode at night—it turns off AOD and notifications during your sleep hours.
Set a watch face with a black background—on AMOLED screens, black pixels are off, so AOD uses less power.
Reduce the screen timeout for full brightness—AOD kicks in after that timeout, so a shorter timeout means less time at full brightness.

Alternatives to Always On Display

If you want to glance at the time without the battery hit, try these:

Raise wrist to wake: The watch turns on when you rotate your wrist. It’s less convenient but saves battery.
Tap to wake: Tap the screen to wake it—good for when you’re sitting still.
Watch-only mode: This is a special low-power mode that shows only the time and lasts for days. It’s available on some models via Settings > Battery > Watch only mode.

These alternatives give you a quick time check without the constant screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Always On Display burn in the screen? Samsung uses pixel shifting and dimming to prevent burn-in on AMOLED screens. In practice, AOD is safe for normal use. If you keep the same watch face for years, you might see faint ghosting, but it’s rare.

Can I set a schedule for AOD? Yes, on recent models. Go to Settings > Watch display > Always On Display and tap Schedule (if available). You can set start and end times, e.g., 8 AM to 10 PM.

Why is my AOD not showing the same watch face? AOD shows a simplified version of your watch face to save power. Some faces have a dedicated AOD design; others just show a minimal digital time. This is normal.

Does AOD work with all watch faces? No. Some third-party faces don’t support AOD and will show a black screen or a default clock. Check the watch face’s description for “AOD support.”

Will AOD drain my battery overnight? Yes, if left on. Use Bedtime mode or a schedule to turn it off while you sleep. You can also enable Good night mode from the quick settings to disable AOD and notifications.

Can I turn on AOD from the quick settings panel? Yes, if you’ve added the toggle. Swipe down from the watch face, tap the pencil icon, and drag the AOD icon into your quick settings. Then you can toggle it with one tap.

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

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →