Night Shift warms your iPhone’s screen colors in the evening, cutting down the blue light that can make a bright display feel harsh at night. It arrived in iOS 9.3 and works the same way in iOS 10. You can switch it on instantly, schedule it for sunset to sunrise, or set your own hours, and you can choose how warm the screen gets.
Quick Answer
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift. Turn on Scheduled to run it automatically, or turn on Manually Enable Until Tomorrow to start it now. In iOS 10 you can also swipe up to open Control Center and tap the Night Shift button.
What You Need
- An iPhone 5s or later (or a supported iPad or iPod touch) running iOS 9.3 or later.
- For the Sunset to Sunrise schedule, Location Services must be on so the phone knows local sunset times (see the troubleshooting section below).
Turn On Night Shift from Control Center (iOS 10)
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to open Control Center.
- Tap the Night Shift button (the sun-and-moon icon) below the brightness slider. It turns white when it’s on.
- Tap it again to turn Night Shift off.
When you turn it on this way, it stays on until the next morning, or until your scheduled end time if you have a schedule. On iOS 11 and later, Control Center changed: press and hold the brightness slider, then tap the Night Shift button.
Schedule Night Shift in Settings
- Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Night Shift.
- Turn on Scheduled.
- Tap the From / To row and choose Sunset to Sunrise, or choose Custom Schedule and set Turn On At and Turn Off At times.
- Tap Back. Night Shift will now start and stop on its own every day.
Turn It On Right Now
On the same Night Shift screen, turn on Manually Enable Until Tomorrow. The screen warms immediately and returns to normal the next morning (or at your scheduled off time). Turn the switch off to end it early.
Change the Color Temperature
Drag the Color Temperature slider toward More Warm for a stronger amber tint, or toward Less Warm for a subtler change. While Night Shift is off, the phone shows a brief preview as you drag. Many people start around the middle and adjust after a night or two.
Troubleshooting
- Sunset to Sunrise is missing: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, make sure Location Services is on, then tap System Services and turn on Setting Time Zone.
- Night Shift button is grayed out: Your device may be too old (iPhone 5s is the minimum), or a restriction may be set. Check Settings > General > Restrictions.
- Screen looks too yellow in photos or while editing: Turn Night Shift off temporarily from Control Center; screenshots are not affected by the tint.
- It doesn’t turn on at the right time: Confirm the time zone is correct under Settings > General > Date & Time.
Night Shift vs. Other Display Options
- Night Shift changes color warmth only; brightness stays the same.
- Brightness (Control Center slider or Settings) dims the screen. Using both together is usually easiest on the eyes at night.
- Reduce White Point in Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations lowers the intensity of bright colors for even dimmer use.
- Dark Mode isn’t available on iOS 10; it arrived in iOS 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Night Shift help me sleep?
Night Shift reduces blue light, which some people find more comfortable at night. Research on whether screen color filters improve sleep is mixed, so reducing screen time before bed is still the most reliable habit.
Does Night Shift use more battery?
No. It only changes the color balance of the display, so battery impact is negligible.
Why don’t I see Night Shift on my iPhone?
You need iOS 9.3 or later and an iPhone 5s or newer. Update in Settings > General > Software Update.
Summary
- Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift.
- Turn on Scheduled and pick Sunset to Sunrise or a custom schedule.
- Use Manually Enable Until Tomorrow or the Control Center button to start it now.
- Adjust the Color Temperature slider to your liking.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.