The most common reason for this problem is that the display mode might be set to “Tap to show” instead of “Always on.” Another frequent cause is having power-saving mode turned on, which can quietly turn off AOD in the background to save battery. Sometimes, after a software update, your AOD settings can get reset, brightness controls may disappear, or new bugs might show up that prevent AOD from working properly. Before you start following the solutions below, restart your phone to see if the issue is just a temporary glitch. Also, check to make sure Do Not Disturb mode isn’t enabled, and that Always On Display is turned on in your phone’s settings. Set the AOD Display Mode to Show Always (Settings > Lock Screen > Always On Display > Display Mode). If Display Mode is set to a schedule, check and adjust the schedule as needed. Try enabling the Smart Lock feature (Settings > Lock Screen and Security > Secure Lock Settings > Smart Lock), then see if AOD works as expected. Also, try changing the AOD clock style if the current one seems to cause a black screen (Settings > Lock Screen > Clock Style > Always on Display).
1. Turn Off Power Saving Mode
Power Saving mode helps extend your battery life, but it can also turn off AOD to save energy. Disabling Power Saving mode may fix your problem.
2. Turn Off the Screen Saver
Screen Saver is designed to prevent screen burn-in, but if enabled, it may override AOD and display itself instead. Turning off Screen Saver may solve the problem.
3. Disable Lift to Wake
The ‘Lift to Wake’ feature turns on your display whenever you pick up your phone. Sometimes, this may interfere with AOD. Disabling Lift to Wake could fix the issue.
4. Turn Off Roaming Clock
The Roaming Clock feature shows two clocks when you’re in a different time zone, but it can interfere with AOD. Turning off Roaming Clock may help.
5. Update Bixby Routines
Bixby Routines manage many automated tasks on your phone, including AOD. If this app is out of date, AOD may not work properly. Update Bixby Routines if you’re using a newer Samsung phone (such as the Galaxy S10, S20, Note10, Z Flip, or Fold series).
6. Clear Always On Display Data
Corrupted data in the Always On Display app can stop it from working. Clearing the app’s data can resolve this.
7. Uninstall the Google Play Store Version of ‘Always On Display’
Always On Display is built into Samsung phones, but there is also an app version available on Google Play Store. Using the app version instead of your phone’s built-in feature can cause conflicts. Uninstall the Play Store version and use the one in your phone’s settings.
8. Uninstall Updates for Always On Display
Sometimes, a recent AOD update from Samsung can cause unexpected bugs. Uninstalling AOD updates can bring the app back to its original working version.
9. Reset Always On Display to Factory Defaults
If AOD’s settings or files are corrupted, resetting it to default may resolve your issue.
10. Update Your Phone’s OS
Samsung updates its operating system to fix bugs and improve compatibility. Not updating your phone can sometimes cause AOD to stop working. Updating your phone may fix the issue.
11. Uninstall Conflicting Apps
Some third-party apps may conflict with Always On Display. If you installed any new apps around the time AOD stopped working, try uninstalling them to fix the issue.
12. Reset Your Device to Factory Defaults
If none of the above solutions help, your phone’s operating system may be corrupted. Resetting your device to factory settings can often solve deep-level issues with AOD. Warning: This will erase all your data, so make sure to back up everything important and decrypt your SD card if necessary.
