Where to find color settings on your iPhone

iPhone color settings live in different places depending on what you want to change. The most common route is Settings > Display & Brightness, which controls your screen appearance. From there you can switch between Light mode, Dark mode, or Auto (which changes based on time of day). You can also reach Display & Brightness by swiping down from the top-right corner, tapping the settings icon, and selecting Display & Brightness.

If you want to change the color of your home screen icons, app folders, or widgets, you'll need to use the Shortcuts app to create custom icons with different colors. This is a separate process from the built-in display modes. For text colors, accent colors, and interface elements, those are tied to your Light or Dark mode choice and cannot be customized individually without using accessibility features.

Key Takeaways

  • Light mode, Dark mode, and Auto mode are built into Settings > Display & Brightness and change your entire interface color scheme.
  • Dark mode reduces blue light and can extend battery life on iPhones with OLED screens.
  • Custom icon colors require the Shortcuts app and cannot be changed through standard settings.
  • Accessibility features like Color Filters and Smart Invert can shift the entire screen color palette for readability or vision needs.

Switching between Light and Dark mode

Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness. You'll see three options at the top: Light, Dark, and Auto. Tap Light to use the white background with dark text. Tap Dark to use a dark background with light text. Tap Auto to let your iPhone switch automatically based on sunset and sunrise times in your location.

Auto mode is the default on most iPhones. If you've manually set Light or Dark mode, your phone will stay in that mode until you change it again. You can also toggle Dark mode on and off from Control Center: swipe down from the top-right corner, long-press the brightness slider, and tap the Dark mode icon (a half-moon) to turn it on or off.

Using Color Filters for different color schemes

If you want to shift the entire color palette of your screen—not just switch between light and dark—use Color Filters. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, scroll down, and tap Color Filters. Turn on the toggle, then choose from Grayscale, Red/Green Filter, Green/Red Filter, Blue/Yellow Filter, or Color Tint.

Each filter adjusts how colors appear across your whole screen. Grayscale removes all color. The other filters help people with color blindness see content more clearly. You can also adjust the intensity slider to make the effect stronger or weaker. Once you turn on Color Filters, they stay active until you turn them off in the same menu.

Creating custom colored home screen icons

To make home screen icons appear in different colors, you need the Shortcuts app (built into iOS). Open Shortcuts, tap the + button to create a new shortcut, and tap Add Action. Search for "Open App" and select it. Choose the app you want to create a colored icon for.

Tap the three dots at the top right, then tap Add to Home Screen. You'll see options to name the shortcut and choose an icon. Tap the icon preview (usually a colored circle), then tap Choose Photo or Choose Color. Pick your color, then tap Add. Your new colored icon will appear on your home screen and open the app when tapped.

This method creates a shortcut that looks like a custom icon, not the app's original icon. You can make multiple versions of the same app with different colors if you want.

Changing accent colors in apps and menus

Most of the accent colors you see in iOS—the blue highlights, button colors, and link colors—are tied to your Light or Dark mode choice and cannot be changed individually through settings. However, you can use Smart Invert to flip all colors on your screen, which inverts accent colors along with everything else.

To turn on Smart Invert, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Smart Invert. This inverts colors while keeping images and videos looking normal. If you want a more extreme color shift, use Classic Invert instead, which inverts everything including images. Both options are in the same menu.

Adjusting text and background colors for readability

If you want to change text and background colors for easier reading, Increase Contrast is your option. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Increase Contrast. This makes text darker and backgrounds lighter (or vice versa in Dark mode) so text stands out more.

You can also adjust text size in the same menu by using the slider under Text Size. Larger text with higher contrast makes reading easier without changing the actual color palette. If you need even more control, turn on Bold Text in the same menu to make all text thicker and more visible.

Using Reduce White Point to dim bright colors

Reduce White Point dims the brightest parts of your screen without switching to Dark mode. This is useful if you find your iPhone too bright at night or want to reduce eye strain. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Reduce White Point. Adjust the slider to control how much dimming happens.

Unlike Dark mode, Reduce White Point keeps your Light mode interface but makes the white areas less intense. You can use this alongside Dark mode, Color Filters, or any other display setting. The effect is when ready and stays active until you turn it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dark mode save battery on all iPhones?

Dark mode saves battery on iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone 12 and newer, plus iPhone X and 11 Pro). On older iPhones with LCD screens, Dark mode makes no difference to battery life. The setting still reduces eye strain and blue light regardless of screen type.

Can I set different colors for different apps?

No, not through standard settings. Your Light or Dark mode applies to all apps at once. You can create custom colored home screen icons using Shortcuts (which open apps when tapped), but the app itself will still display in Light or Dark mode once it opens.

What's the difference between Smart Invert and Classic Invert?

Smart Invert flips colors but keeps photos and videos looking normal. Classic Invert flips everything, including images, which makes them look strange. Smart Invert is usually the better choice if you want inverted colors without breaking how photos appear.

Will Color Filters affect how photos look?

Yes. Color Filters explore to your entire screen, including photos, videos, and all content. If you turn on a Color Filter, it changes how every image appears. You can turn filters on and off anytime from Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters.

Can I schedule Dark mode to turn on at a specific time?

Yes. Set Dark mode to Auto in Settings > Display & Brightness, and it will switch based on sunset and sunrise in your location. You cannot set a custom time (like 8 PM), but Auto follows your local sun schedule automatically.