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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11On a Pixel, open Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver. Turn on Use screen saver, choose what to display, set when it should appear, and tap Use screen saver to preview the result. Google calls the feature “screen saver”; it can show a clock, photos, home controls, weather, or compatible apps while the phone is charging or docked. The exact choices can vary by Pixel model, Android version, and charging setup. See Google’s Set up a screen saver guide for the current device-specific instructions.
What a Pixel screen saver does
A screen saver is the charging or docked display that appears after the phone’s screen times out. It is separate from your lock-screen wallpaper and from the always-on display: you configure its content, timing, and low-light behavior in the Screen saver settings.
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You can use it as a bedside clock, a rotating photo display, a quick way to reach smart-home controls, or a weather view. The feature is controlled by charging state and timeout behavior, so turning the display off manually with the Power button does not trigger it.
Open the correct settings page
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Display & touch.
- Tap Screen saver.
If you do not see the menu, check that you are looking under Display & touch, not under Wallpaper, Lock screen, or Battery. Google notes that some of the available steps and controls work only on Android 14 and later, and the list can differ between Pixel models and software versions.
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- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
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- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
Turn on and choose a screen saver
- On the Screen saver page, turn on Use screen saver.
- Under Choose a screen saver, tap the type you want.
- Open any type-specific controls that appear, make your selections, and return to the Screen saver page.
The built-in choices are listed below. A compatible app can also add an entry under Other apps; only apps that support Pixel’s screen-saver framework appear there.
| Choice | What it can show | Settings to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Clock | A digital or analog clock | Clock style and, where offered, light or dark mode |
| Photos | Images from a selectable photo source | Use the control beside Photos to choose a source or adjust photo settings |
| Home Controls | Quick access to smart-home controls | Controls supplied by your configured home devices and services |
| Pixel Weather | Weather information | Location permission is needed for real-time weather updates |
| Other apps | Content supplied by compatible installed apps | Options depend on which supporting apps are installed |
Use Clock for a bedside display
Choose Clock, then select digital or analog. If the clock offers a light or dark mode, choose the one that suits the room and the time of day. A simple clock is usually the most predictable option because it does not depend on a photo library, a smart-home setup, or location data.
Use Photos as a rotating display
Choose Photos and use the control beside it to select the photo source or change its available settings. If the expected images do not appear, verify that the selected source contains photos and that the relevant permission prompt has been accepted. The exact source choices can vary with the phone and Android release.
Use Home Controls
Home Controls is intended for quick access to configured home controls while the phone is charging. What appears depends on the compatible home devices and services already set up on the Pixel; selecting this option does not create home devices by itself.
Use Pixel Weather
Pixel Weather shows weather information on the charging display. For real-time weather updates, Google specifies that location permission must be set to Always allow. If you prefer not to grant that level of location access, use Clock or Photos instead.
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Check Other apps
Compatible installed apps can appear under Other apps. This list is not a general shortcut to every app on the phone: an app must provide a screen-saver option that Pixel recognizes. If an app is missing, updating or reinstalling it may not help unless the developer supports this feature and the current Android version exposes it.
Set when the screen saver appears
- From Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver, tap When to show.
- Choose While charging if the saver should appear whenever the phone is connected to power.
- Choose While upright and charging if it should appear only when the phone is charging and positioned upright.
- If your Pixel shows it, turn on Restrict to wireless charging to limit the saver to wireless charging sessions.
The wording and available choices can vary by device and Android version. “While upright and charging” is useful when you want the display on a stand but do not want it to appear when the phone is lying flat. The wireless restriction is optional; it is not required for the basic screen-saver feature.
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Tap Use screen saver on the Screen saver settings page to preview the selected design. Previewing confirms that the content loads and lets you check the clock style, photo source, weather panel, or home controls before you leave the phone charging.
A preview does not change the trigger conditions. To test the real behavior, connect the phone to the type of charger you intend to use, leave the display on, and let it time out according to your Screen timeout setting.
Make the timeout trigger work
The screen saver starts after the screen times out. Open Settings > Display & touch > Screen timeout and choose an available duration: 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes. Pixel may also show Adaptive timeout and Screen attention.
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For a quick test, choose a short timeout, connect the charger, and stop touching the screen. If you press the Power button to turn the display off, the screen saver will not start; the display must remain on until it times out. After testing, restore a timeout that suits your normal use.
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Open Screen saver > Low light mode to decide what happens in a dark room. Google says the default behavior in dim surroundings is to transition to a low-light clock. Depending on the options shown on your Pixel, you can configure the saver to change to that low-light clock or turn the screen off.
Use the low-light setting when the regular clock, photos, or weather view is too bright at night. This setting changes the saver’s behavior in dark surroundings; it does not change the normal screen brightness setting for the rest of the phone.
Permissions that affect content
Weather location access
Pixel Weather needs location permission set to Always allow for real-time weather updates, according to Google’s instructions. If weather information is blank or stale, open the app or system permission page when prompted and check that this exact permission level is available and selected. If you do not want continuous location access, select another screen-saver type.
Photo access
Photos can depend on access to the source you selected. If a source is empty, open the Photos screen-saver controls, choose a source that actually contains images, and review any permission prompt. The names of photo sources and permission screens may differ by Android release.
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Home-control access
Home Controls relies on compatible home devices and services that are already configured. If the panel has no useful controls, finish setting up those devices in their supported home app first, then return to the screen-saver selection.
Why the screen saver may not appear
The saver is disabled
Return to Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver and confirm that Use screen saver is on. Selecting a type without enabling this switch does not activate the feature.
The phone was turned off with Power
Pressing the Power button ends the normal timeout sequence, so the saver does not launch. Leave the display on and allow the selected timeout to elapse.
The phone is not in the selected charging state
Review When to show. A saver set to While upright and charging may not appear when the phone is flat, and a saver restricted to wireless charging will not appear during wired charging. Connect the phone using the charging method that matches your selection.
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The timeout is too long
A 10-minute timeout can make the saver seem broken during a short test. Temporarily select 15 seconds or 30 seconds under Screen timeout, keep the phone charging, and wait without touching the display.
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- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works - Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- The upgraded triple rear camera system has a new 5x telephoto lens - up to 20x Super Res Zoom for stunning detail from far away; Night Sight takes crisp, clear photos in low-light settings; and Camera Coach helps you snap your best pics[3]
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Low light mode turns it off
In a dark room, the low-light setting may replace the normal saver with a dim clock or turn the screen off. Check Screen saver > Low light mode before changing the selected saver type.
The selected content needs permission
Weather, photos, and home controls can show less information when their required access or source setup is incomplete. Check the relevant permission and source rather than repeatedly toggling the main screen-saver switch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pixel Stand and Pixelsnap charging setups
Google’s current Pixel help documentation describes custom charging screen-saver behavior with the first- and second-generation Pixel Stand, and with a Pixelsnap Charger on the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. These combinations are compatibility guidance for those specific accessories and models; they are not prerequisites for choosing Clock, Photos, Home Controls, Pixel Weather, or a compatible app in the normal Screen saver settings.
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| Charging setup | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Pixel Stand (1st or 2nd generation) | Use a supported Pixel and the stand’s charging position when testing stand-specific behavior |
| Pixelsnap Charger | Google’s described custom behavior applies to Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold |
| Other wired or wireless chargers | Use the regular Screen saver settings and match the When to show choice to the way the phone is charging |
Accessory availability and exact behavior can change, so check the current model and software support before buying a charger specifically for screen-saver features.
Practical setups to choose quickly
Bedside clock
- Select Clock and choose digital or analog.
- Set When to show to While upright and charging if the phone sits on a stand.
- Choose a short or moderate Screen timeout for testing.
- Use Low light mode to transition to a dim clock or turn the display off overnight.
Photo display while charging
- Select Photos and choose the desired source through the control beside Photos.
- Confirm that the source contains the images you want and approve any required access.
- Choose While charging if the phone may be placed flat or in different orientations.
- Preview with Use screen saver before leaving it connected.
Weather at a charging station
- Select Pixel Weather.
- Set location permission to Always allow if you want real-time updates.
- Choose the charging condition that matches your station.
- Check Low light mode if the display will be used in a bedroom.
Smart-home access
- Select Home Controls.
- Confirm that your compatible home devices and services are already configured.
- Use the preview to verify that the controls you expect are visible.
- Choose While upright and charging for a dedicated control display on a stand.
Device and software differences to expect
Pixel screen-saver options are not identical across every phone. Google’s instructions identify Android 14 and later for some steps, while the available types, timing controls, low-light options, and accessory behavior can depend on the Pixel model, installed software, and charging setup. If a control in this article is absent, install available system updates and check the Screen saver page again; do not assume that another Pixel model has the same menu.
The basic workflow remains the same: open Display & touch > Screen saver, enable the feature, choose content, set the trigger, and preview it. Your phone’s own menu is the authority for which options it supports.
A reliable setup checklist
- Feature enabled: Use screen saver is on.
- Content selected: Clock, Photos, Home Controls, Pixel Weather, or a compatible app is selected.
- Trigger matched: When to show matches wired, wireless, flat, or upright charging.
- Timeout tested: The screen is left on long enough to time out.
- Permissions checked: Weather, photo, or home-control access is available where required.
- Night behavior chosen: Low light mode is configured for the room.
- Preview completed: Use screen saver displays the intended result.
Bottom line
Pixel’s screen saver is configured entirely from Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver. Enable it, select the content you want, choose whether it appears while charging or only while upright and charging, and use the preview to verify the design. If it does not start, check timeout, Power-button behavior, charging orientation, low-light mode, and permissions before changing anything else.
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