Switching your phone from black and white back to color can be done in just a few quick steps. Many people choose to make their phone display black and white to help minimize distractions or reduce eye strain. However, there are times when you’ll want to revert back to having a full color display screen. Follow the instructions below to easily change the settings on your phone.
Check Your Phone’s Display Settings
The first step is to open your phone’s main Settings app. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. On Android phones, open Settings and look for Display. The exact settings may vary slightly depending on your specific phone model and operating system version.
Once in your Display settings, look for options related to color filters or color inversion. There may be a toggle to turn Grayscale or Black & White mode on or off. Disable this option to return to a full color display.
On iPhones, the setting will be called Color Filters. Turn this off to get back regular color. On Samsung devices, there is a Grayscale toggle under Display > Color adjustment. Turn this off. Other Android phones may have similar toggles under Accessibility or Display settings.
Use Your Phone’s Quick Settings
Another way to quickly change your display from black and white back to color is through your phone’s Quick Settings menu. On an iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center. Look for an icon labeled Color Filters – tap it to toggle the setting on or off.
On Android, swipe down from the top to open Quick Settings. Look for the icon labeled Grayscale or Color correction – tap it to revert back to full color mode. This offers a handy shortcut without digging through your Settings menus.
Use Your Phone’s Triple Click Accessibility Shortcut
Both iPhone and many Android phones offer a fast way to toggle certain Accessibility settings by triple clicking the side or home button.
On an iPhone 8 or earlier, quickly click the Home button 3 times. On an iPhone X or later, triple click the side button instead. This will open a menu where you can disable the Color Filters option.
For Android, go to Settings > Accessibility and enable the Triple tap shortcut menu. Then triple tap your phone’s home or side button to bring up available accessibility toggles, including Grayscale or Color inversion modes which can be turned off here.
Restart Your Phone
Restarting your smartphone will also disable any black and white filter that’s currently applied. Simply power your phone off completely, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This will reset all settings and allow the display to return to its regular color mode.
Check That App Settings Haven’t Changed Your Display
Sometimes black and white filters can be applied by individual apps rather than systemwide. Check the settings of apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Kindle, or news apps to see if any have enabled their own grayscale modes. You can disable these filters individually in each app.
Also check for any display-related apps you may have downloaded from the app store. Apps that claim to reduce eye strain or help sleep often have color reducing filters that can be disabled in the app’s settings.
Update Your Phone Software
If your phone is stuck in black and white mode even after adjusting settings, try updating your operating system software. Open Settings, go to System > Software Update and install the latest OS update available.
Updating to the newest iOS or Android version can help resolve any bugs that may be incorrectly forcing your display to stay black and white against your wishes.
Restore Your Phone to Factory Settings
If all else fails, a last resort option is to perform a factory reset on your smartphone. This will erase all data and restore your phone to like-new condition. Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings on iPhone or Factory Data Reset on Android.
Once your phone reboots, it should be back to a normal color display. You can then restore apps and data from an iCloud or Google backup. This ensures any corrupted settings get wiped clean.
Get Help from Your Device Manufacturer
For additional support troubleshooting a black and white display, contact your phone’s manufacturer. Apple, Samsung, Google and other major brands all have customer service teams that can help identify and fix issues with your specific model.
They may have specialized tools or advanced tech support methods for resetting display settings and confirming proper hardware operation. Getting assistance directly from the source can often resolve problems quickly.
Conclusion
While black and white modes have their uses, most people prefer having a bright, colorful screen for daily use. Thankfully, it is quite simple to change your phone’s display back to normal color mode through your Settings app or Quick Settings menu.
If adjustments don’t work, performing a full software update or factory reset as a last resort can get your screen looking right. With a few quick taps, you’ll be back to enjoying your phone’s display in its full vibrant glory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my phone go to black and white in the first place?
There are a few common reasons your phone may have switched to black and white mode:
- You enabled a grayscale or color inversion filter in your phone’s Accessibility settings.
- You activated a black and white or night mode theme or reading mode in an individual app.
- There is a software bug or glitch incorrectly applying a color filter.
- Your phone’s display hardware is faulty and defaulting to monochrome.
Will all phone models have a black and white filter setting?
Most modern iPhone and Android phones support toggling grayscale or monochrome modes on/off. But the exact setting may be named differently or located in a different menu depending on your model. Check Display, Accessibility, Digital Wellbeing, or similar sections.
What if I use my phone’s black and white mode regularly?
If you prefer using your phone in grayscale, you can easily re-enable this after switching temporarily back to color. The black and white and color modes are designed to be toggled on and off based on your current needs and preferences.
Can being in black and white mode permanently damage my display?
No, using your phone in black and white or grayscale mode does not cause any permanent damage. It simply adjusts the output of colors. You can go back to regular color display at any time without issue. Extended black and white use may cause temporary eye fatigue as you adapt.
Will my apps work properly in black and white?
Most apps are designed to gracefully degrade to a grayscale view. But certain apps that rely heavily on colors, photos, or videos may not work optimally. Switching back to color mode will restore full functionality. A factory reset can also help if apps misbehave due to incorrect color settings.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters on iPhone or Settings > Display > Grayscale on Android.
- Toggle the black and white filter off in your phone’s display settings.
- Use Quick Settings or the Accessibility shortcut to quickly change color modes.
- Check individual app settings for any color filters enabled.
- Update your phone software and do a factory reset if issues persist.
- Contact device manufacturer support if you can’t resolve a stuck black and white display.
| Platform | Settings Location |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters |
| Android | Settings > Display > Grayscale |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > Display > Color adjustment > Grayscale |
| Troubleshooting Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Check app settings | Disable grayscale in individual apps |
| Update software | Install latest OS version |
| Factory reset | Erase all data and settings |
| Contact support | Get help from device manufacturer |
