How to set the color temperature ("degree") on Android: from cold to warm

The color temperature of a smartphone screen is a parameter that many users ignore until they experience eye fatigue or distorted colors in photographs. On Android, this parameter is often called “degrees” (although technically it is more correct to talk about kelvin - units of measurement of color temperature). A cool tint (6500K and above) makes the screen bluish, and a warm tint (4000K and below) makes it yellowish, which is more comfortable for evening reading.

In this article we will look at all the ways to change the “degree” on Android: from standard manufacturer settings to third-party applications and hidden functions for experienced users. We will place special emphasis on models with AMOLED screens (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 or Google Pixel 7), where color rendering is critical for image quality. We will also explain why automatic adjustment through the light sensor does not always work correctly and how to fix it.

What is a “degree” on the Android screen and why change it

By “degree”, users usually mean color temperature, measured in kelvins (K). The higher the value, the cooler the tint (bluish), the lower the value, the warmer (yellowish-red). Standard range for smartphones:

• 🔵 6500K–7500K —cold (standard for daytime use, but tires the eyes in the evening).
• 🟡 4000K–5500K —neutral/warm (recommended for long-term use).
• 🔴 2700K–3500K —very warm (used in modes “Reading” or “Night light”).

In practice, changing color temperature helps:

• 📱 Reduce eye strain when working in the dark.
• 📸 More accurately calibrate colors for photographs and videos (important for graphic designers or photographers).
• 🔋 Extend service life AMOLED screensby reducing the intensity of blue color (the main “killer” of pixels).

Important: on some smartphones (for example, OnePlus 11 or Xiaomi 13 Pro), changing the color temperature is blocked in the “Wide color gamut” mode. To unlock the setting, switch to the sRGB profile in the screen menu.

Method 1: Standard Android settings (without root)

Most smartphones allow you to change the color temperature through the settings menu. The path to the option depends on the manufacturer and version Android (from Android 10 to Android 14 the interface may differ Below - instructions for popular ones). brands.

For Samsung (One UI 5/6)

On devices Samsung Galaxy (for example, Galaxy S22, Galaxy A54) the setting is hidden in the screen menu:

1. Open Settings → Screen.
2. Select White balance (or Color tone on older models).
3. Move the slider to the left (warm) or to the right (cold). Range: from ~4000K to ~7500K.

For Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO (MIUI 14)

In the firmware MIUI the option is called “Color temperature”:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Color Mode.
2. Select Customize next to “Color Temperature”.
3. Use the slider or enter the value in Kelvin manually (not available on all models).

For Google Pixel (Android 13/14)

On Pixel 6/7/8 the setting is integrated into “Adaptive Tone”:

1. Open Settings → Display → Colors.
2. Activate Adaptive tone (automatic adjustment) or select Natural/Rich and adjust the temperature manually.

Check the Android version in Settings → About phone

Disable power saving mode (may reset screen settings)

Make sure adaptive mode is enabled brightness (for correct operation of automatic adjustment)

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⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones (Realme, Oppo) manual adjustment of color temperature is blocked in the “Living Colors” or “DC dimming” modes. Before changing the parameters, switch to the standard display profile.

Method 2: Applications for fine calibration (without root)

If the standard settings are not satisfactory (for example, the adjustment step is too coarse), use third-party applications. work on top of the system and do not require rights root, but may slightly reduce performance.

• 📱 Night Shift — imitates “Night mode” with flexible temperature settings (from 1000K to 10000K) Supports scheduling and geolocation.
• 🎨 Twilight —focuses on protecting your eyesight, automatically adjusts the temperature over time. days.
• 🔍 Color Tuner — for experienced users: allows you to create your own color profiles (requires permission Overlay on top of other applications).

How to install and configure (for example Night Shift):

1. Download the application from Google Play.
2. Run and grant permission on Changing system settings (manually in Settings → Accessibility → Overlay).
3. In the main application menu, move the slider Color temperature or select a preliminary profile (for example, “Reading” for 3500K).
4. Activate the option Automatic mode and set up a schedule (for example, from 20:00 to 7:00).

⚠️ Attention: Applications like Night Shift or Twilight create color filter on top of the interface. This may conflict with games or applications that use immersive mode (for example, YouTube or Netflix). In such cases, temporarily disable the filter through the notification panel.

Method 3: ADB commands for advanced users

If your smartphone does not provide flexible color temperature settings, you can change it through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) This method requires connecting to a PC and turning it on USB debugging, but gives access to hidden parameters. system.

Warning: incorrect ADB commands may disrupt the screen. Before experiments, create a backup copy of the settings via adb backup or manually write down the current color profile values.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB debugging in Settings → About phone → Build number (press 7 times) → Settings → System → For developers.
2. Connect your smartphone to the PC and run the command:

   adb shell settings put global night_display_color_temperature 4500

   where 4500 — desired temperature in Kelvin (usually range 2000–10000).

3. To return the default settings, use:

   adb shell settings delete global night_display_color_temperature

For devices with Samsung Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon Additional commands may be required to apply changes:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.NIGHT_DISPLAY_CHANGED

Method 4: Configuration through the engineering menu (for advanced)

The engineering menu (##36446337## or ##4636##) allows you to fine-tune the screen parameters, including color temperature. Danger of the method: incorrect changes can lead to display failure or overheating of the matrix.

Step-by-step guide (using an example Samsung Galaxy):

1. Open the application Phone and enter code ##36446337## (for MediaTek — ##36446338##).
2. Go to section Hardware Testing → Display.
3. Select White Balance or Color Temperature.
4. Enter values for Red, Green, Blue (for example, 255, 240, 220 for a warm tint).
5. Save the settings and restart the device.

For devices on Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Xiaomi, OnePlus) use code ##4636##then:

1. Select Testing → Display Test.
2. Find option Color Temperature Adjustment.
3. Use the sliders to adjust (values are usually from 0 to 255 for each color channel).

⚠️ Attention: Changes in the engineering menu are not saved after resetting the settings or updating the firmware. Also, on some devices (Realme GT Neo 5, Oppo Find X6), access to the engineering menu is blocked by the manufacturer.

Method 5: Calibration using external devices

For professional calibration (for example, for working with graphics or video editing) use colorimeters (for example, X-Rite i1Display Pro or Datacolor SpyderX). These devices measure real screen parameters and create ICC profiles.

How to calibrate:

1. Connect the colorimeter to the PC and install the manufacturer's software (for example, DisplayCAL for X-Rite).
2. Start calibration following the app instructions (usually you need to place the sensor on the smartphone screen).
3. Export the resulting profile in format .icc or .3dlut.
4. Transfer the profile to your smartphone and apply it through applications like Display Calibration Loader (requires root).

Without root-rights, external calibration cannot be applied, but you can use a colorimeter to check the current settings. For example, if your Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in the “Natural tones” mode shows 6800K instead of the declared 6500K, this is a signal that manual adjustment is necessary.

Frequent. problems and their solutions

When changing the color temperature, users encounter typical errors. Here's how to fix them:

If after the changes the screen becomes dim or has a greenish tint, reset the color settings to standard:

• For Samsung: Settings → Display → Reset color settings.
• For Xiaomi: Settings → Display → Color mode → Reset.
• For Google Pixel: disable and enable again Adaptive tone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

adb shell settings delete global night_display_color_temperature