'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
How to customize your Pixel screensaver (and why you should)
Remember the flying toaster screensaver from the late 90s? Everyone I knew enjoyed that whimsical screensaver. Of course, I was using Linux, so the screensavers veered more toward the scientific type. Those screensavers actually served a purpose…to save your screen from burn-in.
These days, thanks to advances in technology, screensavers aren't really necessary. In fact, they don't really save your screen as much as simply giving you something to look at when your screen is locked.
Also: Google Pixel phones have a secret button. Here's how to find it
The same thing holds true with your mobile phone -- some include a screensaver that doesn't really save much, but which can display various items for your enlightenment or pleasure.
Take, for instance, the Pixel phone. On these devices, you have a few options for the screensaver. You can enable or disable it, and choose between a clock, a color, or photos. Although it's not much in the way of options, you probably wouldn't want more than that.
Also: The best Android phones you can buy (foldables included)
Personally, I prefer opting to go with the clock, as I like to know the time. You might want to display an array of colors or a collection of photos to remind you of your loved ones, a vacation you enjoyed, or something completely different. Of course, when you configure the screensaver, it doesn't supersede the date, weather, and notification options you have configured. Also, the screensaver on the Pixel phone only starts when one of two things occurs:
- The phone is charging
- The phone is docked and charging
These features mean, unlike on some other phones, the screensaver only appears when you're charging your device (or when it's docked on a wireless stand). Another thing to keep in mind is that the screensaver is overruled by any Pixel Stand settings you might have configured. In other words, Pixel Stand settings get priority over screensaver settings. So, if you use a Pixel Stand, you'll want to configure what's displayed when docked by tapping the gear icon that appears when you set the phone on the stand.
Also: The Pixel 8 could bring back a buzzword that was once the talk of the tech industry
If you're not using a Pixel Stand, you can opt to go with the standard Android screensaver option that's found in the Pixel phone. Let me show you how to configure that feature.
How to configure the Pixel screensaver
What you'll need: The only thing you'll need for this is a Pixel phone -- that's it. Let's make it work.
1. Open Settings
Log in to your Pixel phone and pull down the notification shade twice, and tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.
You can access Settings from within the Android notification shade.
2. Open the Screen saver page
From the Settings window, tap Display, and then, in the resulting page, tap Screen saver.
There are a number of options you can configure in the Display section of Settings.
3. Enable the screensaver
The next thing to do is tap the On/Off slider until it's in the On position to enable the screensaver.
You can preview what the screensaver will look like by tapping Preview.
4. Choose your screensaver
Once enabled, you can then select the type of screensaver you like. You can choose between the clock, colors, or photos. If you go with the clock, you can select from either digital or analog options.
Also: How to make your Pixel phone automatically decline robocalls
If you select photos, there are a number of options, such as Only use Wi-Fi for data, Photos fill screen, Animated zoom effect, and you can also select from albums derived from any installed app on your device. Also, if you select photos, you can select from any collection, date, or even individual photos you have saved to Google Photos.
Once you've configured your screensaver, back out of Settings, and -- when your phone automatically locks -- you'll see your screensaver displayed. That's all there is to it. This feature might not make you more productive or improve the security of your device, but it can bring you a spot of peace during your hectic day, especially when you see a photo pop up of a particularly special moment from your past.