How to Use the External Display on a Motorola razr

With the external display of your motorola razr you can use your phone even when it’s closed — read notifications, open apps, and change quick settings without flipping it open. Here is how to get around it.

Quick steps: Tap the notification icon to read alerts → scroll right for the Apps panel → swipe down for quick settings → swipe up from the bottom edge to go back Home.
  1. motorola razr external display Home screen with clock and panel shortcuts
    Step 1

    Get to know the Home screen

    With the flip closed, this is the Home screen of the external display. Shortcuts to the main panels are shown here.

  2. Notification icon highlighted in the bottom-left corner of the razr external display
    Step 2

    Open a notification

    When you receive a notification, an icon appears in the bottom-left corner. Tap the notification icon.

  3. Notification list on the razr external display with expand arrow
    Step 3

    Expand or dismiss notifications

    All notifications are shown here. Tap the arrow to expand a notification, or swipe it to the right to dismiss it.

  4. Apps panel on the razr external display with the edit icon highlighted
    Step 4

    Edit the Apps panel

    Scroll right to the Apps panel, then tap the edit (pencil) icon.

  5. App picker with Calendar checked
    Step 5

    Select an app to add

    Check the app you want to add — in this example, Calendar.

  6. App picker with the check mark highlighted
    Step 6

    Save your selection

    Tap the check mark at the top right to save.

  7. Apps panel showing the newly added Calendar app highlighted
    Step 7

    Find the new app

    Calendar has been added to the Apps panel. To manage it, touch and hold Calendar.

  8. Long-press menu on Calendar with Remove highlighted
    Step 8

    Remove an app (optional)

    To remove the app from the panel, tap Remove.

  9. razr external display with a swipe-down gesture indicator
    Step 9

    Open quick settings

    Swipe down from the top of the external display to open quick settings.

  10. Quick settings on the razr external display with brightness slider
    Step 10

    Use quick settings and brightness

    Turn Wi-Fi, mobile data or Bluetooth on or off here. Drag the slider to set the external display brightness. Scroll right for more options.

  11. Quick settings with a swipe-up gesture indicator to return Home
    Step 11

    Return to the Home screen

    Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to go back to the external display Home screen.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do on the motorola razr external display?

You can read and reply to notifications, open apps from the Apps panel, view panels such as weather and calendar, change quick settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and brightness, and take selfies with the main cameras — all without opening the phone.

How do I add more apps to the razr external display?

Scroll to the Apps panel, tap the edit (pencil) icon, check the apps you want and tap the check mark. You can also choose which apps are allowed on the external display in Settings > External display > App settings.

Why is my razr external display not responding or cracked?

Try restarting the phone first. If the external display stays blank, flickers or is cracked, it may need replacing — check the motorola razr spare part prices on this site for an estimate.

Still having problems? It may be a hardware fault. Check the Motorola spare part prices for your model, or compare battery and display replacement costs.

Related Motorola guides

See all 24 Motorola guides →

Steps and screenshots based on Motorola's official Using the external display tutorial. Steps can vary slightly by model and Android version.