If your phone’s battery is running out quicker than you can charge it, don’t worry, you’re not alone. You plug it in at night, wake up to 100%, and by lunchtime, it’s already begging for the charger.
Sound familiar? Well, the reason might be sitting right in front of you. It’s called the Always-On Display (AOD).
Now, AOD sounds helpful. It keeps part of your screen lit even when your phone is locked, showing you the time, notifications, or whatever you’ve set it to.
But here’s the thing—just because it’s dim doesn’t mean it’s not using power. It’s like leaving a light on all day. Even a little light drains energy.
So, why should you care? Because a dead phone in the middle of the day is just plain annoying.
Whether you’re in the middle of a call, trying to navigate somewhere, or snapping a photo, you don’t want your battery to give up on you.
The good news? You can fix this. And it’s super easy. Let’s walk through what’s going on and how to turn off AOD to save that precious battery life.
Why is Always-On Display draining your battery?
1. AOD keeps your screen alive even when it’s locked
You probably like seeing the time or notifications without touching your phone. That’s what Always-On Display is for. It keeps a part of your screen lit up all the time.
But guess what? That means your screen is never truly off. And screens? They’re battery-hungry.
Even if it looks like it’s barely lit, your phone is still using power to keep that screen active. Over time, it adds up. That’s energy your phone could be saving for things you actually use.
2. You might not even need it
Let’s be honest—do you really check it that often? A lot of us turn on AOD thinking it’s cool, but then barely look at it.
Meanwhile, it’s quietly draining the battery. If you’re not using it much, it’s probably better to just switch it off.
3. You’re not the only one dealing with this
So many people face this issue. You’re not doing anything wrong. AOD is turned on by default in many phones, and it’s easy to forget it’s even there.
But once you know it’s a battery drainer, you can take action. Turning it off could be that simple fix you’ve been looking for.
Let’s move on to how you can actually switch it off and get your battery life back.
How to turn off Always-On Display and save battery
Alright, now that we know AOD can be a sneaky battery killer, let’s go ahead and shut it down.
It only takes a few taps. Whether you’ve got an Android or an iPhone, I’ve got you covered.
#1 Turning off AOD on Android
Most Android phones come with AOD turned on by default. But turning it off is pretty easy.
Let’s do it together:
- Open Settings: Tap the gear icon on your home screen or app drawer.
- Go to Display: Scroll until you see “Display” and tap it.
- Tap Always-On Display: You’ll find a toggle here. Just switch it off.
That’s it. Your screen will now stay off when locked, and your battery will get a little break.
#2 Turning off AOD on iPhone
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or newer, you’ve got AOD too. And yes, it can drain battery just like on Android.
Here’s how to turn it off:
- Open Settings: Tap the gear icon.
- Tap Display & Brightness: Scroll and find this option.
- Switch off Always-On Display: You’ll see a toggle—tap it to turn AOD off.
Done! Your iPhone will now save power by not lighting up the screen when it’s locked.
#3 Quick toggle method on Android
Want to turn it off even faster? You can do that right from your home screen.
Here’s what to do:
- Swipe down: Pull down the top of your screen to open the quick settings panel.
- Find AOD icon: Look for one that says AOD or Always-On Display.
- Tap to turn it off: That’s it. One tap and you’re saving battery.
Now that AOD is off, let’s talk about a few more things you can do to stretch your battery even further.
More tips to make your battery last longer
We’ve taken care of AOD, but there are other small changes you can make that add up to big battery savings. Let’s go through them one by one.
1. Adjust your screen brightness
You don’t always need your screen at full brightness. Lowering it can really help your battery.
- Slide it down: Open your quick settings or go into Display settings and adjust the brightness slider.
Your eyes will adjust, and your battery will thank you.
2. Limit background apps
Some apps keep running even when you’re not using them. They check for updates, send push notifications, and drain your battery.
Do this:
- Open Settings: Go to “Battery”.
- See what’s running: Check which apps are using the most battery.
- Stop or restrict them: Close or limit the ones you don’t need running in the background.
Think of it like closing extra tabs on your computer. It makes everything run smoother.
3. Turn on power-saving mode
Your phone has a built-in feature to help save battery when you need it most.
Here’s how to turn it on:
- Open Settings: Go to “Battery”.
- Tap Power Saving Mode: Switch it on.
This can turn off background activity, reduce brightness, and limit performance just enough to stretch your battery without slowing you down too much.
4. Reduce screen timeout
If your screen stays on too long after you stop using it, that’s wasted battery.
Here’s what you can do:
- Go to Display Settings: Find “Sleep”.
- Set it to 30 seconds: That’s usually enough.
Shorter timeout = more battery saved.
5. Keep your phone updated
Software updates aren’t just for new features. They often include battery optimizations.
- Go to Settings: Tap “System” or “General”.
- Tap Software Update: If there’s an update, install it.
Keeping your phone updated helps it run better and longer.
6. Turn off location services when not needed
GPS uses a lot of battery, especially if it’s running in the background.
You can turn it off like this:
- Open Settings: Tap “Location”.
- Toggle it off: Or just turn it off for apps that don’t need it.
Only turn it back on when you actually need directions or tracking.
7. Uninstall unused apps
Got apps you never use? They might still be running in the background.
- Open your app drawer: Look for apps you haven’t touched in weeks.
- Tap and hold: Select “Uninstall”.
Fewer apps = less background activity = more battery.
The takeaway
So, what have we learned? If your phone battery is draining too fast, the Always-On Display could be one of the main reasons.
It may look helpful, but it quietly keeps your screen lit and eats up power. Turning it off gives your battery a break—and your phone a chance to last all day.
On top of that, managing screen brightness, closing background apps, and enabling power-saving mode can make a big difference too. These little tweaks don’t take much time, but they go a long way.
A lot of people think features like AOD don’t use much battery. But now you know better. Try these tips today and see how much longer your phone lasts.
Got your own battery-saving trick? Or did one of these tips work wonders for you? Go ahead and drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!
