How to Turn on Grayscale on an iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide (with Photos)

Updated: September 6, 2023 by Alexandra Frost | Leave a comment

Key Points:

Grayscale mode is a color setting on Android and iOS devices that displays imagery and photos in black and white.
Unlike accurate black-and-white photos, grayscale mode preserves detail and subtlety in the shadows and highlights.
Using grayscale mode can help you conserve battery power, which is ideal if you’re trying to extend the life of your device.

Have you ever seen those black-and-white photos on an iPhone and thought, “man, that’s a really cool effect!”? Well, it turns out you can get that same look on your iPhone without any extra apps or filters.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with what this mode does, this nifty little feature turns all of your colors into various shades of gray, which can give your phone a more classic or dramatic feel, depending on what you’re going for. Plus, it can be great if you’re trying to cut down on screen time or want to change things up a bit.

So, if you want a more subtle or professional look for your phone, read on and find out how to turn on grayscale on an iPhone! Let’s dive in!

What is Grayscale Mode?

Grayscale mode is a color setting on Android and iOS devices that displays imagery and photos in black and white. When the grayscale mode is enabled, Androids and iOS devices turn all color images and videos into corresponding shades of gray.

When applied, this filter also makes the image look like it’s been converted to black and white. However, unlike accurate black-and-white photos, grayscale mode preserves detail and subtlety in the shadows and highlights.

As a result, grayscale images can often appear more striking and realistic than their color counterparts. Additionally, the grayscale mode can be used to create stunning visual effects that appear crisp and with depth. For these reasons, the grayscale mode has become famous for professional and amateur photographers.

How to Turn on Grayscale Mode on Your iPhone

Turning on grayscale mode on your iPhone may seem daunting, but it’s pretty simple.

All you have to do is follow these easy steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
Scroll down and tap on Display & Text Size.
Tap on Color Filters.
Tap on the color filter switches to turn them on.
Tap on grayscale.

That’s it! Your iPhone is now in grayscale mode.

autocorrect — *First, open the **Settings** app.*
©History-Computer.com

Turn on grayscale steps — *Tap on **Accessibility**.*

*Open **Color Filters** and toggle on the switch so it turns green, indicating it’s on.*

Check out the video below to see just how easy it is to change your phone to grayscale mode.

The Benefits of Using Grayscale Mode

There are several benefits to using grayscale mode, such as reducing screen time, cutting down on distractions, and even saving battery life. Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.

It Can Help You Conserve Battery Life

Using grayscale mode can help you conserve battery power, which is ideal if you’re trying to extend the life of your device. This is because the pixels in grayscale screens use less energy than those with color screens.

It is Easier on Your Eyes

If you find yourself staring at your phone screen for long periods, you may want to consider using grayscale mode. The reduced color palette can be more accessible to your eyes, reducing eye fatigue.

It Can Help You Focus

The lack of color in grayscale mode can help you focus on the task. This is because no distracting colors divert your attention from what you’re trying to read or watch.

It Can Help Reduce Screen Glare

If you’re having trouble seeing your screen in direct sunlight, switching to grayscale mode may help. This is because the decreased amount of light emitted from the screen can help reduce screen glare.

It Can Help You Stay in the Moment

If you’re trying to be more present and mindful, using grayscale mode can help. This is because it can prevent you from getting distracted by notifications and other content on your screen.

You Can Customize Your Home Screen

When using the grayscale mode, you have the opportunity to get creative with your home screen design. Since there are only two colors, you can be creative with how you arrange your apps and widgets. If you get bored with one look, it’s easy to change it up without having to buy anything new!

How to Customize Your Look in Grayscale Mode

Customizing your look is perfect if you want your phone to reflect your style. With grayscale mode, it’s easy to do!

1. Choosing A Custom Wallpaper

One way to personalize your look in grayscale mode is to choose custom wallpaper. This can be any image you select, and you can either upload it from your computer or take a new photo with your iPhone.

To change your wallpaper, go to Settings –> Wallpaper –> Choose New Wallpaper. From there, select the image you want to use and tap Set.

turn on grayscale iphone settings — *From **Settings**, click on **Wallpaper**.*

2. Selecting A Different Font

Another way to customize your look in grayscale mode is to select a different font. To do this, go to Settings –> Accessibility –> Display Accommodations –> Color Filters.

Under the Color Filters section, tap on Color Tint and select Grayscale. Finally, under the Grayscale section, tap on the Font button and choose the font that you want to use.

3. Creating A Custom Icon

A third way to personalize your look in grayscale mode is to create a custom icon. To do this, go to Settings –> General –> Accessibility –> Display Accommodations –> Color Filters. Under the Color Filters section, tap on Color Tint and select Grayscale. Finally, under the Grayscale section, tap on the icon and choose the image you want to use for your icon.

4. Changing the Brightness

The final way to customize your look in grayscale mode is to change the brightness of your display. To do this, go to Settings –> Display & Brightness –> Brightness. You can adjust the brightness slider to achieve the perfect light level for your needs.

5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Grayscale Mode

iPhone users looking to get the most out of grayscale mode should follow these five tips:

1. Use Grayscale Mode in Short Bursts

Staring at a completely grayscale screen for extended periods can tax the eyes. iPhone users should aim to use grayscale mode in short spurts throughout the day.

2. Take Advantage of Night Shift

iPhone’s built-in Night Shift feature can help reduce eye strain when using grayscale mode by tinting the display a warmer color after sunset.

3. Increase Text Size and Boldness

One of the benefits of using grayscale mode is that it can make small text easier to read. iPhone users can take advantage of this by increasing the text size and boldness in Settings –> Display & Brightness –> Text Size & Boldness.

4. Use Dark Mode

In addition to making the text more legible, Dark Mode also helps conserve battery life on OLED iPhone models. iPhone users can enable Dark Mode by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and selecting the “Dark” option under Appearance.

5. Customize Your Wallpaper

A black or dark gray wallpaper will help minimize distractions and make it easier to focus on content in grayscale mode. iPhone users can set a custom wallpaper by going to Settings –> Wallpaper –> Choose a New Wallpaper, and selecting the Stills category at the bottom of the page.

How to Turn Off Grayscale Mode

iPhone users may find themselves accidentally enabling grayscale mode while adjusting the color filters in Accessibility settings. This can make the iPhone’s display harder to look at for extended periods, so it’s essential to know how to turn off grayscale mode. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility.
Tap Display & Text Size.
Tap Color Filters.
Tap the switch next to Color Filters to turn them off.

How Many Shades Does Grayscale Have?

Grayscale images are typically stored with 8 bits per pixel, giving a maximum variety of 256 shades of gray from black to white. In some cases, higher bit depths are used, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that there are more shades of gray, just that each shade can be represented with greater precision. For example, 10-bit grayscale only allows 1,024 distinct shades, while 12-bit grayscale yields 4,096 unique shades.

So, at its core, grayscale only has a few different shades. But, when you factor in all the different tones and hues that can be achieved by varying the brightness and contrast of an image, the number of possible gray tones grows exponentially. In other words, depending on how you look at it, grayscale can have anywhere from a handful to an infinite number of shades.

Final Thoughts

Grayscale mode can be a great way to save battery life or change up the look of your device for a little bit. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the comment section below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check grayscale?

You can inspect each pixel to verify that it is grayscale (R, G, and B are all equal).

What is RGB?

RGB (red, green, blue) is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. The model’s name comes from the initials of the three additive primary colors: red, green, and blue.

How is grayscale used?

Grayscale is often used to refer to black-and-white images, but it can also describe various shades of gray. In graphic design, grayscale is sometimes used as an alternative to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) when printing black-and-white images. This is because CMYK is a subtractive color model, which means it starts with white and subtracts color from it. This can sometimes result in muddy or unintended colors when printing black-and-white images.

Is grayscale the same as black and white?

The term grayscale is often used interchangeably with black and white, but there is a subtle difference. Black and white images are binary, which means they only contain two colors: black and white. On the other hand, grayscale photos can have a range of gray tones from black to white.

How do I convert an image to grayscale?

There are several ways to convert an image to a grayscale. One standard method is to desaturate the image, which can be done in most photo editing software. Another option is to convert the image to black and white, resulting in a two-color picture.