Always On Display is NOT always on

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StuartV Author

Level 1

9 points

Always On Display is NOT always on

I just switched from an Android phone to my first iPhone - a 14 Pro Max.

I have the Always On Display setting set to Enabled. Low Power mode is off.

When I put my phone on the charger at my bedside, the screen eventually turns completely off.

I found this article which appears to document this behavior:

Use Always-On display with your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max - Apple Support (IN)

In part, that link says that Always-On display goes dark when: "You haven't used your iPhone for a while (your iPhone learns your activity patterns and turns the display off and on accordingly, including if you set up an alarm or sleep schedule)"

So, my question is WHAT. THE. HECK??!?

Why is it called Always On if it's not ALWAYS ON?

If I wanted my display to turn off when I'm not using it, I would turn the Always On setting to Disabled!

I put my phone on a wireless charging stand that holds it propped up on my nightstand. When I wake up in the middle of the night and want to know what time it is, I want to just look over at my phone and see the time. Like I did with my last several Android phones - which actually DID have Always On Displays.

I do not want to have to move and/or roll over, reach out, and tap on the screen or find a button and press it.

When the Always On setting is set to Enabled, I want the display to be On. ALWAYS.

Is there a way to make my phone work like that?

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Feb 23, 2023 06:12 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2025

Level 10

226,666 points

Feb 23, 2023 06:16 PM in response to StuartV

Your phone works the way it was designed, and you have read what that is. You can give Apple feedback about how you would like it to work→Product Feedback - Apple

My guess is that they got lots of complaints when it was first released; “Why does the !@$%^$ screen stay on all night and keep me awake!"

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Answer 2

StuartV Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 23, 2023 07:02 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thank you.

I submitted a Bug Report - with the mention that just because it is documented does not mean it is not a bug. It just means it's a documented bug. Or false advertising. I'm sure I'll be duly ignored, but at least getting it off my chest made me feel a little better.

If it works as intended, they should call it "Mostly On Display". Samsung phones have an Always On Display. My iPhone (apparently) does not.

I apologize for sounding so grumpy. Google, as a company, really became intolerable to me. Switching to an iPhone was my last step in completely eliminating Google from my personal life. But, dang! So far, my iPhone just is not as easy or intuitive to use as my Android phones were. And, no, it's not because it's new to me. I've had an iPad and a Macbook Pro Retina for years. The iPad pretty much has the same issues, but not as bad since I don't use it as an actual phone - nor do I use it nearly as much as I use my phone.

The pain of switching to an iPhone is what has been making me grumpy. Again, I apologize for being grumpy to you who are just trying to help.

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Answer 3

Wenon

Level 1

13 points

Mar 7, 2023 02:27 PM in response to StuartV

I couldn't agree more and understand your frustration. The name is misleading, I hate when the program tries to decide when it should run for me. As I want Always on as the name suggests, it is to be always on as in samsungs.

My phone is currently on the desk next to me with the screen up with Always on on and guess what, the screen went blank.. I also don't want the screen to turn off at night. Of course I reported it as a bug.

Take care and I hope that someday the programmers will take pity and give us the option to keep Always On on

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Answer 4

Feb 26, 2023 11:00 PM in response to StuartV

I agree with what you say. Apple should put in a real mode to make the display always on

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Always On Display is NOT always on

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