Enable Color Filters on iPhone for Soothing Display

Color Filters on iPhone are an accessibility feature that adjusts the entire screen’s color palette, which can reduce eye strain, make the display easier to read, or simply give it a warmer, calmer tone. This guide walks you through turning them on and customizing them to your liking. You only need your iPhone and a few minutes—no additional apps or tools are required.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 13 or later (the steps are nearly identical on all recent versions).
Access to the Settings app (pre-installed).
Optional: a pair of glasses if you normally wear them, since you’ll be judging the screen’s appearance.

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen or in your App Library.
Go to Accessibility. Scroll down and tap “Accessibility.” It’s usually in the third group of options.
Tap Display & Text Size. Under the “Vision” section, tap “Display & Text Size.”
Select Color Filters. Scroll down and tap “Color Filters.” This is near the bottom of the page.
Turn on the toggle. At the top of the Color Filters screen, flip the switch next to “Color Filters” to the green ON position. The screen will immediately change appearance.
Choose a filter type. Tap “Filter Type” and select one of the options. For a soothing display, “Color Tint” is the most common choice. Other options include Grayscale, Red/Green (for protanopia), Green/Red (for deuteranopia), and Blue/Yellow (for tritanopia).
Adjust the intensity (if you chose Color Tint). After selecting “Color Tint,” two sliders appear below. Drag the “Intensity” slider to control how strong the tint is—a low setting like 20-30% is usually enough for a subtle, soothing effect.
Pick a hue. Use the “Hue” slider to choose the actual color. Slide it toward the red/orange end (around 0.5 to 1.0) for a warm amber tone, which is often considered relaxing and easier on the eyes at night. You can also experiment with other hues.
Adjust brightness if needed. Some users find that the tint makes the screen look dimmer or brighter. You can go back to Settings > Display & Brightness and adjust the brightness slider, or use Control Center to do it quickly.
Exit Settings. Your changes save automatically. The filter will stay on until you turn it off here or set up a shortcut (see Tips below).

Common Mistakes

Choosing a filter type that’s not meant for soothing. Grayscale or the color-blindness filters can make the screen look odd or harsh. Stick with “Color Tint” for a calming effect.
Setting the intensity too high. A 100% intensity tint can make the screen almost unreadable and might cause more eye strain. Start low and increase gradually.
Forgetting that the filter applies to everything. The tint affects photos, videos, and games. If you watch a lot of media, a strong tint will change how colors appear in movies and shows.
Not adjusting the hue correctly. A hue slider set to blue or purple can be more tiring than helpful. Warm hues (orange, amber, sepia) are generally the most soothing.
Turning it off by accident. If you use the Accessibility Shortcut (triple-click side button) to toggle filters, you might accidentally turn them off without realizing it.

Tips

Set up a shortcut. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and select “Color Filters.” Now you can triple-click the side button (or Home button on older models) to quickly turn the filter on or off without digging through menus.
Combine with Night Shift. For an even warmer display, enable Night Shift (Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift) and set it to “Sunset to Sunrise.” The two work together to reduce blue light.
Use a low intensity for everyday use. A 10-20% intensity with a warm hue can be a subtle, permanent change that reduces glare without making your phone look weird.
Experiment with different hues. While warm tones are popular, some people find a slight green or pink tint more soothing. Try a few and see what feels best for your eyes.
Create a separate focus mode. You can pair Color Filters with a Focus mode (like “Sleep”) to automatically enable the tint when you activate that focus. Set this up in Settings > Focus, then choose a Focus and tap “Add Filter” > “Color Filters.”

Troubleshooting

The filter doesn’t seem to change anything. Make sure the toggle is green and that you’ve selected a filter type other than “None.” If you chose “Color Tint,” check that the Intensity slider isn’t set to 0%.
The screen looks too dark or too bright. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and adjust the brightness slider. The tint can sometimes make the screen appear dimmer, so you may need to increase brightness slightly.
Colors look wrong in photos. This is normal—the filter changes the entire display. If you need accurate colors for photo editing, turn off Color Filters temporarily using the Accessibility Shortcut.
The filter turns off by itself. If you have an Accessibility Shortcut assigned, you might be accidentally triple-clicking the side button. Check your shortcut settings and consider removing Color Filters from the shortcut list.
Can’t find the Color Filters option. Ensure you’re looking under Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, not under Settings > Display & Brightness. The option is only in the Accessibility menu.
The tint looks different on the lock screen. The lock screen wallpaper may have its own color adjustments. The filter applies to all system UI, but some wallpapers can make the tint appear more or less noticeable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Color Filters drain my battery?

No, Color Filters are a software-level adjustment and have no noticeable effect on battery life.

Can I use Color Filters with Dark Mode?

Yes, Color Filters work independently of Dark Mode. You can use both together for a very dim, warm display.

Does Color Filters affect screenshots?

No, screenshots capture the original colors, not the filtered appearance. If you share a screenshot, the recipient will see normal colors.

Can I set a schedule for Color Filters?

Not directly, but you can use the Shortcuts app to create an automation that turns Color Filters on or off at specific times or when you open certain apps.

Is Color Filters the same as Night Shift?

No. Night Shift only reduces blue light and shifts the screen to a warmer color temperature. Color Filters are more flexible—you can choose any hue and intensity, including grayscale or color-blindness corrections.

Will Color Filters fix my eye strain completely?

It can help reduce strain caused by harsh blue light or bright whites, but it’s not a medical solution. If you have persistent eye discomfort, consider taking regular breaks and consulting an eye care professional.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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