Always on Display turns off with iOS 16.2

Where’s the option to enable it ANYWAY?

I specifically bought this iPhone for the ALWAYS ON Display, obviously Apple doesn’t actually “know” when I don’t need it - because I keep noticing it being turned off when I wanted it on! Which is, ALWAYS!!

Same here; rather frustrating. It's some of the headline features of the new devices, but they break it in a release just 1-2 months after the device launches? It seems like a pretty trivial thing not to break, or at least to notice that you've broken, all things considered.

Precisely. I’ve been on the phone with Apple 5 times and they always put me through the same drill with no results. Or another excuse. My 14 Pro has worked perfectly since November and all of a sudden the always on display has stopped working earlier every night.

If anyone at Apple sees this, we need a new iOS update to fix this or I want a new phone.

See→Use Always-On display with your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max - Apple Support

Specifically:

Always-On display goes dark when you don't need it

To save battery life, the display is completely dark when:

• Your iPhone is lying face down 
• Your iPhone is in your pocket or bag
• Sleep Focus is on
• Low Power Mode is on
• Your iPhone is connected to CarPlay
• You're using Continuity Camera
• You haven't used your iPhone for a while (your iPhone learns your activity patterns and turns the display off and on accordingly, including if you set up an alarm or sleep schedule)
• Your iPhone detects that you moved away from it with a paired Apple Watch (Always-On display will turn on when your Apple Watch is close to your iPhone again)

Same thing happened to my iPhone 14 pro. Before iOS 16.2 the AOD would never turn off (with the exceptions being the 8 scenarios that Apple lists on their support). But after the update, especially at night, the AOD would turn off after about 30 seconds of no use. Regardless of what the AOD settings are (on/off, wallpaper, notification, etc).

garypgarrett wrote:

APPLE, CAN YOU HEAR US!?!

No, not in this user-to-user forum. If you want Apple to hear you use this link→Product Feedback - Apple or use the Support button in the top bar on this page to talk to or online chat with a live Apple support specialist.

iGatz99 wrote:

I also have this problem with two iPhone 14 pro max, I noticed that at night its when it happens the most. I think it must be some sort of algorithm thing. If you restart the device and don't even touch it it stays on, but when you put in your code it reverts to turning off. One thing that I have found that works is download the IPSW of the latest iOS put your device into DFU mode and option and click the update button then choose the appropriate IPSW. It works, that's what I do but unfortunately if you restart the phone your back to the same thing. I hope we get a fix for this soon because this is suppose to be one of the main features of the 14 pro series.

As you didn’t read the thread you posted to before posting, let me repeat my previous post:

See→Use Always-On display with your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max - Apple Support

Specifically:

Always-On display goes dark when you don't need it

To save battery life, the display is completely dark when:

• Your iPhone is lying face down 
• Your iPhone is in your pocket or bag
• Sleep Focus is on
• Low Power Mode is on
• Your iPhone is connected to CarPlay
• You're using Continuity Camera
• You haven't used your iPhone for a while (your iPhone learns your activity patterns and turns the display off and on accordingly, including if you set up an alarm or sleep schedule)
• Your iPhone detects that you moved away from it with a paired Apple Watch (Always-On display will turn on when your Apple Watch is close to your iPhone again)

Well, Apple is not going to directly address the issue in this user-to-user forum; you need to contact Apple directly.

Like just about every large company Apple has both formal technical support and an area where users can discuss technical issues with other users. And, like all of those other companies, Apple does not participate in any significant way in the user-to-user discussions, as that might inhibit the free flow of ideas. The formal name of this area is Apple Support Communities. The “Communities” should be a giveaway that this isn’t a formal support site. And if that doesn’t, the site itself is https://discussions.apple.com. The “discussions” is another giveaway.

Apple’s formal support can be reached several ways:

• You can provide feedback to Apple at→ Product Feedback - Apple where your issue or suggestion will be recorded, but you will not get a reply

• Click on “Support” at the top of this page
• Go to Contact Official Apple Support

Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat

• Install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad - you can contact support directly from the app, and the tech will have (with your permission) access to diagnostic data on your phone
• Call Apple Support; the phone numbers are in this link→Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
• Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store→Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
• Find an Apple store or Apple partner service provider→https://apple.com/retail
• DM @AppleSupport on Twitter

About the only communications method not used by Apple support is inbound email, probably because the volume would be overwhelming, and separating the wheat from the chaff (or, to us engineers, a poor signal to noise ratio) would be almost impossible. 

Why can’t you address somebody at Apple directly? There are many ways, but this user-to-user forum is not one of them.

Like just about every large company Apple has both formal technical support and an area where users can discuss technical issues with other users. And, like all of those other companies, Apple does not participate in any significant way in the user-to-user discussions, as that might inhibit the free flow of ideas. The formal name of this area is Apple Support Communities. The “Communities” should be a giveaway that this isn’t a formal support site. And if that doesn’t, the site itself is https://discussions.apple.com. The “discussions” is another giveaway.

Apple’s formal support can be reached several ways:

• You can provide feedback to Apple at→ Product Feedback - Apple where your issue or suggestion will be recorded, but you will not get a reply

• Click on “Support” at the top of this page
• Go to Contact Official Apple Support

Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat

• Install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad - you can contact support directly from the app, and the tech will have (with your permission) access to diagnostic data on your phone
• Call Apple Support; the phone numbers are in this link→Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
• Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store→Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
• Find an Apple store or Apple partner service provider→https://apple.com/retail
• DM @AppleSupport on Twitter

About the only communications method not used by Apple support is inbound email, probably because the volume would be overwhelming, and separating the wheat from the chaff (or, to us engineers, a poor signal to noise ratio) would be almost impossible. 

A few days ago I changed from Samsung S24 Ultra to iPhone Pro Max, and I'm already thinking about undoing the change and going back to Android precisely because of this incredible problem. I work at night, and the fact that as soon as it gets dark the AOD turns off (does Apple know what "always" means?) is bothering me a lot, apart from the fact that I like to have it active on the bedside table while I sleep. Very disappointed with some things on iOS, but this one in particular seems like a joke to me.

So I posted here a few weeks ago when I was having this issue happen on my iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 16.2. Exactly what everyone is experiencing, AOD turning off after a few seconds, usually happening at night (after 8pm or so) and it isn't because of any of the reasons Apple says is normal (when you're sleeping, in your pocket etc).

I did end up fixing this issue, not sure if this would work for everyone, but here is what I did.

Step 1: Make sure your Always on Display is Enabled (settings -> Display & Brightness -> Always on Display) Settings

Step 2: Force restart your phone

Step 3: When the phone reboots, go back into settings -> Display & Brightness -> Aways on Display, and Disable it

Step 4: Force restart your phone again

Step 5: When the phone reboots, go back into settings -> Display & Brightness -> Aways on Display, and Enable it again

This did it for me and has been working fine for the past few weeks. Your milage may vary as it seems this is still a bug that Apple needs to fix, I hope this workaround fixes some of your issues.

arbenk wrote:

Lawrence: You have got to stop reposting this when it clearly does not apply.

OK, I won’t repost it again. Instead I will post the official Apple Support article from the support Knowledge Base that I copied it verbatim from→Use Always-On display with your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max - Apple Support

nyc_rock wrote:

just did a chat with apple support and turning off is the way it was intended to operate. Hopefully apple listens to user feedback and allows us to set it to "Always On".

Make sure you submit that feedback where Apple will see it:

Product Feedback - Apple

Timmieturner wrote:

Apple, please fix this issue! I’ve just purchased a 14 pro and have it run in iOS 16.6. I have seen the lists in this thread but none of the situations apply to my situation. My phone is just lying facing up, no do not disturb or any other mode switched on and the AOD keeps turning off after about 30 seconds. I’m really disappointed because I intended to use the AOD as an alternative bedside clock. Please make sure the AOD is ALWAYS ON.

Apple does not read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple