IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

Ambient display is a feature that allows you to see information such as time and notifications without pressing the power key.

How do I activate or deactivate the Ambient display?

The steps to activate the Ambient display differ depending on your operating system (OS):

Random photos are displayed when my device is in Sleep mode, Why?

You can enable or disable photo playback during Sleep mode in Settings → Display → Advanced → Lock screen preferences → Photo playback. Tap the switch beside Off or On to enable or disable photo playback.Note: This feature isn't available in Android 10 and later.

When in a car or on the train, the screen stays on even if I'm not using my device. Why?

If Ambient display is activated, the screen will be turned on when your device detects movement. Follow the steps according to your operating system to check if Ambient display is activated:

Tip: To temporarily disable Ambient display, you can cover the display or put your device in a bag or pocket.

Why does the screen stay on even if I press the power key?

If Ambient display is activated, the screen will stay turned on even when your device is in Sleep mode. You can turn off the screen temporarily by pressing the Power key. Press the key once to display the lock screen and a second time to turn off the screen temporarily.

How do I avoid showing all my photos using the Ambient display photo playback?

To avoid displaying a photo using the Ambient display photo playback, tap Album → the specific photo not to be displayed → Menu icon (three vertical dots) → Hide.

I can't swipe the screen to unlock my device. Why?

You are probably trying to swipe the Ambient display screen and not the lock screen. To unlock your device, double-tap the Ambient display screen to access the lock screen, then swipe the screen.Note: If no icons such as voice assist and camera are visible at the bottom of the screen, you are looking at the Ambient display screen and not the lock screen.

The Ambient display screen isn't turned on even if Ambient display is activated. Why?

If STAMINA mode is activated, it restricts Ambient display in order to reduce battery consumption. You can check if STAMINA mode is activated in Settings → Battery → STAMINA mode.