How to Turn Grayscale On or Off on iPhone

To turn grayscale on or off on an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and toggle on Color Filters, then select Grayscale. This setting applies instantly and can be toggled off by switching the Color Filters toggle off or choosing a different filter.

Why Use Grayscale on iPhone

Grayscale removes all color from the screen, displaying everything in black, white, and shades of gray. People use it for several reasons:

Reducing screen time: Without colorful app icons and photos, the phone feels less engaging, which can help curb mindless scrolling.
Improving readability: Some users with certain visual impairments or dyslexia find black-and-white text easier to read.
Battery saving: On OLED screens (iPhone X and later), black pixels are turned off, so a grayscale display may slightly extend battery life, though the effect is modest.
Focus and minimalism: A monochrome screen reduces visual clutter and distractions.

How to Turn Grayscale On (Step-by-Step)

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility.
Tap Display & Text Size.
Tap Color Filters.
Toggle on Color Filters at the top.
Select Grayscale from the list of filter options (Grayscale, Red/Green, Green/Red, Blue/Yellow).

The screen will immediately turn to black and white. To turn it off, repeat the steps and toggle off Color Filters, or select another filter.

How to Turn Grayscale Off

To disable grayscale, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and toggle off Color Filters. If you want to keep color filters on but use a different mode (e.g., for color blindness), simply choose a different filter option instead.

Quick Toggle with Accessibility Shortcut

Instead of digging through settings every time, you can set up a shortcut to toggle grayscale (and other accessibility features) with a triple-click of the side button (or Home button on older models).

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut (at the bottom of the main Accessibility page).
Tap Color Filters to add it to the shortcut list.
Now, triple-click the side button (or Home button) to quickly toggle Color Filters on/off. This will switch between your chosen filter (e.g., Grayscale) and no filter.

If you have multiple items in the shortcut list, a menu will appear each time you triple-click.

Using Grayscale with Other Accessibility Features

Grayscale works alongside other display accommodations like Increase Contrast, Reduce White Point, and Smart Invert. For example, you can combine grayscale with Reduce White Point to dim the screen further. These combinations are useful for people with light sensitivity or specific visual needs.

Note that Dark Mode does not turn off grayscale; it simply changes the background to black while still showing colors as gray shades.

Common Problems and Fixes

Grayscale won’t turn off: Make sure you toggle off Color Filters, not just select a different filter. If the screen stays gray, try restarting your iPhone.
Can’t find Color Filters: On older iOS versions, the path is the same but may be under Display Accommodations. Ensure your iPhone is running iOS 13 or later.
Grayscale turns on by itself: Check if the Accessibility Shortcut is enabled accidentally (triple-click side button). Also, check Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing—not related, but some users confuse settings.
Photos still show color in some apps: Some apps (like camera or photo editors) may bypass the system filter for preview. This is normal.

Grayscale vs. Other Color Filters

iOS offers several color filter options beyond grayscale:

Red/Green – for protanopia (red-green color blindness).
Green/Red – for deuteranopia (green-red color blindness).
Blue/Yellow – for tritanopia (blue-yellow color blindness).

These filters adjust hues to help distinguish colors. Grayscale is the only one that removes all color, which is why it’s used for focus and battery saving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does grayscale save battery on iPhone?

On OLED displays (iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 series), black pixels are turned off, so a grayscale screen that shows more black could save a small amount of battery. However, the impact is minimal because most apps still render white backgrounds. On LCD iPhones (iPhone 11, SE 2nd/3rd gen), there is no battery benefit.

Can I schedule grayscale to turn on automatically?

No, iOS does not have a built-in schedule for grayscale. You can use the Accessibility Shortcut to toggle it manually, or use the Shortcuts app to create an automation (e.g., at a certain time) that toggles Color Filters, but this requires setting up a shortcut action.

Why does my iPhone screen look gray after updating?

If your screen appears gray after an update, check if Color Filters are enabled. Sometimes updates reset accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and ensure it’s off.

Does grayscale affect screenshots or photos taken?

No, grayscale only affects the display. Screenshots taken while grayscale is on will still capture full color data, and photos taken with the camera will be in color. The filter is purely a display setting.

Can I use grayscale on iPhone with Face ID?

Yes, grayscale does not interfere with Face ID, Touch ID, or any security features. It only changes the color rendering of the screen.

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

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