Notification light
Edge Lighting for Notifications on Any Android Phone (2026)
By the llcloud team 5 min read
Quick answer
Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi and some other phones build in an edge lighting effect for notifications, usually under Notifications or the Always-On Display settings. Phones without one, including Pixel, can use an edge lighting app. AuraDisplay draws a glow along the screen border in each app's color on any Android 8.0+ phone, and it stays lit on the lock screen and AOD until you read the notification.
Edge lighting turns the border of your screen into a notification light. It is easy to see from any angle, it works whether your phone has a punch hole camera or not, and on an AMOLED screen it costs very little power. Some phones build it in and some do not. Here is how to check yours, and how to add it if it is missing.
Does my phone already have edge lighting?
Several phone makers include an edge effect for notifications. The names and paths differ by brand and version, so treat the table as a starting point and use the Settings search bar if a menu is not where you expect.
| Phone maker | What it is called | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI 8) | Lighting effect | Settings > Notifications > Notification pop-up style > Add lighting effect |
| Samsung (One UI 7 and earlier) | Edge lighting style | Under Notification pop-up style, or Display > Edge screen on older models |
| OnePlus, Oppo, realme | Edge lighting or Notification lighting | Usually in the Always-On Display or notification settings, wording differs by version |
| Xiaomi, POCO, Redmi | Notification lighting or edge light | Often in the Always-On Display settings, availability differs by model |
| Google Pixel | Not available | Use Flash notifications or an app |
Built-in edge effects have one thing in common: they play when the notification arrives and then stop. That works if you are looking at the phone. It does not help when you come back to the desk ten minutes later.
How do I use the free screen flash instead?
Most phones on Android 14 or newer have Flash notifications, which can briefly tint the whole screen in a color you pick.
- Open Settings > Notifications > Flash notifications, or Settings > Accessibility > Flash notifications on some phones.
- Turn on Screen flash and pick a color.
- Tap Preview to test it.
It is a full-screen tint, not an edge glow, and it flashes a few times and stops. It is a good free option for people who need a visual alert, and less useful as a reminder that something is still waiting. Our main guide to getting a notification light on Android compares it with the other methods.
How do I add an edge light that stays on until I read it?
AuraDisplay has an edge mode that draws a soft glow around the whole screen border. It works on any Android 8.0 or newer phone, including Pixel, and it stays lit on the lock screen and Always-On Display until you open or clear the notification.
- Install AuraDisplay and grant notification access and its accessibility service. Accessibility is how Android lets an app draw over the lock screen. AuraDisplay reads only the app name and icon color.
- Open an app's settings in AuraDisplay and choose Edge instead of Ring.
- Set the thickness with the slider. A thinner glow is easier on the eyes in a dark room.
- Lock the phone and send yourself a test message.
Each app takes its color from its icon. You can mix modes, so WhatsApp can glow on the edge while Gmail uses a ring around the camera, if your phone has a cutout. If you prefer a ring around the punch hole, our Samsung notification light guide shows ring mode on a Galaxy.
What does Pro add to edge mode?
The free version gives you the edge glow with the Pulse animation for any app you pick. Pro, a one-time purchase, adds:
- Dual Edge, an animation where light ripples along the border
- Flash, Wave, Orbit and Static styles
- A custom color for any app
- Several apps at once, shown as nested glows from the border inward, up to three
- Quiet hours, an auto-dismiss timer, battery-aware dimming and a charging indicator as a border fill
Will edge lighting animate on Always-On Display?
Not smoothly, on any app. An AOD panel refreshes about once a second to save power, so a moving effect would stutter. AuraDisplay holds a steady glow on AOD and plays its animations again when you wake the screen. A new notification can take up to about a second to show up on AOD for the same reason. Read what Always On Display can and cannot do for more on this, including burn-in.
How do I keep edge lighting from bothering me at night?
A glowing border is easy to see across a dark bedroom, which is the point during the day and a nuisance at 2am. A few settings help:
- Lower the thickness. A thin line is still visible from across a room.
- Set quiet hours (AuraDisplay Pro) so the light stays dark during a daily window, such as overnight.
- Use auto-dismiss (Pro) so a light fades after a time you choose, even if the notification is still in the shade.
- Turn the light off for noisy apps. Each app can be switched on or off on its own, so only the apps that matter glow.
Your phone's Do Not Disturb schedule is also worth setting, since it quiets sounds and pop-ups at the same time.
Built-in edge lighting or an app?
| Built-in edge lighting | AuraDisplay edge mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free, Pro optional one-time purchase |
| Phones | Only brands that include it | Any Android 8.0 or newer |
| Stays lit until read | No | Yes |
| Shows on AOD | Depends on brand and version | Yes, on AMOLED with AOD on |
| Color per app | Sometimes | Yes, automatic from the icon |
| Extra permissions | None | Notification access and accessibility |
If your phone has a built-in effect you like and you only want an alert in the moment, keep it. If you want the light to still be there when you pick up the phone, an app does that job. Galaxy owners can read a fuller AuraDisplay vs Samsung Edge Lighting comparison.
Why does my edge lighting app stop working?
Battery managers on OnePlus, Xiaomi, Samsung and others close apps that run in the background, and a force-stop switches off an app's accessibility service. The light goes dark until you turn it back on. Set the app's battery use to unrestricted and allow it in your phone's background settings. Our guides to stop OnePlus killing apps, stop Xiaomi killing apps and the overview of why Android kills background apps have the steps for each brand.
Sources
Questions
Can I get edge lighting on a Pixel?
Not built in. Pixel phones have no edge lighting effect for notifications, only Always-On Display icons and the Flash notifications accessibility setting, which tints the whole screen briefly. To get a glow along the screen border you need an app. AuraDisplay's edge mode works on any Pixel running Android 8.0 or newer and shows on the lock screen and Always-On Display.
What is the best edge lighting app for Android?
It depends on what you want. If you want a light that keeps glowing until you read the notification, pick an app that draws on the lock screen and Always-On Display, such as AuraDisplay, which colors each app from its icon. If you only want a flashy effect when a notification lands, your phone's built-in edge lighting may already do that for free.
Does edge lighting work with the screen off?
Only through Always-On Display. With the screen fully off there is nothing lit to draw on, so an edge light needs AOD switched on and an AMOLED screen. On AOD the panel refreshes about once a second, so the glow holds steady instead of animating. Some built-in effects briefly wake the screen to play instead.
Does edge lighting cause screen burn-in?
A light that sits in the same place for many hours can add wear to an OLED screen, like any static element. Short sessions are not a concern. Keep the glow thin, let notifications clear when you have read them, and use an auto-dismiss timer or quiet hours if your light app has them. AuraDisplay Pro has both.
