Samsung has quietly introduced the “Auto” option to the Always On Display (AOD) settings for the Galaxy S23 series. This feature, which allows the AOD to automatically turn off when the phone is in a pocket or face down, was previously available on older Samsung models but was absent from the S23 lineup.
A Reddit user noted that the change arrived with the latest update (version 8.8.43.2) to the Always On Display app. The Auto function now provides S23 users with the same convenience that S24 owners have enjoyed since launch, addressing a frustrating discrepancy between the two generations of flagship phones.
The absence of this feature had been a point of contention among S23 owners since the release of One UI 6. Many users reported that their AOD would remain dimly lit even when the phone was in their pocket or face down, unlike previous Samsung models that would completely turn off the display in these situations.
One Reddit user explained, “I don’t know, but it wasn’t there on my S23 Ultra. I didn’t check after updating to One UI 7, so I checked after this app update. Maybe it’s a thing with One UI 7,” upon discovering the new option.
However, there remains confusion about whether the phone had the option before the One UI 6 update. Some users in various forums have insisted that their S23 devices running One UI 5 did automatically turn off the AOD in pockets, while others on the same software version claimed it only dimmed. With the One UI 6 update, more users began noticing the absence of a clear ‘Auto’ off function, leading to threads questioning its removal or if it was an S24-exclusive feature initially.
The author of the article was unable to find any evidence suggesting that the Galaxy S23 had an “Auto” option in the AOD settings previously. They reviewed official documents, articles highlighting the AOD settings on One UI 5, and videos but couldn’t find any indication of such a feature.
For those interested in trying out the new feature, the updated AOD app is available through the Galaxy Store or can be downloaded from APK Mirror. Simply update the app and check your AOD settings to see if the Auto option appears. It seems Samsung might be listening to user feedback or perhaps standardizing features across its device generations. Either way, it’s a positive step for Galaxy S23 owners.