How to Make Your Android Screen Black and White or Grayscale

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Do you find yourself easily distracted by your phone? Studies have shown that sapping the color out of your smartphone can make a big difference. [1] This article will teach you some easy ways to make your Android screen black and white. You can do this to curb your phone addiction, increase ease of use if you're colorblind , or play a harmless prank on your best friend. Let's get started!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Accessibility Settings

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Note: This method requires Android 9.0.0 or higher. [2]

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    1
    Open the Settings app
    Android 7 Settings App
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    .     Its icon will usually look like a cog
    Android 7 Settings
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    . To do this, swipe up to open the app drawer. Then scroll down until you find the app. Click on it to open your device's settings.
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    2
    Go to the accessibility settings. They are usually bundled under a header called "Accessibility". Once inside Settings, scroll down until you find the relevant group. Then click on it.
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    3
    Look for color settings. On Google phones, find the option "Color and motion" under the "Display" subheader.
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    4
    Access color correction settings. Look for an option called "Color correction" or "Color filters".
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    5
    Enable color correction. Click on the switch
    Android 7 Switch Off
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    to turn it on
    Android 7 Switch On
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    . The setting for deuteranomaly (i.e. Red-green) is selected as default, so you may notice a slight change of colors on your screen as you enable the feature.
    • Skip this step if you already have color correction enabled on your device.
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    6
    Click on "Grayscale". Scroll down to find the 4th option so-called. Your screen will instantly turn black and white and all colors will be changed into a shade of gray.
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    7
    Return back to the home screen. Close the Settings app and use your smartphone as usual.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Developer Options

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Opening Settings

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    1
    Open the Settings app
    Android 7 Settings App
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    .     Its icon usually looks like a cog
    Android 7 Settings
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    . To do this, swipe up to open the app drawer. Then scroll down until you find the app. Click on it to open your device's settings.

Enabling Developer mode (skip if already enabled)

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    1
    Go to the "About phone" setting. This option is usually used to know all the information about your phone, such as Android version, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), etc.
    • If you are running an emulated instance, look for an option called "About emulated device".
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    2
    Find your build number. Depending on your device, it may be hidden behind an extra menu called "Version", or under a subheading called "Device identifiers" or similar.
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    3
    Click on the build number 7 times. As you approach 7 clicks, you will start seeing a message telling you about the progress (usually "You are now X step(s) away from being a developer.").
    • If developer options are already enabled on your device, you will see a message called "No need, you are already a developer.". In such a case, you can skip this subsubsection.
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    4
    Enter your device's password to confirm. Since developer options include a very sensitive set of settings, extra confirmation is required to enable these settings.
    • If your device does not have a password, you shall not be shown this interface and will not have to perform this extra step.
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    5
    Look for confirmation. A message saying "You are now a developer!" will show on your device. This means that developer mode has been enabled on your device and you may now access developer options.
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Accessing Developer Options

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    1
    Search developer options on the Search bar
    Android 7 Search
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    at the top.
    • Alternatively, you can access developer options directly by going to Settings > "System" > "Developer options".
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    2
    Click on "Developer options". It should be the first result in the search. You will then be taken to the developer options main page.
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    3
    Understand that you are in developer mode now. It contains a lot of sensitive settings, which if used incorrectly have the potential to cause a huge amount of damage to your device. Exercise extreme care while navigating through the options and try to avoid any misclicks.
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Switching to Grayscale mode

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    1
    Look for an option called "Simulate color space". This option helps Android app developers simulate what their app would look like if a person with vision problems were to browse their app. The option should be present under a subheading called "Hardware accelerated rendering". Then click on it.
    • If you have never fiddled with this setting before, it will say "Disabled" under the option.
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    2
    Click "Monochromacy" from the list of options that appears. Monochromacy limits a person's vision to just shades of gray [3] , so simulating that would essentially give you Grayscale mode on your device.
    • Notice the instant change of colors to black and white as you select the option.
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    3
    Return back to the home screen. Close the Settings app and use your smartphone as usual.
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      Tips

      • Grayscale mode merely applies a filter to your screen, so any screenshots shall retain their original color. You will be able to see the original colors of a screenshot by disabling the grayscale filter. [4]
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      • Due to the existence of many Android launchers, the hierarchy and organization of different settings and menus may differ from phone to phone. If you face trouble finding a particular setting, simply search for it directly using the Search bar at the top.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958823000271
      2. ↑ https://www.wired.com/story/grayscale-ios-android-smartphone-addiction/
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/1684677
      4. ↑ https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-enable-grayscale-android
      5. ↑ https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-activate-grayscale-on-mobile/

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