6 Best Always on Display Apps on Android
Whether your phone has a built-in Always On Display (AOD) depends on having an AMOLED display and if your brand offers the feature. Even then, customization options might be limited. While brands like OnePlus andSamsung offer some tweaks, you might want more designs or features. If so, here are the best Always On Display apps to personalize your Android phone’s AOD.
Table of Contents
1. AOA: Always on Display
AOA is an all-in-one Always On Display app offering everything you might want. It lets you interact with notifications, check the date and time, control your music, and use shortcuts without unlocking your phone. With it, you can:
There are multiple clock styles, ranging from simple digital and analog to dynamic clocks with background animations. You can trigger the always-on display using various methods like raise to wake, double-tap to wake, notifications, and more, so you don’t have to enable it manually.
I also like that you can back up your settings and restore them if you reset or change your phone. The only issue is in-app video ads, but you can upgrade to the Premium version to remove them and unlock additional features like Weather on AOD, Power Saver, and premium clock styles for INR 490 (about $6).
Download:AOA Always on Display
2. Always On: Edge Music Lighting (Muviz Edge)
Also known as Muviz Edge, this app is famous for itslive music visualizerthat dances around the edges of your screen as you listen to music on any app.
It’s also got avariety of Always On Display styles, including those inspired byNothing OS, Google Pixel, iOS, and Android 14. I’m particularly fond of the Nothing Phone and Pixel concentric circles, which are a major reason I keep coming back to this app.
Customization is a major plus here.You can easily tweak the clock size and the colors of the date, time, notifications, and battery status to your liking. You can even choose your own color theme or let the app automatically select one from the current music album cover.
The music visualizer itself offers multiple options for personalization. You can choose to have vibrant lights cascade around the edges or opt for sleek visual bars that move in sync with your music. It all looks neat, fancy, and instantly grabs eyeballs.
Download:Always On Edge MusicLighting
3. Standby iOS for Android
iOS 17 introduced aStandby modethat displays a nice clock, weather, photos, and other information on your iPhone lock screen while charging. Standby iOS brings a similar experience to your Android phone.
Plug in your Android phone or place it on a wireless charger, and you’ll get aneat-looking bedside or desk clock. Swipe to switch between different clock styles, calendar views, photo backdrops with time and date, and more, just like an iPhone.
You can change the colors for the background, time, date, and clock, and even use your own photo for styles that support it. The only caveat is that it’s not exactly Always On andonly appears when your phone is charging.
Download:Standby iOS Always On Display
4. NotifyBuddy
Miss the notification LED on Android phones? While the decision to bring it back rests with manufacturers, NotifyBuddy uses Always On Display technology to simulate a small, colorful LED in the top-left corner of your phone’s screen when it’s off.
Thelight glows when you receive notificationsfrom your chosen apps. you’re able to assign different colors to different apps, such as pink for Instagram, blue for Facebook, orange for Gmail, and so on.
It can alsonotify you of missed callsand automatically stops when Do Not Disturb (DND) is active. Upgrading to premium allows you to change the LED shape and have multiple LEDs for different notifications, although it’s disappointing that this feature is locked behind a paywall.
As another option, considerNotification Light for Pixel, which displays a notification light around the camera ring.
Download:NotifyBuddy
5. AmpereFlow
Are you a battery enthusiast like me and want to keep track of your battery’s charge level, temperature, and other metrics? Ampere Flow is the perfect tool for you.
It displays a large,customizable clock on your AOD screen, followed by aspeedometer that tracks your battery percentagein real time as it charges. You can also customize the date format, but displaying notifications on the AOD requires upgrading to the premium version.
Whilethe app is ad-supported, you can unlock the pro experience by watching one ad per day or opt for the premium version for a one-time payment of just INR 49 (less than $1).
Download:AmpereFlow
6. True Amps
An alternative to Ampere is TrueAmps, from the same developer as “AOA: Always on Display,” mentioned earlier in this article. It offers a similar interface with tons of customization options.
For starters, you canadd app shortcuts to the charging screen, set alerts for when your battery reaches a certain level, and change the font color and size.
There are alsoplenty of charging animations to choose from. My personal favorite is the “waves” animation, which fills the entire display with floating liquid as the battery charges.
TrueAmps shows both notifications and music controls on the lock screen, but displaying weather requires a Pro subscription. Overall, it’s a nice battery AOD app, but I’d like to see more clock and date styles in the coming updates.
Download:True Amps
7. Cometin
Cometin offers a collection of tweaks for your Android phone in the form of modules, including one for Always On Display (AOD) that allows you tocustomize and design your own. Unfortunately, it’s currently compatible only with Android 13 and older devices. Android 14 is not yet supported, and sideloading the APK will not work.
To use it, install Cometin, then add the AOD module, and grant all related permissions. you may then change the animation, show notifications (with or without icons), show the clock and date in different styles, sizes, and colors, and even show battery information. You can alsomove each of those and place it wherever you wanton the AOD screen.
Furthermore, it lets you addgestures to the ambient displayand shows weather information, all without paying a dime. This fully customizable ambient display app also brings other useful modules like app locker, Flip to shh, Pocket mode, Remap assistant, and more. It’s one of the best AOD apps for techies out there.
Download:Cometin
Apart from these apps, you’re able to also try Always On AMOLED and AOD Plus if you want simpler options.
Should You Use AOD Apps On Your Phone?
AOD apps let you check the time, notifications, and more without unlocking your phone. While your phone’s built-in AOD might offer similar features, third-party apps provide extensive customization options for clock style, size, and color. They also let you choose to display notifications, weather, or unique features like music visualization, edge lighting, and gestures.
However, these apps can drain your battery and require notification access, which might not be ideal for privacy-conscious users. Most AOD apps also lack direct fingerprint unlock support, requiring you to return to your phone’s lock screen, which can be inconvenient.
In short, there are both pros and cons to using Always On Display apps. But if you’re an Android user who truly values customization, they’re an absolute must-try.
Ritik Singh
With over 7 years of experience in tech, Ritik currently heads content at Techwiser.com. His journey started by sharing knowledge and helping others in online communities. That passion soon turned into a career in tech journalism, backed by a formal education in Electronic Media. He’s held editorial roles at GadgetsToUse and PC-Tablet, and has contributed to popular publications like HowToGeek and TheWindowsClub. With over 2,000 how-tos, reviews, and in-depth guides under his belt, Ritik has helped millions of readers get more out of their tech—from smartphones to smart homes.
