Subscribe
5 min read

Use your phone less by using grayscale mode

By changing the colors on your phone's display to shades of gray, your phone will become less visually appealing which will help reduce your temptation to use it.

Use your phone less by using grayscale mode

Do you find yourself constantly checking your phone, even when you're not using it for a specific task? If you're struggling to disconnect from the digital world, grayscale mode may be the solution you've been looking for.

By changing the colors on your phone's display to shades of gray, grayscale mode makes your device less visually appealing and can help reduce your temptation to use it. In this blog post, I'll point out the benefits of grayscale mode and how to easily switch to it on your phone. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of how grayscale can help you use your phone less and disconnect more effectively from the digital world.

How to set up grayscale mode

On your iPhone

💡
This btw also works with your iPad and Mac.

On Android phones

Due to the variety of models and manufacturers it is challenging to provide an accurate guide for Android devices. But I'll try my best:

  • Open the Settings app, then tap Accessibility
  • Under the "Display", tap Text and Display
  • Tap "Color correction" and select Grayscale

To enable an on-screen shortcut button, find the Color correction shortcut option and turn it on. You should see a tiny, colored button you can move around your screen as needed.

If you can't find the above settings, you might want to check out the following guides:

Get most out of it by using automations

In my own experience I found it hard to remember to toggle on the grayscale mode. The moment I watched a video or looked at a picture, I switched back to the color mode, just to realize - days later - that my plan was to use my phone in grayscale. Yes, changing habits is challenging!

That's why I checked into ways to not have to think about it and let my phone do the work for me. What I have come up with are a set of different automation triggers. So whenever the following happens, my phone automatically turns on the grayscale mode:

  • When I go to bed (using my phone's bedtime feature)
  • When I connect my phone to a power source (also works with wireless charging)
  • When I disconnect my phone from a power source (usually when I get up or leave the house)
👉
iPhone: The video in this post will guide you through the setup

Android: I'm still looking for a good way of doing that with Android

This way, my phone is in grayscale mode most of the day, and I don't need to actively remember to toggle it back on. As a side-effect you will gradually get used to having your phone in shades of gray, and once you finish watching that photo or video, you will start turning it back on by yourself.

Benefits of using grayscale mode

  • Reduced phone usage: Because grayscale mode makes your phone less visually appealing, it can help reduce your temptation to use it as often. This can be especially helpful for those who find themselves constantly checking their phone or scrolling through social media.
  • Increased focus and mindfullness: By using grayscale mode, you may be able to reduce distractions and increase your focus and productivity when working or completing tasks. On top of that you will become more mindful when using your phone.
  • Could increase battery life: Grayscale mode can potentially extend the battery life of your phone, as the display uses less power when displaying shades of gray instead of full color. This only works if your phone has an AMOLED display.
  • Enhanced digital detox: Using grayscale mode can be a simple and effective way to take a break from the constant stimulation of the digital world and disconnect more easily.

~ I hope this post helps you gain back more control over your digital habits. Remember that one of the most precious things we can never get back, is our time. Don't let your devices steal your time without your consent. Share this post with your friends and loved ones ❤ ~

Bonus: Other ways to disconnect from your devices

Here are 11 additional tips that I would consider helpful to reduce the amount of time spent with our phones:

  • Turn off notifications: Consider turning off non-essential notifications, such as those from social media or games, to reduce the temptation to constantly check your phone.

This part of the article is exclusive
for my free subscribers

Already have an account? Sign in.