macOS · Display & Sound
Shift display colors warmer in the evening
Night Shift automatically shifts the colors of your display to the warmer end of the spectrum in the evening, based on a schedule or sunset-to-sunrise timing, to reduce blue light exposure before bed.
How to open Night Shift
- Open System Settings → Displays → Night Shift
- Choose a schedule: Off, Custom, or Sunset to Sunrise
- Adjust the Color Temperature slider to taste
- Use 'Turn On Until Tomorrow' for a temporary manual override
What you should know
- Schedule options for Sunset to Sunrise or a custom time range
- Adjustable color temperature slider from slightly warm to very warm
- Manual 'Turn On Until Tomorrow' toggle for one-off use
- Applies independently from Dark Mode, which affects interface color rather than display color temperature
Why it matters
Blue light exposure in the evening is commonly associated with disrupted sleep patterns, and Night Shift offers a simple, automatic way to reduce that exposure during typical nighttime computer use without needing to remember to adjust anything manually. Because it can run on a sunset-to-sunrise schedule tied to your Mac's location, the feature adapts through the seasons without requiring reconfiguration.
Best practices
- Use Sunset to Sunrise scheduling so the feature adjusts automatically as daylight hours change through the year
- Set a warmer color temperature if you use the Mac close to bedtime
- Turn off Night Shift temporarily for color-sensitive work like photo or video editing
- Combine with Dark Mode in the evening for a more complete low-light setup
Common problems and fixes
- Night Shift does not turn on automatically
- Confirm Location Services is enabled for accurate sunset/sunrise timing, or switch to a custom scheduled time range instead.
- Colors look too warm or distracting
- Lower the color temperature slider toward the 'Less Warm' end of the range.
- Night Shift interferes with color-accurate work
- Temporarily disable it, or schedule work sessions outside its active hours, since it is not intended for color-critical tasks.
Tips and tricks
- Use the manual 'Turn On Until Tomorrow' option from Control Center for one-off late-night sessions without changing your regular schedule.
- Pair a warmer Night Shift setting with reduced screen brightness for a gentler evening viewing experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is Night Shift the same as Dark Mode?
No, Night Shift changes the display's color temperature toward warmer tones, while Dark Mode changes the interface's overall color scheme.
Does Night Shift affect external displays?
Support varies by display and connection type; some external monitors do not support Night Shift's color adjustment.
Can I schedule Night Shift for specific fixed hours instead of sunset/sunrise?
Yes, a Custom schedule option lets you set fixed start and end times.
Related settings
- True ToneTrue Tone uses the Mac's ambient light sensors to automatically adjust the display's white balance to match the surrounding lighting conditions, making white appear consistently natural under different light sources.
- AppearanceAppearance settings control whether macOS uses a Light or Dark theme, or automatically switches between them based on time of day, along with accent color, highlight color, and sidebar icon size preferences.
- Displays SettingsDisplays settings let you change resolution, brightness, arrangement of multiple monitors, and features like Night Shift and True Tone for more comfortable viewing.
More Display & Sound guides for macOS
- Sound & NotificationsSound settings control input/output devices and alert volume, while Notifications & Focus let you decide which apps can interrupt you and when — including scheduled Focus modes like Work or Sleep.
- FocusFocus lets you silence notifications and distractions while you concentrate on a specific task, like work, personal time, or sleep. You can allow only certain people and apps through, and each Focus can turn on automatically on a schedule or when you open a certain app.
- WallpaperWallpaper settings let you choose a still image, Apple's dynamic or live wallpapers that change with time of day, or your own photo collection to display as the Desktop background, with independent options per display.
- Sound Output & InputSound Output & Input settings let you select which speakers or headphones play audio and which microphone captures it, and adjust device-specific levels like output volume balance and input gain.
- Sound Effects & Alert VolumeSound Effects settings control which alert sound plays for system notifications and errors, its volume relative to media playback, and whether interface actions like Trash emptying play a sound.
- Notification Center WidgetsNotification Center's widget gallery lets you add, remove, and resize glanceable widgets for weather, calendar, reminders, and other apps, arranged in a stack you can scroll through.