ArtFrame

Screensavers and power

Last reviewed 2026-11-02.

How a TV decides what’s on screen when idle

remote pressed ── idle ──▶ [ screensaver delay ] ──▶ screensaver (ArtFrame)
                                                      │
                                     [ energy saver ] ▼
                                               screen off / standby

Two timers matter:

  1. Screensaver delay: idle time before the screensaver starts.
  2. Energy saver (or the brand’s sleep / auto-off setting): idle time before the screen switches off entirely.

If the energy saver time is shorter than the screensaver delay, the screen goes dark before ArtFrame ever appears. Apps can’t override energy saver, so set it longer on the TV.

How ArtFrame becomes the screensaver

Android screensavers are small apps (Android calls them dreams). The TV runs whichever one is selected.

System How ArtFrame is selected
Google TV The TV’s own menu only offers Google’s Ambient mode. Since a July 2022 update, other screensavers are hidden. ArtFrameRemote selects ArtFrame directly through debugging.
Android TV Same as above, or choose it yourself in Settings › Device Preferences › Screen saver › Screen saver on most models (confirmed on NVIDIA SHIELD; expected on other Android TV).

ArtFrameRemote remembers what was selected before, so Restore Previous Screensaver puts it back. If it has no record, it restores the system default (Google TV’s Ambient mode).

When it gets reset

  • Factory reset always clears it.
  • System updates sometimes reset it. If the old screensaver comes back, open ArtFrameRemote’s TV page and choose Use ArtFrame as Screensaver.

The screensaver delay

Set it in ArtFrameRemote on your TV’s page (under Your TV in the sidebar) › Screensaver › Start after the TV is idle for.

  • Use 10 minutes or more. On Android TV 12 and later, delays under 6 minutes reportedly stop the screensaver from starting at all. This comes from one well-tested community project and hasn’t been confirmed on every brand.
  • Google TV’s own menus don’t offer this setting (Sony documents this for its Google TV models), so ArtFrameRemote sets it directly.
  • On Android TV, Device Preferences › Screen saver › When to start shows the same setting.

Energy saver and auto-off, by brand

Device Where Notes
Google TV (generic) Settings › System › Power and energy › Energy saver “Turn off display” after 15 min to Never. Some builds label it When inactive or Shut-off timer.
Sony Google TV Settings › System › Power and energy › Energy saver; Idle TV standby on some models
Sony Android TV Settings › BRAVIA Settings › Eco › Idle TV standby (default 4 h), Power saving, Auto shut-off (no signal, 15 min)
TCL Google TV / Android TV Settings › System › Power › Auto power savings (about 15 min) TCL also has a separate 4-hour standby.
Hisense Google TV Settings › System › Power & Energy Older Android TV: Device Preferences › Power › Auto Sleep.
Philips Settings › Eco settings › Switch off timer (default about 4 h) Also Screen off in Eco settings.
NVIDIA SHIELD Settings › Device Preferences › Screen saver › Put device to sleep
Chromecast / Google TV Streamer Settings › System › Power and energy Labels differ between sources.

Menu names are from manuals and support pages; your firmware may differ slightly.

Show It Now

ArtFrameRemote’s Show It Now asks Android to start the screensaver immediately. It uses a system shortcut (Somnambulator) that Android removed in 2022 code that is likely in Android TV 14. On Android 14 devices the button may do nothing; wait for the delay instead, or use Preview App on the TV page to see ArtFrame full screen.

OLED TVs dim still pictures

OLED panels protect themselves by slowly dimming images that don’t change. ArtFrame’s slow drift helps, but some dimming is normal. To reduce it:

  • Turn off the TV’s light sensor / auto brightness.
  • On Sony: Picture & Sound › Picture in ArtFrameRemote, or the TV’s Display & Sound › Expert panel settings (Pixel shift).
  • Shorten Each painting shows for in Display › Slideshow so images change more often.

Sources