Android · Display & Sound
Set how long the screen stays on before locking
Screen Timeout controls how many seconds or minutes of inactivity elapse before the display automatically turns off and locks, balancing convenience against battery use and security.
How to open Screen Timeout
- Open Settings
- Tap Display
- Select Screen timeout
- Choose a duration from the list
What you should know
- Offers preset durations typically ranging from 15 seconds to 30 minutes
- Some devices include an 'until manually turned off' option requiring explicit selection
- Works alongside, but separately from, Adaptive/Smart features that keep the screen on while you're looking at it
- Shorter timeouts reduce battery drain from an idle display
Why it matters
Screen timeout is a direct tradeoff between convenience and both battery life and security: a longer timeout means less frequent unlocking but more battery drained by an idle display and a longer window where an unattended, unlocked phone is accessible. Getting this setting right for your own habits, rather than leaving a manufacturer default, is one of the simplest changes that meaningfully affects both daily battery life and casual security.
Best practices
- Choose the shortest timeout you find tolerable to save battery and reduce unattended-phone exposure
- Pair a short timeout with a fast unlock method like fingerprint or face unlock to offset the inconvenience
- Use a longer timeout temporarily while following a recipe or reading, then revert afterward
- Avoid 'never turn off' settings except for specific temporary use cases, since it significantly impacts battery
Common problems and fixes
- Screen turns off too quickly while reading
- Increase the timeout duration, or check whether an adaptive 'stay awake while looking' feature is available and enabled
- Screen stays on unexpectedly long
- Confirm a development setting like 'Stay awake while charging' isn't overriding the normal timeout
- Timeout option is grayed out
- Check for a device policy from work profile management that may be enforcing a fixed timeout
Tips and tricks
- Use Settings search to jump directly to 'Screen timeout' instead of navigating the full Display menu
- Set a shorter timeout on the lock screen specifically if your device allows lock and unlock timeouts to differ
Frequently asked questions
Does screen timeout affect video playback?
No, video and media apps typically request a wake lock that keeps the screen on regardless of the timeout setting.
Is there a way to keep the screen on based on whether I'm looking at it?
Some devices offer a face-detection-based option that prevents timeout while you're actively viewing the screen.
Does a shorter timeout meaningfully save battery?
Yes, since the display is often one of the largest battery consumers, especially with brighter or larger screens.
Related settings
- Display & Dark ThemeDisplay settings control brightness, screen timeout, font size, and Dark theme — a system-wide dark color scheme that's easier on the eyes and can save battery on some screens.
- Do Not Disturb / Focus ModeDo Not Disturb silences calls, texts, and notifications while still letting you choose specific exceptions, like starred contacts or repeat callers. Android's broader Modes system extends this with presets like Bedtime and Driving, plus fully custom modes for work or focus time.
More Display & Sound guides for Android
- NotificationsNotification settings let you decide which apps can alert you, how those alerts look, and where they show up — from the lock screen to the status bar. You can manage this globally or app by app, and choose which notifications are urgent enough to break through Do Not Disturb.
- Sound & VibrationSound & Vibration settings control independent volume levels for media, ringtones, notifications, and alarms, along with vibration intensity and patterns. You can also assign custom ringtones per contact and configure haptic feedback for touch and typing.
- Game Mode / Game DashboardGame Dashboard is an overlay that appears during gameplay on supported devices, offering an FPS counter, screen recording, screenshot capture, and a one-tap Do Not Disturb toggle without leaving the game. Game Mode, accessed from the same overlay, lets you choose between prioritizing performance or battery life for that specific title.
- Font Size & Display SizeFont Size and Display Size sliders scale text and interface elements system-wide, independently of each other, so text can be enlarged for readability while overall layout density stays the same, or the entire UI can be scaled up including icons and spacing.
- Auto-Rotate ScreenAuto-Rotate uses the device's accelerometer to switch the display between portrait and landscape orientation as the device is physically turned, and can be toggled off to lock the screen to a single orientation.
- One-Handed ModeOne-Handed Mode temporarily shrinks and shifts the entire screen content down toward the bottom half of the display, making it possible to reach top corners and status bar elements with one thumb on large-screen phones.