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On a Pixel 9, open Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver, turn on Use screen saver, choose what to display, then set when it appears. You can show a clock, photos, Home Controls, Pixel Weather or compatible app content while the phone charges or is docked. Photos, clock style, charging triggers and low-light behavior have separate controls.

How do I turn on the screen saver on my Pixel 9?

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Display & touch > Screen saver.

  3. Turn on Use screen saver.

  4. Under Choose a screen saver, select an option such as Clock, Home Controls, Photos or Pixel Weather. Compatible apps may also appear under other apps.

  5. Open When to show and choose While charging or While upright and charging. If your phone offers it, you can further limit activation to wireless charging.

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  6. Tap Use screen saver on the screen-saver page to preview the selected display.

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Google Pixel Phone Help notes that some instructions apply only to Android 14 and later, without identifying which individual steps have that requirement. Labels and available options can therefore vary with the Android version and installed build; follow the wording shown in your Pixel 9’s Settings. The general screen saver does not require a special dock or charger. A wireless-charging-only trigger, if available and desired, does require a compatible wireless charger.

What can the Pixel 9 show as a screen saver?

The choices differ by the kind of information or content they put on screen. Options can vary with the software build and installed compatible apps.

Choice What it displays Customization
Clock A clock while the screen saver is active. Use the screen-saver settings beside Clock to choose its display and light or dark mode. Clock app settings also offer analog or digital style and Night mode.
Photos Photos from a selectable source. Open the settings beside Photos to choose a source or adjust its available settings.
Home Controls Home-control content. Available details depend on the option and setup shown on your phone.
Pixel Weather Weather content. Available details depend on the option shown on your phone.
Other compatible apps Content offered by a compatible app listed on the screen-saver page. Options depend on the app.

How do I show photos while my phone is charging?

  1. Go to Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver.

  2. Turn on Use screen saver, then choose Photos.

  3. Open the settings beside Photos and select the source or adjust the photo settings available on your build.

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  4. Open When to show and choose a charging trigger: While charging or While upright and charging. Choose a wireless-only restriction if the option appears and that is what you want.

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  5. Use the screen-saver preview to check the selection. Connect the phone under the charging condition you chose to have the screen saver activate.

The screen saver is not a continuously running photo display independent of charging: its activation depends on the trigger selected under When to show. If it does not appear, check that Use screen saver is enabled, that Photos is selected, and that the phone meets the chosen charging condition.

Can I change the screen-saver clock?

Yes. There are two related controls: Pixel’s screen-saver page and the Clock app’s screen-saver settings. Google Clock Help documents the following path for the clock’s appearance:

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  1. Open the Clock app.

  2. Tap More > Settings.

  3. Under Screen saver, select Style to switch between analog and digital.

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  4. Use Night mode to dim the clock in dark environments.

On the Pixel 9 screen-saver selection page, the settings beside Clock also let you choose the clock or switch between light and dark mode. If a described option is absent, check the labels on your installed Android build rather than assuming that the separate Clock app setting is the same control.

Why does my screen saver turn into a dim clock at night?

The screen saver has a Low light mode setting. Google says its default behavior is to transition to a low-light clock when the surroundings are dim. You can change this behavior, including whether the display turns off:

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  1. Open Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver.

  2. Open Low light mode.

  3. Review the available choices and select the behavior you prefer, including the display-off option if it is offered on your build.

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This low-light clock behavior is a screen-saver feature. It is separate from the screen saver’s main content choice and from the lock-screen clock.

Is the screen-saver clock the same as the lock-screen clock?

No. Screen-saver settings control what appears while the screen saver is active, usually under the charging or docked conditions you selected. Lock-screen clock controls apply to the lock screen instead. Google’s Pixel lock-screen instructions say Android 16 and later can customize lock-screen clock style, color and size through Wallpaper & style; those controls do not change the screen-saver clock. Menu availability may depend on the Android version installed.

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Do I need a Pixel Stand or Pixelsnap Charger?

No. Google describes the general phone screen saver as showing photos, colorful backgrounds, a clock and other content when a phone is charging or docked. Its help page also mentions a custom charging screen saver with Pixelsnap Chargers and Pixel Stand first- and second-generation accessories, but those accessories are not a requirement for enabling the general screen saver. A compatible wireless charger is relevant only if you want to use a wireless-charging trigger and your phone offers that setting.

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If the screen saver does not appear

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