If you’ve explored the display settings on your iPhone, you may have noticed an option called True Tone. But unless you’ve switched it on and off to compare, it’s not immediately obvious what it does.
In simple terms, True Tone is an iPhone display feature that automatically adjusts the colour and intensity of your screen based on the light around you.
The goal is to make your display look more natural in different environments. Under warm indoor lighting, for example, your screen may take on a slightly warmer tone. Move somewhere with cooler lighting, and the display adjusts accordingly.
For most people, True Tone can simply be left on. But there are situations where you might want to turn it off — particularly if accurate and consistent colours are important.
What Is True Tone on iPhone?
True Tone is a display technology that uses your iPhone’s sensors to measure the ambient light around you. Your iPhone then automatically adjusts the colour temperature and intensity of its display to suit your surroundings.
Without True Tone, the colour temperature of your screen stays relatively consistent regardless of where you are. That means a white background that looks natural in one environment might appear unusually blue or bright in another.
True Tone compensates for these changes in lighting, helping whites and other colours appear more natural.
It’s important to note that True Tone only changes how content looks on your screen. It doesn't alter your photos, videos or other files.
What Does True Tone Do on iPhone?
True Tone continuously adapts your iPhone display to the lighting conditions around you.
You might not notice the feature working because the adjustments are designed to be subtle. But if you turn True Tone off and on while sitting under warm indoor lighting, the difference can be fairly obvious.
With True Tone enabled, your iPhone may:
- Make the display warmer under warm indoor lighting
- Adjust the screen as you move between different lighting environments
- Make whites appear more natural relative to your surroundings
- Reduce the need to manually adjust your display
The result is a screen that adapts to the environment rather than looking exactly the same everywhere you use it.
How Does True Tone Work?
Your iPhone has sensors that measure the colour and brightness of the light around you. True Tone uses this information to determine how the display should look in your current environment.
The adjustment happens automatically. If you walk from a room with warm lighting into an area with cooler natural light, your iPhone can change its display to compensate.
True Tone doesn't simply make your screen warmer all the time. The display can become warmer or cooler depending on your surroundings.
## Should True Tone Be On or Off?
For most people, there’s no reason to turn True Tone off. It’s designed to make your iPhone display look more natural, and you generally don't have to think about it once it’s enabled.
There are some exceptions, however.
Reasons to Keep True Tone On
True Tone can be useful because it:
- Automatically adapts your screen to different environments
- Makes whites and colours look more natural under different lighting
- Can make the display more comfortable to look at
- Requires no manual adjustment once enabled
For everyday activities like browsing the web, messaging, reading and watching videos, leaving True Tone on is generally a good choice.
Reasons to Turn True Tone Off
You may prefer to disable True Tone if:
- You want your display to have a consistent colour temperature
- You're editing photos or videos where colour accuracy is particularly important
- You simply prefer how your iPhone screen looks without it
There’s no downside to experimenting. Try using your phone with True Tone on and off and choose whichever display you prefer.
How to Turn True Tone On or Off on iPhone
You can control True Tone through your iPhone's display settings.
Using Settings
To turn True Tone on or off:
1. Open Settings
2. Tap Display & Brightness
3. Find True Tone
4. Toggle the setting on or off
The change happens immediately, so you can easily compare how your screen looks with each setting.
Using Control Center
You can also access True Tone without opening Settings:
1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center
2. Press and hold the brightness slider
3. Tap True Tone to turn it on or off
This is particularly useful if you occasionally disable True Tone while editing photos but want it enabled the rest of the time.
True Tone vs. Night Shift: What’s the Difference?
True Tone and Night Shift both change the colour temperature of your iPhone display, so it's easy to confuse the two. However, they serve different purposes.
True Tone adjusts the display according to the ambient light around you. Its purpose is to make the screen look more natural in your current environment, and it can make the display either warmer or cooler.
Night Shift deliberately shifts your display toward warmer colours. It can be scheduled to activate in the evening and turn off again in the morning.
You don't have to choose between them. True Tone and Night Shift can both be enabled, and your iPhone will manage the display accordingly.
Does True Tone Affect Battery Life?
True Tone uses your iPhone's sensors and makes ongoing adjustments to the display, but its effect on overall battery life is generally minor.
If your goal is to make your iPhone battery last longer, changing your screen brightness is likely to have a much greater impact than disabling True Tone.
In other words, there’s little reason to turn off True Tone solely to conserve battery.
Does True Tone Affect Photos?
True Tone can change how a photo appears on your iPhone screen, but it doesn't change the photo itself.
For example, if True Tone makes your display warmer because you're sitting in a warmly lit room, a photo may also appear somewhat warmer on your screen. The actual image file hasn't been modified.
If you send the photo to someone else, upload it online or view it on another display, your True Tone setting doesn't travel with it.
This is one reason photographers, designers and other users doing colour-sensitive work may prefer to temporarily disable True Tone. A consistent display can make it easier to judge colours accurately.
Why Is True Tone Missing on My iPhone?
If you don't see True Tone under Display & Brightness, there are a few possible explanations.
First, not every iPhone supports True Tone. The feature was introduced on iPhone with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X generation.
A missing True Tone setting can also sometimes be related to a display repair or replacement. The display and other components need to work properly with the iPhone for features such as True Tone to function as intended.
If you're buying a used or refurbished iPhone, this is one reason the quality of the refurbishment matters. A thorough inspection should test the display and other important functions rather than simply checking that the screen turns on.
If your iPhone should support True Tone but the option has disappeared unexpectedly, restarting the device and making sure iOS is up to date are good first troubleshooting steps.
Which iPhones Have True Tone?
Apple introduced True Tone to the iPhone lineup with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X in 2017.
It has since become a standard display feature on many newer iPhones.
If you have an older device such as an iPhone 7, you won't find a True Tone option in your display settings because the phone doesn't support the feature.
Is True Tone Worth Using?
For most iPhone users, yes.
True Tone is one of those features that works quietly in the background. You don't need to configure it, and its automatic adjustments can make your screen look more natural as the lighting around you changes.
It isn't essential, though. If you prefer a consistent display or regularly work with colour-sensitive photos and videos, turning it off may make more sense.
Ultimately, the better setting is the one that makes your screen look best to you.
Quick Summary
- True Tone automatically adjusts your iPhone display based on the light around you
- It changes the colour temperature and intensity of the screen to make it look more natural
- True Tone doesn't permanently change your photos, videos or other content
- Most users can leave True Tone enabled
- You can turn it on or off under Settings → Display & Brightness
- True Tone and Night Shift are separate features with different purposes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of True Tone on iPhone?
True Tone automatically adjusts your iPhone display based on the ambient lighting around you. Its purpose is to make colours and whites on the screen appear more natural in different environments.
Should I keep True Tone on?
For most everyday users, keeping True Tone on makes sense. It automatically adapts your display as lighting conditions change. However, you may want to turn it off if you prefer a consistent colour temperature or are doing colour-sensitive work.
Is True Tone better for your eyes?
True Tone is designed to make the display appear more natural under different lighting conditions. Some people may find this more comfortable to look at, but True Tone shouldn't be considered a substitute for healthy screen habits.
Does True Tone drain your battery?
True Tone may use a small amount of power, but its overall impact on battery life is minor. Adjusting screen brightness will generally make a much bigger difference if you're trying to conserve battery.
Why does my iPhone look yellow with True Tone on?
True Tone can give your screen a warmer or slightly yellow appearance when you're in an environment with warm lighting. This is normal: the feature is adjusting the display to match the colour temperature of the light around you.
Is True Tone the same as Night Shift?
No. True Tone automatically adapts your display to ambient lighting, while Night Shift deliberately makes the screen warmer and can be scheduled to turn on at certain times.
Does True Tone affect camera or photo quality?
No. True Tone changes how an image appears on your iPhone display, but it doesn't change the underlying photo or affect the quality of your camera.
