Set Mobile Screen Sides Light | New 2025 Guide for All Smartphones

In the rapidly evolving world of smartphones, personalization goes far beyond simply changing wallpapers or ringtones. One of the standout trends gaining popularity in 2025 is the “screen edge lighting” feature. This dynamic and visually striking effect transforms the edges of your phone’s display into glowing notifications, making your device come alive during calls, messages, or alerts. Whether you are an Android user or an iPhone enthusiast, this guide will provide a comprehensive look at how to set up mobile screen side lighting in 2025, including system settings, third-party apps, and hidden tricks to enhance your experience.

Let’s explore everything you need to know about this feature and how it can add both functionality and style to your smartphone.

What Is Screen Side Lighting on Mobile?

Screen side lighting, also commonly referred to as edge lighting, is a visual effect where the edges of a smartphone display illuminate when you receive notifications, incoming calls, or interact with certain apps. The effect creates a modern, futuristic appearance, enhancing the overall aesthetics of your device while also improving its usability.

In 2025, many smartphone manufacturers are now integrating this feature directly into their devices, eliminating the need for additional apps. However, some devices still require third-party applications to achieve similar effects, providing flexibility for users who want a more personalized visual experience.

Edge lighting is not just a cosmetic feature; it combines style with practicality, offering both visual appeal and functional benefits that enhance the user experience.

Why Use Edge Lighting in 2025?

Screen side lighting has gained immense popularity in 2025 for several compelling reasons:

Improved Visibility: Notifications are instantly noticeable, even when your phone is placed face down on a table or desk, ensuring you never miss an important alert.

Aesthetic Appeal: Edge lighting provides a visually stunning effect that makes your smartphone look modern and unique. Users can choose colors, patterns, and animation styles, giving their device a truly personalized touch.

Silent Notifications: For those who prefer keeping their phone on silent, edge lighting offers an unobtrusive way to stay informed without sound alerts.

Energy Efficiency: Compared to always-on displays or vibration notifications, edge lighting consumes minimal battery power, making it an efficient choice for long-lasting smartphone use.

This combination of style, functionality, and efficiency explains why edge lighting has become a key trend in 2025 smartphone customization.

How to Enable Screen Side Lighting on Android (2025 Methods)

Most modern Android smartphones, including devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and OnePlus, now come with built-in edge lighting features. Here are the most reliable ways to enable and customize it on your device:

1. Using Native Phone Settings (No App Needed)

Samsung Galaxy Phones (One UI 6 & Above)

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Notifications.
3. Select Brief Pop-up Settings.
4. Tap Edge Lighting Style.
5. Choose your preferred effect, color, and transparency.
6. Tap Done to apply the settings.

Pro Tip: You can assign different colors and animations for notifications from different apps, adding a personalized touch to your phone’s display.

Vivo, Oppo, Realme Devices

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Display & Brightness or Notifications & Status Bar.
3. Look for Edge Lighting or Screen Light Effects.
4. Toggle it ON and customize colors and animation styles according to your preference.

By using native settings, Android users can enjoy smooth, integrated edge lighting without relying on third-party applications, ensuring optimal performance and battery efficiency.

How to Set Side Lighting on iPhones in 2025

While iPhones have traditionally lacked native edge lighting, iOS 18, released in 2025, introduces enhanced accessibility and visual notification features that can replicate a similar effect.

2. Using Flash and Focus Assistive Notifications

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Accessibility > Audio/Visual.
3. Toggle on LED Flash for Alerts.
4. Enable Flash on Silent if desired.

Although this is not exactly edge lighting, pairing it with transparent cases can create a visually striking effect along the edges of your device. For users seeking full edge lighting, several apps available on the App Store simulate this effect on iPhones, providing customizable animations and colors for notifications.

Best Third-Party Apps to Add Edge Lighting in 2025

For devices that do not support native edge lighting, third-party applications are an excellent solution. In 2025, many apps have been optimized for smoother animations, better device compatibility, and reduced battery usage. These apps allow users to fully customize the style, speed, color, and pattern of notifications, offering a similar or even more advanced experience than native features.

When selecting a third-party app, it’s important to choose one with positive reviews, consistent updates, and minimal impact on system performance to ensure a seamless and enjoyable edge lighting experience.

3. Top Android Apps for Screen Sides Light

For Android users who want to enhance their smartphone notifications with edge lighting, several third-party apps in 2025 offer advanced customization, smooth animations, and energy-efficient operation. These apps make it easy to add vibrant edge glow effects, even on devices that do not support native edge lighting.

These apps provide users with a high degree of flexibility, allowing them to personalize their phone’s edge lighting effects to suit different apps, notification types, and personal aesthetic preferences.

How to Use (Example: Always on Edge)

Using apps like Always on Edge is straightforward and gives users full control over their edge lighting experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Download from the Play Store
   Search for Always on Edge in the Google Play Store and install the latest version with positive reviews to ensure smooth performance and reliability.
2. Grant Necessary Permissions
   Open the app and follow instructions to allow essential permissions:
   • Draw over other apps: Required so the edge lighting can appear on top of your phone’s display.
   • Notification access: Needed for the app to detect incoming calls, messages, and alerts.
3. Customize Glow Style and Settings
   Once permissions are granted, personalize your edge lighting effects:
   • Glow style: Select from multiple animation options such as pulse, wave, or rainbow.
   • Thickness and size: Adjust the width of the edge glow to match your preference.
   • Speed and duration: Control how fast the light moves and how long it stays visible.
   • App triggers: Assign different colors or animations for notifications from specific apps, helping you identify alerts at a glance.
4. Save and Test
   After customization, save the settings and test the effect by sending yourself a message or making a test call. Adjust settings as needed to achieve a seamless and visually appealing edge glow.

4. Top iPhone Apps for Screen Lighting Effects

iPhones do not support native edge lighting, but several apps in 2025 provide creative workarounds by using accessibility features and background overlays. These apps simulate edge lighting effects effectively:

• Edge Lighting iOS: Creates an edge glow effect using custom wallpaper overlays.
• Color Glow Notifications: Adds glowing animations whenever notifications arrive.
• Edge Screen – Light Alerts: Simulates a Samsung-style edge glow to enhance visual alerts.

These apps rely on accessibility settings, live wallpapers, or overlay techniques to mimic true edge lighting, allowing iPhone users to enjoy similar aesthetic and functional benefits.

Create a Custom Screen Edge Light (DIY Method)

For users who want full creative control, it’s possible to design custom edge lighting effects using live wallpapers or video overlays. This DIY approach allows complete personalization of animations, colors, and timing to match your style.

5. Use KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker (Android Only)

KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker is a powerful tool for Android users who want to create unique edge lighting effects:

1. Install KLWP and KLWP Pro from the Play Store.
2. Choose a pre-made template or start designing from scratch.
3. Customize your wallpaper to include glowing edges, animation patterns, and color schemes.
4. Set the design as your live wallpaper.

This method provides total creative freedom and enables visually stunning edge lighting effects. While it may consume slightly more battery than native features, the trade-off is a fully customized and dynamic visual experience.

Tips to Optimize Battery While Using Edge Lighting

Edge lighting enhances the phone’s aesthetic, but without proper adjustments, it can impact battery life. Here are practical tips to balance performance and style:

• Set shorter durations for edge lighting effects, typically 3–5 seconds, to reduce energy usage.
• Use darker colors or lower brightness on AMOLED screens, as this is more energy-efficient.
• Disable edge lighting for non-critical apps like games or social media to conserve power.
• Schedule active hours so that edge lighting only works during specific times, such as daytime or when notifications are most important.

By following these tips, users can enjoy the visual appeal of edge lighting without significantly affecting battery life.

Troubleshooting: Edge Lighting Not Working?

If your edge lighting isn’t displaying correctly, consider these common issues:

• Permissions Not Granted: Ensure that “Draw Over Other Apps” and notification access are enabled for your edge lighting app.
• Battery Saver Mode: Some phones automatically disable edge lighting when power-saving mode is active.
• Do Not Disturb (DND): Visual notifications may be blocked while DND is enabled.
• App Conflicts: Multiple apps controlling notifications can interfere with edge lighting.

If problems persist, restart your phone or reinstall the app to restore functionality.

What’s New in Edge Lighting for 2025?

Edge lighting has evolved in 2025 with exciting new features that enhance both aesthetics and interactivity:

• AI-Triggered Effects: Edge lighting responds differently depending on the type of message, such as urgent emails triggering red lights and personal messages triggering green.
• Music Sync Lighting: Edges pulse in rhythm with your music playlist, creating a dynamic audiovisual experience.
• Emoji-Reactive Colors: Lighting colors change according to the emojis in incoming messages, adding a playful element.
• Camera-Edge Sync: During selfies, edge lights can act as a flash-fill, improving overall photo lighting.

These innovations make edge lighting more interactive, personalized, and visually engaging than ever before.

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Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

1. What is screen side lighting or edge lighting on mobile?

Screen side lighting, also called edge lighting, is a feature where the edges of a smartphone glow or animate when receiving notifications, calls, or alerts. It adds both aesthetic appeal and improved visibility for notifications.

2. Can all Android and iPhone devices use edge lighting in 2025?

Most modern Android devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and OnePlus support native edge lighting. iPhones require creative workarounds, such as apps that simulate the effect using overlays and accessibility features.

3. Does using edge lighting affect battery life?

Edge lighting is generally energy-efficient, especially on AMOLED screens. To minimize battery drain, use darker colors, shorter effect durations, and disable lighting for less important apps.

4. Which apps are best for adding edge lighting effects?

Top Android apps include Edge Lighting Colors, Always on Edge, True Edge, and NotifyBuddy. iPhone users can use Edge Lighting iOS, Color Glow Notifications, and Edge Screen – Light Alerts. These apps allow full customization of color, animation, and app-specific triggers.

5. How can I create a custom edge lighting effect?

On Android, you can use KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker to design glowing edges with live wallpapers or video overlays. This allows full control over style, colors, animation, and timing for a personalized edge lighting experience.

Conclusion

In 2025, edge lighting has evolved into a must-have smartphone feature that blends style and functionality. Android devices benefit from native settings and third-party apps for full customization, while iPhones can achieve similar effects with innovative overlay apps. From AI-triggered animations to music-sync and emoji-reactive colors, edge lighting enhances notifications, improves visibility, and adds a futuristic flair. Whether you prioritize aesthetics or functionality, setting up screen side lighting is an easy and effective way to make your smartphone uniquely yours.