Have you ever glanced at your iPhone and wished it could show the time, battery level, or notifications without needing to unlock it? If yes, you’re not alone. Apple’s Always-On Display now available on the iPhone 16 solves this exact problem by keeping key information visible even when your phone is locked.
This guide walks you through the steps to activate this feature and highlights why it’s more than just a convenience it’s a subtle upgrade that improves how you interact with your device daily.
What Is the Always-On Display?
The Always-On Display is a feature that keeps essential information like time, widgets, battery status, and notifications constantly visible on your screen, even when it’s idle or locked. This technology is made possible by energy-efficient OLED panels that preserve battery life while keeping parts of the screen illuminated.
The result? No more tapping your phone or picking it up just to check the time or see if you missed a call or message.
Step-by-Step: How to Enable Always-On Display on iPhone 16
Enabling the Always-On Display is incredibly simple and requires just a few steps:
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Open Settings on your iPhone 16.
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Navigate to Display & Brightness.
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Scroll down and find Always-On Display.
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Toggle the switch to Enable.
Once activated, the screen will subtly dim while still displaying your clock, widgets, and notifications—delivering real-time utility without draining your battery.
How It Improves Your iPhone 16 Experience
Here’s how enabling the Always-On Display transforms your everyday use:
Quick Glances Without Interaction
No more unlocking or tapping to see key info. Whether you’re in a meeting, working out, or simply resting your phone on a desk, you’ll be able to view time, calendar events, or fitness stats effortlessly.
Better Battery Management
Contrary to what you might expect, the feature is optimized for minimal energy consumption. The OLED display turns off unused pixels, only lighting up the necessary ones. This can extend your battery life by avoiding full screen wake-ups.
Streamlined Productivity
Pair the Always-On Display with features like Back Tap or Top Widget Customizations to glance at reminders, health stats, or timers without disruption.
Ideal for Fitness, Health, and Travel
Whether you’re using health tracking apps or navigating with widgets, Always-On Display lets you stay updated hands-free perfect for workouts, running errands, or navigating city streets.
Related Enhancements for a Smarter Experience
To take your iPhone 16 efficiency to the next level, explore these additional features:
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Top Safari Extensions to boost productivity
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Low-Light Photography Tips for keeping your screen visible while taking night shots
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Fixing App Update Issues to ensure widget content stays current
Takeaway: A Small Change with Big Impact
The iPhone 16 Always-On Display is more than just a flashy feature it’s a subtle, intelligent enhancement that improves how you use your phone every day. By letting you access essential info without interaction, it saves time, reduces distractions, and even conserves battery.
If you haven’t enabled it yet, now’s the perfect time to try it out. You’ll likely wonder how you ever lived without it.
