Google tests Min Mode, an Android Always-On Display upgrade that runs trimmed-down apps on the lock screen. Likely debuting in Android 17 for efficient AOD use.
© A. Krivonosov
Google is working on a major upgrade to Always-On Display (AOD), which could soon show not just the time and notifications but trimmed-down versions of apps. The feature, called Min Mode, has already been spotted in early Android Canary builds, Android Authority reports.
Traditionally, AOD has been a place for the basics—clock, date, and notification icons. Later, Android added a simplified wallpaper cover, similar to what you see on the iPhone. Now Google appears intent on making the screen more interactive, a logical step if the company wants the lock screen to do more without fully waking the phone.
According to the source, Min Mode will let compatible apps run directly on the lock screen at reduced brightness and refresh rates, just like standard AOD. Apps can appear full screen while remaining power-efficient. Developers will need to add MinModeActivity support in their app manifest, and Android will coordinate everything through System UI. As with regular AOD, safeguards against pixel burn-in are part of the package.
It was previously assumed that Google was testing a “power-saving mode” in Google Maps that switches the interface to black and white and leaves only key information. It has now become clear this is part of the Min Mode project. Analysts expect Min Mode could debut with Android 17, whose first preview will likely arrive in the coming months. If it launches as described, AOD on Android may finally evolve from a static notification panel into a launchpad for bite-size interactions—a notable shift for the platform’s ambient experience.