Set up a screensaver

Your phone's screen saver can show photos, colourful backgrounds, a clock and more when your phone is charging or docked.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

The Pixel battery continuously learns your behaviours and optimises itself based on your most recent app usage. When you set up a new device or after a factory reset, optimisation may take up to a few weeks to take full effect. For best results keep Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimisation on.

It's normal for your Pixel battery to drain a little more than usual after a software update. This is because the phone is working hard to download and optimise the new software and get everything up and running.

If you still experience unusual battery drain after a few days, please let us know and we'll be happy to help.

Turn your screen saver off

While charging, docked or both:

While on the screen saver settings, tap When to start. If you don't see 'When to start', tap More When to start.
Tap While charging, While docked or While charging or docked. Docked means that your phone is connected to a dock, a type of phone accessory.

Set your screen saver

Step 1: Choose what your screen saver shows

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display Screen saver.
Under 'Choose a screen saver', tap an option:
- Clock: See a digital or analogue clock. To choose your clock or make your screen less bright, next to 'Clock', tap Settings .
- Colours: See changing colours on your screen.
- Photos: See photos from the Photos app. To choose your source or change the settings, next to 'Photos', tap Settings .
- Other apps: If you've downloaded an app that works with your screen saver, you'll see it listed.

Step 2: Choose when your screen saver shows

While charging, docked or both:

While on the screen saver settings, tap When to start. If you don't see 'When to start', tap More When to start.
Tap While charging, While docked or While charging or docked. Docked means that your phone is connected to a dock, a type of phone accessory.

Step 3: Test your screen saver

To see what your screen saver will look like, tap Use screen saver.

Choose when your screen times out

After you've set your screen saver, you'll see it when your phone screen times out. To change how long it takes for your phone to time out:

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display Screen timeout.
Choose an option.

Tip: If you turn off your phone with the power button, your screen saver won't start. Instead, leave your screen on so that your phone times out on its own.