Manage screen and display settings on a Pixel phone

You can change your screen's brightness, font size, display size, rotation settings and more.

Important:

Some of these steps work only on Android 10 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
Some of these steps require you to touch the screen.

Change display settings

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display.
Tap the setting that you want to change. To see more settings, tap Advanced.

Tip: You can get to the settings that you use most from any screen with Quick Settings. Learn how to quickly change common settings

Use display settings

Brightness

Brightness level

To set your screen's brightness, tap Brightness level and move the slider .

Adaptive brightness

To automatically fit your screen's brightness to the light around you, turn on Adaptive brightness. This option is on by default. You can change your brightness while adaptive brightness is on. Over time, your phone will learn your preferences.

Tip: On Pixel 4 and later Pixel phones, adaptive brightness can temporarily brighten your screen above the normal maximum to make reading easier when you're in extremely bright ambient lighting, like direct sunlight.

Night Light

You can make it easier to use your phone in dim light. Learn how to use Night Light.

Colour and theme

Themed icons

Change supported app icons to match your phone's colour scheme.

Dark theme

Tap Dark theme. To save your phone's battery, darken the background on some of your phone's screens. You can set Dark theme to automatically turn on at certain times. Learn how to schedule Dark theme.

Colours

Natural: See the most accurate colours.
Boosted: See accurate colours with more vividness. This is on by default for Pixel 2.
Adaptive (Pixel 3 and later): See the most vivid colours and keep colour details. This is on by default.
Saturated (Pixel 2 only): See the most vivid colours.

Screen settings

Touch sensitivity (Pixel only)

Adaptive touch: To improve how well your phone senses your touch:
1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Display Touch sensitivity Adaptive touch.
Screen protector: To increase sensitivity when you use a screen protector:
1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap Display Touch sensitivity Screen protector mode.

Wallpaper

Styles and wallpapers (Pixel 2 & later): Change your phone's accent colour, icon shapes and fonts, or pick a type of wallpaper. Learn how to change your styles and wallpapers.
Wallpaper (Pixel 1 only): Pick from default wallpapers, live wallpapers and your photos. Learn how to change your wallpaper.

Screen timeout

Change how long it takes for your phone's screen to go black when you're not using it.

Screen attention (Pixel 4 and later)

Keep your screen turned on when you're looking at it.

Tips:

Screen attention works best when the screen is well lit but not in direct sunlight.
Activate Google Assistant on your Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro and ask, 'How do I keep my phone unlocked longer?' Learn more about Pixel support on Assistant.

Ambient EQ (Pixel 4 only)

Automatically adjust your screen's colour temperature to the light around you.

Smooth Display

For some content, you can automatically raise the refresh rate for:

Pixel 8a: Up to 120 Hz
Pixel 8 Pro: 1–120 Hz
Pixel 8: 60–120 Hz
Pixel Fold: Up to 120 Hz
Pixel 7 and 7a: Up to 90 Hz
Pixel 7 Pro: Up to 120 Hz

Tip: This increases battery usage.

Screen saver

Set a screen saver to show photos, colourful backgrounds and more while your phone is charging. Learn how to use screen savers.

Lock screen display

Lock screen: Choose how notifications show on your lock screen.
Lock screen message Add a line of text to your lock screen.
Show lockdown option: Learn more about lockdown.
Double-line clock: Choose whether a double-line or single-line clock displays on the lock screen.
Now Playing: Quickly identify songs that you hear near you. Learn more about Now Playing.
Idle lock screen (Pixel 4 only): Have your phone screen turn on when you’re nearby, or stay on even when idle. Learn how to change what's on your idle lock screen.
Always show time and info (all Pixel phones except Pixel 4): check the time, and some other info, even when your screen is off. Find out how to turn off your screen when you’re not using it.
Tap to check phone: View certain info when you tap your screen twice. Learn how to use gestures.
Lift to check phone: View your notifications when you pick up your phone. Learn how to use gestures.
New notifications: Check new notifications on your lock screen. Learn how to control notifications.

Accessibility

Display size

Make the items on your screen smaller or larger.

Auto-rotate screen

Turn what's showing on the screen when you turn your phone.

Tip: You can rotate your screen while auto-rotate is turned off. Rotate your phone, then in the corner, tap Rotate .

When phone is in VR mode

Change whether your phone reduces blur or flicker when in VR mode.

Pixel Fold continuity settings

When your phone is folded, you can still continue to use apps. From the 'Continue using apps on fold' in the Settings app of your phone, you can select:

Always: When you fold your phone, apps continue to show on the front display.
Swipe up to continue (default): To continue using the app:
1. Fold your phone.
2. Swipe up on the front display. You can also wait a few seconds for the screen to lock.
Never: When you fold your phone, the front display locks.