Android · Personalization
Show photos or clocks while charging idle
Screen saver, also called Daydream, displays a rotating photo gallery, clock, or colors on screen while the phone is docked, charging, or idle, instead of turning the display off.
How to open Screen Saver (Daydream)
- Open Settings → Display
- Tap 'Screen saver'
- Choose Clock, Photo Frame, Photo Table, or Colors
- Set the activation trigger, such as while charging or docked
What you should know
- Options include Photo Table, Photo Frame, Clock, or a blank/color screen
- Can be linked to a Google Photos album for automatic rotation
- Only activates while charging or docked by default
- Configurable trigger conditions in Display settings
Why it matters
Screen saver turns idle charging time into a useful ambient display, similar to a digital photo frame, which is popular for bedside chargers or desk docks. Because it typically only runs while the device is plugged in, it has minimal impact on battery life compared to features like Always-on Display. It's a purely optional personalization feature, but it's one of the more visible ways to make a charging phone feel intentional rather than just idle.
Best practices
- Select a specific photo album rather than 'all photos' to avoid unwanted images appearing
- Use Clock mode on nightstands for a bedside-clock effect
- Pair with a dim brightness setting to avoid light pollution at night
Common problems and fixes
- Screen saver never activates
- Confirm it's enabled and check the 'While charging' or 'While docked' trigger conditions in Display settings.
- Wrong photos appear in the rotation
- Change the source album to a curated album instead of the full camera roll.
- Screen saver stays on and won't dim
- Adjust screen timeout and brightness settings, since screen saver overrides normal sleep timing while active.
Tips and tricks
- Use Photo Table mode for a more dynamic, animated slideshow effect
- Set a dedicated 'screensaver' album synced from Google Photos for consistent content
Frequently asked questions
Does screen saver use extra battery?
It runs almost exclusively while charging, so its impact on battery percentage is minimal.
Can I set a screen saver instead of full screen lock?
No, screen saver only shows on top of an idle unlocked state and does not replace the lock screen.
How do I exit the screen saver?
Tap the screen or press the power button to return to normal use.
Related settings
- Always-on Display CustomizationAlways-on Display (AOD) keeps a low-power version of the clock, notification icons, and optional 'At a Glance' info visible on the lock screen even when the phone is idle.
- Wallpaper & StyleWallpaper & Style settings let you set separate images for your Home and lock screens, and on many devices, generate a matching system-wide color palette, icon shapes, and fonts based on your wallpaper's colors. Theme packs can bundle wallpapers, icons, and sounds together for a coordinated look.
- Google Photos BackupGoogle Photos backup automatically uploads your camera roll to your Google Account, so photos and videos survive a lost, broken, or replaced phone and stay accessible across all your devices.
More Personalization guides for Android
- Home Screen & LauncherHome screen settings control which apps, shortcuts, and widgets appear on your Home screens, how many screens you have, and the overall grid layout. If you've installed a third-party launcher, this is also where you switch your default Home app.
- Lock Screen & Always-on DisplayLock screen settings control the clock style, shortcuts, and what information (like notifications and weather) appears before you unlock your phone. Always-on display, on supported devices, keeps a dimmed version of the clock and key notifications visible even while the screen is otherwise off.
- Themed Icons & Material You ColorsThemed icons use Material You to extract a color palette from your current wallpaper and apply matching tints to supported app icons, widgets, and system menus.
- App Icon Shape & Grid SizeControls the outline shape used for app icons (circle, squircle, square, teardrop) and the number of rows and columns shown on the home screen grid.
- Quick Settings Tile CustomizationLets you add, remove, and reorder the toggle tiles shown in the Quick Settings panel accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen.
- Notification Dot StyleNotification dots place a small colored badge on an app icon when it has an unread notification; this setting controls whether dots appear and how they're styled.