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Customize an always-on lock screen with glanceable info, interactive widgets, and smart behavior controls

Customize an always-on lock screen with glanceable info, interactive widgets, and smart behavior controls

Vote (5 votes)

Program license Free

Developer Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Version 4.2.51.3

Works under Android

Also known as Samsung Always On Display

Vote

(5 votes)

Developer

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Works under

Android

Program license

Free

Version

4.2.51.3

Also known as

Samsung Always On Display

Pros

  • Shows time, date, battery level, missed calls, and notifications while the main screen is off
  • Multiple clock styles, including digital, analog, world, and Edge clocks
  • Extensive visual customization with colors, wallpapers, Gallery images, and Smart Select content
  • Supports custom text, memos, app notification indicators, and song information
  • Interactive widgets for music, weather, schedule/calendar, alarms, Digital Wellbeing, and Bixby Routines
  • Flexible behavior with always-on, scheduled, and tap-to-show modes plus brightness control
  • Distinguishes intentional taps from accidental contact in a pocket or bag

Cons

  • Static elements on OLED screens can contribute to potential burn-in over time
  • Available only on supported Samsung Galaxy smartphones
  • Highly populated layouts can feel visually busy if too many widgets are enabled

The Samsung Always On Display app is a system tool for select Samsung Galaxy phones that keeps key information visible even while the main screen is off. It suits Galaxy owners who want quick, glanceable updates instead of repeatedly waking and unlocking their device.

Glanceable information on a dark screen

At its core, Always On Display presents a low-power screen that stays visible when your phone is locked. You can see the time, date, battery level, missed calls, notification indicators, and other essentials without touching the power button. Depending on how you configure it, this panel can remain visible any time the screen is off, appear only during certain hours, or show up after a tap.

Clock faces and visual customization

The clock is the centerpiece of the experience, and Samsung offers several styles. You can pick from digital layouts, analog faces, a world clock, or Edge-style clocks that sit along the sides of the display. Colors and wallpapers are adjustable, so you can match the look to your taste.

If you want something more personal, you can set images from your Gallery or use Smart Select content as the background. The app also supports custom text, the current date, battery status, app notification indicators, and song information. An optional Active Clock mode adds a moving second hand, giving the AOD screen a watch-like feel.

Interactive widgets and pinned notes

Always On Display is not limited to static information. Double-tapping the clock area opens small widgets directly from the AOD screen, letting you interact without fully unlocking the phone.

Available widgets include music controls, weather updates, schedule information, alarms, Digital Wellbeing, and Bixby Routines. You decide which of these elements appear, so the panel can be kept very simple or turned into a compact dashboard showing the details you check most often.

The app also lets you pin memos and notes, turning the AOD screen into a constant reminder board for important items. Combined with custom text and song information, this makes the feature useful not only for quick status checks but also for keeping key reminders in view.

Behavior controls and accidental touch handling

Behavior is managed through the phone’s regular settings. You can choose whether AOD is active whenever the display is off, limit it to specific time ranges, or rely mainly on tap-based activation. Brightness is adjustable as well, so you can tune the always-on panel to be readable without being overly bright in darker situations.

One practical advantage is how the app handles touch input. It can tell the difference between an intentional tap and pressure from your pocket or backpack, which helps avoid unintended activations when the phone is being carried.

Depth of customization in daily use

Between clock designs, backgrounds, and widgets, Samsung Always On Display offers a wide degree of personalization. You can keep the layout minimal, showing only time and battery level, or add more data such as weather, your agenda or calendar items, music playback information, Bixby Routines, Digital Wellbeing summaries, alarms, and notifications. This flexibility makes the tool adaptable to different habits, from users who just need a quick glance at the time to those who like a compact overview of their day.

Screen burn-in considerations

Because Always On Display keeps certain elements on screen for extended periods, there is a potential risk of screen burn-in on OLED panels. The app uses mostly static elements, so users who are concerned about long-term image retention may want to rely on scheduling or tap-only activation rather than having the AOD panel visible all the time.

Who will appreciate Samsung Always On Display

Samsung Always On Display is especially appealing to Galaxy users who frequently check their phones for the time, battery status, or notifications and prefer to do so with minimal interaction. Those who already make use of Samsung’s ecosystem features, such as Digital Wellbeing and Bixby Routines, gain extra value from the integrated widgets and quick access. Users who are cautious about OLED burn-in or who prefer a completely blank screen when the device is locked may choose a more limited setup or turn it off, but for many, it can significantly streamline day-to-day phone use.

Pros

  • Shows time, date, battery level, missed calls, and notifications while the main screen is off
  • Multiple clock styles, including digital, analog, world, and Edge clocks
  • Extensive visual customization with colors, wallpapers, Gallery images, and Smart Select content
  • Supports custom text, memos, app notification indicators, and song information
  • Interactive widgets for music, weather, schedule/calendar, alarms, Digital Wellbeing, and Bixby Routines
  • Flexible behavior with always-on, scheduled, and tap-to-show modes plus brightness control
  • Distinguishes intentional taps from accidental contact in a pocket or bag

Cons

  • Static elements on OLED screens can contribute to potential burn-in over time
  • Available only on supported Samsung Galaxy smartphones
  • Highly populated layouts can feel visually busy if too many widgets are enabled