iPhone (iOS) · Display & Sound
Shift Display Colors Warmer After Dark
Night Shift automatically shifts the iPhone display to warmer colors on a schedule or from sunset to sunrise, reducing blue light exposure that can interfere with sleep when using the device at night.
How to open Night Shift
- Open Settings → Display & Brightness → Night Shift
- Toggle Scheduled on and choose Sunset to Sunrise or a custom time
- Adjust the Color Temperature slider
- Use Control Center's brightness menu for quick manual toggling
What you should know
- Schedule can follow Sunset to Sunrise automatically or a custom fixed time range
- Warmth level is adjustable along a slider from slightly warm to very warm
- Can be toggled instantly from Control Center's brightness menu
- Applies system-wide across the display, not per-app
Why it matters
Night Shift addresses growing awareness of how blue light exposure in the evening can suppress melatonin production and disrupt sleep patterns, making it one of the more health-oriented display settings on iPhone. Automating it to Sunset to Sunrise removes the need to remember to turn it on manually, which matters because the people most likely to benefit are also the ones using their phone late at night when they're least likely to think about adjusting settings. It's a low-effort habit change with a plausible benefit for sleep hygiene.
Best practices
- Set the schedule to Sunset to Sunrise for automatic, location-based timing
- Increase warmth in the evening hours closer to bedtime for a stronger effect
- Combine with Dark Mode for a more comprehensive nighttime viewing experience
- Disable temporarily if doing color-accurate work in the evening
Common problems and fixes
- Night Shift doesn't turn on automatically
- Confirm Location Services is enabled so Sunset to Sunrise scheduling can calculate local times
- Screen looks too yellow/orange
- Lower the warmth level using the slider under Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift
- Night Shift disables unexpectedly
- Check if Custom Schedule times need adjusting, or if Low Power Mode is interacting with display settings
Tips and tricks
- Use the Control Center brightness long-press for a quick manual Night Shift toggle
- Pair with a wind-down Focus mode for a fuller evening routine
Frequently asked questions
Does Night Shift replace Dark Mode?
No, they're complementary—Night Shift adjusts color temperature while Dark Mode changes the overall interface color scheme.
Can I manually override the schedule?
Yes, use the Control Center toggle to turn it on or off outside the scheduled window until the next automatic change.
Does Night Shift affect photos or videos taken?
No, it only affects on-screen display rendering, not captured content.
Related settings
- Display & BrightnessDisplay & Brightness settings control screen brightness, True Tone, Dark Mode, text size, and Night Shift for warmer colors in the evening.
- True ToneTrue Tone uses ambient light sensors to automatically adjust the display's white balance and intensity to match surrounding lighting conditions, keeping colors looking natural under different light sources.
- Dark ModeDark Mode changes the system interface and supported apps to a dark color scheme, and can be set to switch automatically at sunset and sunrise or on a custom schedule.
More Display & Sound guides for iPhone (iOS)
- NotificationsNotification settings let you control exactly how each app alerts you — as a banner, a sound, a badge, or grouped into a scheduled summary — so your Lock Screen and Notification Center reflect what actually deserves your attention.
- Sounds & HapticsSounds & Haptics controls ringtone and alert tones, ringer and alert volume, and the tactile vibration feedback (haptics) your iPhone provides for calls, texts, and everyday interactions like typing.
- FocusFocus lets you silence distracting notifications based on what you're doing — like Work, Sleep, or Personal time — while still allowing calls and alerts from specific people or apps you choose to come through.
- Auto-LockAuto-Lock determines how long iPhone waits without any touch input before dimming and locking the screen, balancing convenience against battery life and security.
- Text Size & Bold TextText Size and Bold Text controls scale font size and weight across the system and supporting apps, making text easier to read without reducing the amount of visible screen content the way zooming would.
- Attention Aware FeaturesAttention Aware Features use the TrueDepth camera on Face ID-equipped iPhones to keep the screen on and dim alert volume when it detects you're looking at the display, and to keep it unlocked while you're viewing it.