Display and appearance
Night Shift
Most people call this the warm yellow screen in the evening.
Night Shift shifts the display towards warmer colours on a schedule, usually from sunset to sunrise.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 9 and later
- Settings
- Display & Brightness
- Night Shift
What it does
It reduces the blue component of the display's white point. You can set a fixed schedule, follow sunset and sunrise, or turn it on manually until tomorrow, and you can choose how warm it goes.
What changes
When it is on
Colours warm up during the scheduled hours. Photo and video editing becomes unreliable.
When it is off
The display keeps its normal white point at all hours.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- A warmer screen is easier on the eyes in a dark room.
- It marks the end of the day without you having to think about it.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Colour accuracy matters for editing photos or choosing colours.
- You find the shift more distracting than helpful.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off until you enable it, then it follows the schedule you choose.
Questions people actually ask
- Why is my iPhone screen yellow?
- Night Shift or True Tone, usually. Turn each off in turn to see which one it is.
- Does Night Shift help you sleep?
- It reduces blue light, though the evidence that this improves sleep is mixed. Many people simply find it more comfortable.
If it is not working
- A yellow screen can also be True Tone reacting to warm room lighting, which is a different setting.
- Sunset to sunrise needs Location Services to know when sunset is.
- Colour Filters can also tint the display and is under Accessibility.
Related settings
- True Tone Sensors measure the colour of the light around you and adjust the...
- Dark Mode Dark Mode switches the system and supporting apps to a dark colour...
- Color Filters Colour Filters adjusts the display for colour vision differences, or...
- Auto-Brightness The ambient light sensor raises and lowers screen brightness to match...