Set up a screen saver

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

Important: Some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up. Learn how to update your Android version.

Set up a screen saver

Turn your screen saver off

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen saver.
3. Turn Use screen saver on or off.

Set your screen saver

Step 1: Choose what your screen saver shows

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen saver.
3. Under "Choose a screen saver," tap an option:
   • Clock: Find a digital or analog clock. To choose your clock or switch between light and dark mode, next to "Clock," tap Settings .
   • Home Controls: Quickly access your home controls.
   • Photos: Find photos and albums from the Photos app. To choose your source or change the settings, next to "Photos," tap Settings .
   • Pixel Weather: Find weather information.
   • Other apps: If you've downloaded an app that works with your screen saver, you'll find it listed.

Step 2: Manage when your screen saver shows

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen saver When to show.
3. Tap While charging or While upright and charging.

Tip: You can also turn on Restrict to wireless charging.

Step 3: Test your screen saver

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

Step 4: Manage low light behavior

When your room gets dark, screen saver can switch to a low light clock or turn off the screen. To customize these settings:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen saver Low light mode.

Tip: By default, when your environment is dim, screen saver transitions to a low light clock.

Create a custom screen saver for charging

When your phone is charging with a Pixelsnap Charger or Pixel Stand 1st and 2nd gen and you’re not using it, you can make a custom screen saver to show:

• A clock
• Your photos
• Home controls

To use this feature:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen saver.
3. Turn on Use screen saver.
4. Choose the settings you want.

Tip: If you have a Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, you’ll get a set up message the first time you charge with a Pixelsnap Charger.

Choose when your screen times out

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

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Display & touch Screen timeout.
3. Choose any of the following.
   • A duration:
     • 15 seconds
     • 30 seconds
     • 1 minute
     • 2 minutes
     • 5 minutes
     • 10 minutes
   • A menu option:
     • Adaptive timeout: Automatically turns off your screen if you're not using your device.
     • Screen attention: Prevents your screen from turning off if you’re looking at it.

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.

Related resources

• Manage screen and display settings
• Change your wallpaper
• Project your screen