How to Keep the Screen Active on Android

This article will walk you through the three main ways to keep the screen active on your Android smartphone or tablet. It covers instructions for changing the inactivity timer, how to use an Android app to keep the screen on, and what you need to know about the Always on Display feature.

How Do I Stop My Android Screen From Turning Off?

The easiest way to make your Android device’s screen stay on longer is to adjust the built-in Sleep setting. This setting determines how long, up to 30 minutes, to wait after a period of inactivity before you're kicked back to the lock screen. Here's how to change this:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Display.

3. Tap Sleep or Screen timeout.

4. Select how long you want the screen to stay on before turning off due to inactivity. The longest option is 30 minutes. The change will take effect immediately.

   Some versions of Android also have a Screen attention toggle on this screen that you can adjust to prevent your device from turning off if you're looking at it.

How Do I Keep My Android Screen Always On With an App?

If you want your Android tablet or smartphone to stay on for more than 30 minutes, you can install an app to keep the screen on indefinitely or for a longer set time, such as an hour or two.

Many Android apps are designed to keep the screen on but, for this example, we’ll use Screen Alive. It’s completely free to use and works as intended.

Here’s how to use this app to keep your Android screen always on:

1. After installing Screen Alive, open the app and tap Proceed.

2. Tap the switch next to Allow modifying system settings.

3. Tap the back arrow to return to the app.

4. Tap the yellow bulb icon in the lower-right corner.

5. The Always setting is chosen by default, but you can also specify a different time

At any time, you can tap the lightbulb icon to disable Screen Alive and return to your default Sleep settings. You can also add the Screen Alive app to your home screen as a widget or to your Quick Settings menu for easy access.

How to Use Android's Always On Display Setting to Keep the Screen On

Many Android devices have a built-in feature called Always on Display which allows for basic information, such as the time and date, to show on the screen even when it’s asleep. This feature has a low battery demand and can be useful for those who find themselves constantly tapping their device to check the time.

Always on Display settings can usually be found within the Settings app. Try one of these paths:

• Display > Always on Display
• Home screen, Lock screen & Always-On Display > Always-On Display
• Display > Lock screen

Once found, tap the option to enable the Always on Display feature and customize the settings to your liking.