Always On Display Not Showing On IPhone? Here's Why & Fixes

Hey guys! Having trouble with the Always On Display (AOD) on your iPhone? It can be super frustrating when a feature you're excited about just doesn't seem to want to work. Let's dive into the reasons why your iPhone might not be showing the Always On Display and, more importantly, how to fix it. We'll go through everything from the most common user errors to some more technical stuff, so stick around!

Is Your iPhone Model Compatible?

First things first, is your iPhone even capable of Always On Display? This feature isn't available on all iPhones. You need an iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Older models simply don't have the necessary hardware to support this feature. So, before you tear your hair out, double-check which iPhone you have. You can quickly find this information in your iPhone's settings. Just go to Settings > General > About, and you'll see the model name listed there. If you have an older model, that's the reason AOD isn't working – it's not a bug, it's just not a feature of your phone! However, there are some workarounds for older iPhones, but they involve jailbreaking and other modifications that void the warranty and are not supported by Apple. So, if you want to experience the real Always-On Display, you might have to upgrade your current iPhone. But if you have one of the models that supports it, then read on!

Is Always On Display Actually Enabled?

Okay, so you've got the right iPhone model. Great! The next thing to check is whether the Always On Display feature is actually turned on. Sounds obvious, right? But it's easy to accidentally disable it, especially after an iOS update or if you've been fiddling with your settings. To check this: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display. Make sure the toggle is switched to the on position (it should be green). If it's off, that's your problem solved! Flick it on, and your AOD should spring to life. Also, while you're there, take a peek at the other settings on this screen. There might be options to Show Wallpaper or Show Notifications. If you've turned these off, the AOD might appear very minimal or even seem like it's not working at all. Play around with these settings to get the AOD looking exactly how you want it. Sometimes, a simple oversight like this can be the culprit, and a quick check can save you a lot of headaches. This is the most common issue that iPhone users face, so it's worth a try.

Low Power Mode: The Silent Killer of AOD

Another common reason why your Always On Display might not be showing up is Low Power Mode. When Low Power Mode is enabled, your iPhone automatically disables certain features to conserve battery life, and Always On Display is one of them. To check if Low Power Mode is on, look at your battery indicator in the top right corner of your screen. If it's yellow, Low Power Mode is enabled. You can also go to Settings > Battery to see the status and toggle it off. Turning off Low Power Mode should immediately bring your Always On Display back to life. It's a simple fix, but often overlooked. Many users enable Low Power Mode without realizing the extent of its impact on their phone's features. Low Power Mode is very useful when you are running out of battery, but make sure to disable it once you charge your phone. This is especially important if you rely on your AOD for quick glances at the time or notifications.

Focus Mode and Always On Display

Focus Modes can also interfere with Always On Display. Depending on how you've configured your Focus Modes (like Do Not Disturb, Sleep, or Work), they might be set to suppress notifications and potentially dim or disable the Always On Display to minimize distractions. To check your Focus Mode settings, go to Settings > Focus. Review each of your Focus Modes to see if any of them are configured to affect the display. You might need to customize the settings for each mode to allow Always On Display to function as expected. For example, you might want to allow certain notifications to appear even when a Focus Mode is active. This can be a bit of a balancing act – you want to minimize distractions, but you also don't want to miss important information. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for you. If you're unsure, try temporarily disabling all Focus Modes to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, then you know that one of your Focus Modes is the culprit, and you can start tweaking them one by one to find the problematic setting. Focus Modes can be useful, but they can be a bit tricky to configure.

Ambient Light Sensor Issues

Your iPhone's ambient light sensor plays a role in how Always On Display functions. If the sensor detects that the environment is very dark (like if your phone is in your pocket or face down on a table), it will turn off the Always On Display to save battery. This is by design and is intended to prevent the screen from unnecessarily lighting up when you can't see it anyway. However, sometimes the ambient light sensor can malfunction or be fooled by unusual lighting conditions. Try moving your phone to a brighter environment to see if the Always On Display comes back to life. If it does, then the ambient light sensor is likely working as intended. If it doesn't, then there might be a problem with the sensor itself. In this case, you might need to contact Apple Support or take your phone to an authorized service provider for repair. There isn't much you can do to troubleshoot the ambient light sensor yourself, so it's best to leave it to the professionals.

Software Glitches and Updates

Sometimes, the problem isn't with your settings or hardware, but with the iPhone's software. Software glitches can cause all sorts of weird behavior, including preventing Always On Display from working properly. The first thing to try is a simple restart. Turn your iPhone off completely, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. This can often resolve minor software glitches. If that doesn't work, check for software updates. Apple frequently releases updates to fix bugs and improve performance. To check for updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there's an update available, download and install it. Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery life before starting the update process. Installing the latest software can often resolve compatibility issues and other problems that might be affecting Always On Display. If the problem persists even after updating to the latest software, you might need to consider restoring your iPhone to its factory settings. This is a more drastic step, so be sure to back up your data first. To restore your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Keep in mind that this will erase everything on your phone, so make sure you have a recent backup before proceeding. Once the restore is complete, you can restore your data from the backup.

Still Not Working? Contact Apple Support

If you've tried all of the above steps and your Always On Display is still not working, then it's time to contact Apple Support. There might be a hardware issue or a more complex software problem that requires professional assistance. You can contact Apple Support through their website or by calling them. You can also take your iPhone to an Apple Store or an authorized service provider for repair. Be sure to explain all the troubleshooting steps you've already tried so that they can quickly diagnose the problem. They might be able to identify a hardware fault or offer other solutions that you haven't considered. Don't give up hope! Apple Support is there to help you get your iPhone working properly.

Conclusion

Always On Display is a cool feature, but it can be frustrating when it doesn't work as expected. Hopefully, this guide has helped you troubleshoot the problem and get your Always On Display up and running. Remember to check your iPhone model, settings, Low Power Mode, Focus Modes, ambient light sensor, and software. And if all else fails, don't hesitate to contact Apple Support. Good luck!