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On a Pixel, open Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver, turn on Use screen saver, choose what to display, and set when it should appear. The screen saver runs after the display times out while the phone is charging (or while it is upright and charging), and you can preview it without waiting. Google’s current instructions are in Pixel Phone Help; menu names and available choices can vary by Android version, Pixel model, and charging setup.
What the Pixel screen saver does
Google’s screen saver is a charging or docked display, not the lock screen wallpaper. When the phone remains on a charger and the screen times out, it can show a clock, photos, weather, home controls, colorful backgrounds, or content supplied by a compatible installed app. It is useful as a bedside clock, a desk display, a rotating photo frame, or a quick way to reach smart-home controls without unlocking the phone.
The feature is configured in one place: Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver. That page controls whether the feature is enabled, which screen saver is selected, the charging condition that triggers it, low-light behavior, and the preview. Some controls described by Google are available only on Android 14 and later, so an older Pixel may show fewer choices.
Set up a screen saver step by step
1. Open the Screen saver settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Display & touch.
- Tap Screen saver.
If you cannot find the entry, use the Settings search field for “screen saver.” The wording is two words in Google’s menu, even though some people write “screensaver.”
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2. Turn on the feature
Turn on Use screen saver. This enables the feature but does not force it to appear immediately. The phone still has to meet the condition selected under When to show, and the display must time out normally.
3. Choose the content
Under Choose a screen saver, tap the type you want. The choices shown on your Pixel depend on its software, model, permissions, and installed compatible apps.
4. Choose when it appears
Open When to show and select one of the available charging conditions:
- While charging: The screen saver can start whenever the phone is charging and the display has timed out.
- While upright and charging: The phone must be both charging and positioned upright. This is useful on a stand and prevents the display from appearing when the phone is lying flat.
Google also documents an optional Restrict to wireless charging setting. When that control is available, enabling it prevents the screen saver from starting on a wired charger and limits it to wireless charging sessions.
5. Preview the result
Tap Use screen saver to preview the selected design. Previewing is the fastest way to check the clock style, photo source, weather information, and brightness behavior before leaving the phone on its charger.
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Choose and configure each screen saver type
Clock
Select Clock to use the Pixel as a simple charging clock. You can choose a digital or analog design. Depending on the Pixel and Android release, the clock settings also include a light or dark appearance. Pick the style that remains legible from your usual viewing distance; a dark style is generally less distracting at night, while a light style is easier to read in a bright room.
Changing the clock style affects the screen saver, not the clock shown on the lock screen or the clock app. Use the preview after each change so you can see how the selected face looks at the actual charging position.
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Select Photos, then use the control beside Photos to choose the photo source or change its settings. The exact source list can differ by device and software. If images do not appear, check that the selected source contains photos and that the Photos app has the access it requests.
Photos are best suited to a phone that stays on a desk or bedside stand. Remember that the screen saver is still an illuminated display: use the low-light setting described below if a bright photo rotation is disruptive at night.
Home Controls
Home Controls puts supported smart-home controls on the charging display. It is intended for quick access while the phone is docked. The controls available on screen depend on the smart-home devices and accounts already configured on the phone; the screen saver does not create those devices by itself.
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Pixel Weather
Pixel Weather displays weather information while the screen saver is running. Real-time weather updates require location permission set to Always allow. If that permission is missing or limited to another setting, the weather screen saver may omit current details or fail to update.
To correct missing weather data, open the phone’s app-permission settings, locate the relevant Google weather or location component, and grant the requested location access. Then return to Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver and preview the screen saver again.
Other apps
Compatible apps installed on the phone can appear under Other apps. Android decides which apps are eligible; installing an arbitrary app does not guarantee that it will be listed. If an app is not shown, update the app and Android when updates are available, then check the Screen saver page again.
Make sure the screen saver actually starts
Let the screen time out
The screen saver starts after the display times out. Set the delay at Settings > Display & touch > Screen timeout. Google lists these timeout choices:
| Screen timeout option | What it controls |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | Turns the display off quickly when there is no interaction. |
| 30 seconds | Uses a short idle period before the screen saver can start. |
| 1 minute | Waits one minute after the last interaction. |
| 2 minutes | Waits two minutes after the last interaction. |
| 5 minutes | Waits five minutes after the last interaction. |
| 10 minutes | Waits ten minutes after the last interaction. |
| Adaptive timeout | Adjusts timeout behavior using the phone’s adaptive display behavior, where supported. |
| Screen attention | Keeps the display on while the phone detects that you are looking at it, where supported. |
A long timeout delays the screen saver; a short timeout lets it begin sooner. Choose a delay that fits how quickly you want the charging display to appear.
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Do not switch the phone off with the Power button
Pressing the Power button turns the display off directly, so the screen saver will not start from that action. Leave the phone’s screen on and allow the timeout to occur. If you normally press Power as soon as you connect a charger, change that habit when you want the charging screen saver to appear.
Confirm the charging condition
Check that the phone is genuinely charging and that your selected When to show option matches how it is placed. For example, While upright and charging will not activate when the phone is lying flat, and Restrict to wireless charging will exclude a cable connection.
Control behavior in a dark room
Open Screen saver > Low light mode to decide what happens when the surroundings are dim. Google says the default behavior in low light is to transition to a low-light clock. Depending on the choices shown on your Pixel, you can configure the screen saver to switch to that subdued clock or turn the screen off instead.
Low-light mode is separate from the clock’s normal light or dark style. The clock style determines the regular screen saver appearance; Low light mode determines what the phone does when the room becomes dark. Test both with the preview and in the location where the phone normally charges.
Charging stands and model-specific behavior
The basic screen saver setting does not require a special charger. Any supported charging arrangement that meets your selected condition can trigger it. Google also describes custom charging screen saver behavior for specific accessory and phone combinations:
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| Charging setup | Compatibility described by Google | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Stand (1st generation) | Supported for the custom charging screen saver behavior described in Google’s guide. | Use the stand with a compatible Pixel and select the appropriate charging condition. |
| Pixel Stand (2nd generation) | Supported for the custom charging screen saver behavior described in Google’s guide. | Stand-specific behavior is additional to the normal Screen saver settings. |
| Pixelsnap Charger | Google lists support with Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. | The phone model and Android software must match the supported combination. |
These combinations are compatibility guidance for the described custom charging experience, not a requirement for Clock, Photos, Home Controls, Pixel Weather, or other ordinary screen saver choices. Accessory availability and support can change, so check the current Google specifications for your exact model before buying a stand or charger.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a screen saver that is missing or wrong
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The screen saver never appears. | Use screen saver is off, the phone is not charging, or the screen has not timed out. | Turn on Use screen saver, verify the charging icon, and leave the display on until the selected timeout expires. |
| It worked on a cable but not on a stand. | Restrict to wireless charging or While upright and charging does not match the current setup. | Review When to show and change the condition to match the charger and phone position. |
| Pressing Power prevents it from starting. | The Power button turns the display off rather than allowing a timeout. | Do not press Power after connecting the charger; let the selected Screen timeout elapse. |
| The wrong clock is shown. | A different screen saver type or clock face is selected. | Return to Choose a screen saver > Clock, select digital or analog, adjust its available style settings, and preview. |
| Photos are blank or incomplete. | The selected photo source has no accessible images or its permissions changed. | Use the control beside Photos to choose another source and confirm the Photos app can access the intended images. |
| Weather details are absent or stale. | Location access is not set to Always allow. | Grant the required location permission, reconnect to the internet if necessary, and preview the screen saver again. |
| The display is too bright at night. | Low-light behavior has not been configured. | Open Screen saver > Low light mode and choose the low-light clock or turning the screen off. |
| An app is not listed under Other apps. | The app does not expose a compatible Android screen saver, or the device software does not support it. | Update the app and phone, then check the list again. If it still does not appear, use one of the built-in options. |
| A menu or option in this guide is missing. | Availability varies by Android version, Pixel model, and charging setup; some instructions require Android 14 or later. | Install available system updates and use the options shown on your device rather than expecting every Pixel to have identical controls. |
Useful setups for different situations
Bedside clock
- Choose Clock and select the digital or analog face you can read from bed.
- Set When to show to While charging if the phone may lie flat, or While upright and charging when it stays on a stand.
- Configure Low light mode to use the low-light clock or turn the display off.
- Set a short or moderate Screen timeout, then leave the display on after connecting the charger.
Desk photo display
- Choose Photos and select the desired source through the control beside Photos.
- Use While upright and charging if the phone is held vertically on a stand.
- Preview the screen saver to verify that the selected images are available.
- Use Low light mode if the display should dim or switch away from photos outside working hours.
Quick smart-home access
- Choose Home Controls.
- Place the phone where you can reach it safely while it is charging.
- Preview the screen saver and confirm that the expected controls are available.
- If no controls appear, check that the smart-home devices and accounts are already configured on the phone.
Change, preview, or disable it later
To switch from photos to a clock, weather, or another option, return to Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver, open Choose a screen saver, and select the new type. Use When to show whenever you change from a flat charger to a stand or want to limit the feature to wireless charging. Tap Use screen saver at any time to test the current configuration.
To stop the feature, turn off Use screen saver. This leaves your charging, timeout, photo, and permission settings intact, so you can enable it again later without rebuilding the setup.
What can vary between Pixel phones
There is no single screen saver interface shared by every Pixel generation. The available content types, low-light controls, app entries, and charging behavior can vary with Android version, device model, and whether the phone is charging by cable, a standard wireless charger, a Pixel Stand, or a Pixelsnap Charger. Google’s guide specifically notes that some steps work only on Android 14 and later.
When a setting described here is absent, that does not necessarily indicate a fault. First install any available Android update, then check the exact options displayed under Display & touch > Screen saver. Configure only the controls your Pixel exposes, and use the preview to confirm the final behavior.
Quick Recap
Key checks before you finish
- Use screen saver is enabled.
- A content type is selected under Choose a screen saver.
- When to show matches your charging method and phone orientation.
- The screen is allowed to time out; you are not switching it off with Power.
- Photo, weather, or home-control permissions and sources are configured.
- Low light mode suits the room where the phone charges.
- The preview shows the appearance you expect.
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