A floating button is a small overlay that sits on top of every app on your phone. It does not belong to any one app or screen - it is always there, regardless of whether you are in YouTube, WhatsApp, Chrome, or your camera. Tap it once and the screen locks.
This is the most universally accessible way to lock an Android screen, because it requires no navigation - you never have to leave what you are doing to find the lock control.
Why a Floating Button Works Better Than a Widget
A home screen widget is fast, but it only works on the home screen. If you are in the middle of reading an article, watching a video, or replying to a message, you have to leave that app before you can tap the widget.
The floating button removes that step entirely. Wherever you are, the lock button is visible. One tap - screen off - done.
How to Set Up the Floating Lock Button
Step 1 - Install Turn Off Screen
Download Turn Off Screen from the Play Store. It is free, no subscriptions.
Step 2 - Enable the Floating Button
Open the app and toggle on the Floating Button option. The button will appear on screen immediately.
Step 3 - Grant Permissions
On first use, the app will prompt you for:
- Accessibility Service (Android 9+): Used to execute the lock action - the software equivalent of pressing the power button. Does not read your screen.
- Display over other apps: Required to show the floating button on top of other apps.
Both can be granted in under 30 seconds from the prompts.
Step 4 - Position and Customize
Long-press the floating button to drag it anywhere on screen. Common placements:
- Right edge, center height - mirrors where the power button is, but touchable from the front
- Bottom-right corner - within thumb reach for most right-handed grips
- Bottom-left corner - for left-handed users
You can also choose from 10+ icon colors to match your wallpaper or simply to make it visually distinct.
The Floating Button Stays Out of the Way
At rest, the button is small - sized to be easily tappable but not large enough to obscure content. In full-screen apps like video players, it becomes semi-transparent so it does not block what you are watching.
You can also temporarily hide it in specific apps if needed, though most users leave it visible everywhere.
How It Compares to Other Lock Methods
Turn Off Screen gives you three locking methods. They are not mutually exclusive - you can run all three at once.
| Method | Available from | Steps to lock |
|---|---|---|
| Floating button | Any app, any screen | 1 (tap button) |
| Home screen widget | Home screen only | 1 (tap widget) |
| Notification shortcut | Notification shade | 2 (pull shade + tap) |
For maximum convenience, most users set up the floating button for in-app use and the widget for home screen use. The notification shortcut becomes a backup.
Battery and Performance Impact
The floating button is a lightweight overlay drawn by Android's window manager. It is not a background service that polls sensors or syncs data. Its battery impact is measured in fractions of a percent - comparable to having a static notification icon visible.
Tested across Samsung, Xiaomi, and Pixel devices, Turn Off Screen shows no measurable battery drain in normal use.
Keeping the Button Active on Aggressive Battery Managers
On Xiaomi MIUI and Samsung One UI, aggressive battery optimization can kill the overlay service after the phone sits idle. To prevent this:
Samsung One UI: Settings → Battery and Device Care → Battery → Background usage limits → Add Turn Off Screen to Never sleeping apps
Xiaomi MIUI: Settings → Apps → Manage Apps → Turn Off Screen → Autostart → Enable Settings → Battery & Performance → Turn Off Screen → No Restrictions
This one-time setup ensures the button is always available.
Who Uses Floating Lock Buttons?
The floating button concept comes from iOS AssistiveTouch - a feature Apple added for accessibility that became popular with mainstream iPhone users who found it faster than the side button. Millions of iPhone users use a floating button to lock their screen daily.
On Android, the same concept has been available for years but requires a third-party app. Turn Off Screen implements it with the lowest possible footprint: no tracking, one function done well.
No sign-up. Works on Android.