How to change the color temperature of the screen for comfortable reading and working at night

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 16:39

Special apps and built-in system settings save your eyesight and help you fall asleep faster.

If you find it difficult to fall asleep, your gadgets may be to blame. Blue light from computer screens, smartphones and tablets lowers melatonin levels in the body, which improves concentration. And it prevents you from falling asleep.

Of course, the best way to fix this is not to use your device before bed. But not everyone has enough willpower to take such a decisive step. It is much easier to make the color gamut of the screen warmer and softer.

Built-in tools

1. Night Light

Platforms: Windows.

This is a standard setting that is present in all editions of Windows 10 (except for Windows 10 LTSB). You can find it at "Parameters" → "System" → "Screen".

You can customize the Night Light function by setting a color temperature setting and by setting a schedule for the filter to turn on.

2. Night Light

Platforms: Android.

Many Android firmwares have a built-in night mode feature too. On different firmwares, it is called differently, but it is always found in the screen settings. On smartphones with Android Pie, look for "Night mode", on Samsung - "Blue light filter", on Huawei - "Eye protection", on Xiaomi devices - "Reading mode".

3. Night Shift

Platforms: macOS.

This is a special macOS feature that adjusts the color gamut of the screen based on the time of day. It's on the Night Shift tab in the Monitors section of System Preferences.

4. Night Shift

Platforms: iOS.

A similar feature is present in iOS, and here it appeared much earlier than on the Mac. To enable it, go to Settings → Display and Brightness → Night Shift and go to the Scheduled section, and then specify the time when you want to shade the screen.

Third party funds

For those who find the standard settings somewhat meager, it is worth trying out third-party applications for regulating color temperature.

1.f.lux

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.

f.lux is extremely simple, takes up little space, and works great. Install it, specify your location, choose what time you are usually awake, and the program will do the rest for you.

The app has several presets. For example, Reduce Eyestrain to reduce eye strain when sitting in front of a monitor for a long time. Or Working late for those who work late.

Download f.lux →

2. LightBulb

Platforms: Windows.

In terms of functionality, LightBulb is identical to f.lux, only asks even fewer questions. The application does not ask for a location, but determines it automatically. In the LightBulb settings, you can choose the color gamut, the time of dusk and dawn, and the sharpness of the transition from daylight to night.

LightBulb is configured as needed so that filters are reset when full screen applications are launched. Then you can play and watch movies in the evenings without changing the color scheme.

Download LightBulb →

3. Blue Light Filter

Platforms: Android.

Blue Light Filter has a simple and attractive interface where you can choose from different night lighting options. Filters of different intensities simulate candlelight, sunlight and electric light, at sunrise, sunset, and so on. Their intensity is adjusted using the sliders.

The application supports the inclusion of a schedule. The free version of Blue Light Filter has ads, but no other restrictions.

4. Twilight

Platforms: Android.

A very popular and convenient application for adjusting the color temperature of the display. In it you have to create your own screen settings profiles or use one of the ready-made presets. The three sliders at the top adjust the color gamut, intensity, and screen dimming. There is a scheduled activation of filters and integration with the Sleep as Android alarm clock.

In the Pro version of the application, you can adjust the speed of the transition from daylight to nighttime, as well as turn on stopping the Twilight background process to conserve battery power.

5. Midnight

Platforms: Android.

A simple application with a minimum of settings. Its advantage is the ability to select a filter shade for the screen. There are yellowish, blue, red, and normal shading.

Filters are enabled manually or on a schedule. If any of them work at the wrong time, just shake the device and Midnight will reset the settings.

All functions of the app are free, but you have to pay to disable ads.

6. Night Owl

Platforms: Android.

The cutest app of all. Allows you to adjust the color gamut of the screen using the sliders - red, blue and green. Supports shake-to-shutdown feature. Night Owl can be controlled through the system shutter. But, unfortunately, the scheduler is not available in the free version of the application.

7. Red Moon

Platforms: Android.

Finally, if you don't want to pay for such small programs, you can try Red Moon. This application is free and has no functionality limitations. In addition, it is open source. Red Moon includes filters automatically or on demand and is flexibly configured using custom profiles.

You can buy Red Moon on Google Play if you want to support the development. The application can be downloaded for free from the F-Droid repository.

Download Red Moon →

In addition, you can enable the night theme on your device. For example, in your browser or in Android applications. White text on a dark background works better in the dark.