Turn your phone light into a color show.
Colored phone light really works, at no cost, on iPhone and Android alike.
Out of the box, phone flashlights offer exactly one option: a white beam. Handy when the keys slip under the car seat, not exactly exciting. What few people know is that the same phone can glow in any color you like, fade through the rainbow, pulse like a party light or give off a soft red glow for the dark.
You will not need extra gear. The display can produce any hue and the rear LED can blink quickly; together they turn the handset into a colorful lamp. Pick your phone above; everything else you need to know is below.
How a color flashlight works
The rear LED produces white light only. Any tint you see is produced by the display. Fill the display with a single color at full brightness and the screen itself becomes a colored lamp. In effect modes the colors change in sequence while the rear LED flashes along, and the phone turns into a tiny stage light.
Darkness makes it shine. Sunlight washes the color out, while a dim room picks up the glow across every surface.
Speed and pattern change the mood completely. A single steady color feels calm. A slow fade feels relaxing, almost like a lava lamp. A fast switch between two colors feels energetic, and a quick strobe feels like a concert. Most of the fun is in playing with these modes until the room feels right.
Ideas for colored light
- Turn a dark room into a party with shifting colors.
- Use soft red light at night without dazzling anyone.
- Add a colored glow to photos and videos.
- Make a gentle night light for a child’s room.
- Signal to friends across a parking lot or campsite.
Party mode: the crowd-pleaser
Here is the trick that gets everyone’s attention: lay a phone screen-up on a table, start a slow rainbow, and the ceiling starts glowing. Then a second phone joins with blue, a third with magenta, and suddenly the room has a light show. Point the screens at the walls or ceiling and keep the room lights off for the full effect.
Birthday, sleepover or casual night in, few decorations are this effortless.
Kids love it too. A slow rainbow on the bedside table makes bedtime more fun, and a soft blue or purple glow works as a night light. For game nights, give each team a color. For a surprise party, have everyone switch on the same color when the guest of honor walks in.
Practical uses beyond the party
It is useful as well as fun. Red light protects night vision, which is why people outdoors at night favor it. A warm orange screen makes a calm reading light at bedtime. A colored glow lets photographers tint a close-up without filters. And a bright color held up in a crowd helps friends find you.
There are everyday uses as well. Holding a colored screen near a small object gives product photos a stylish background glow. A green or blue light makes it easier to find a dropped earring on a dark carpet, because the metal catches the color. And a soft colored light by the door helps everyone find their way during a late-night arrival without waking the house.
Which colors work best
Pick the color for the moment. Red suits darkness because it lights your surroundings while your eyes stay adapted. Warm orange feels like candlelight. Blue and magenta make the most dramatic party colors. Green is easy to spot from far away. White is still the best for actually finding something, and that is what the regular flashlight is for.
Cycling modes blend everything: slow cycles feel calm and dreamy, fast cycles feel like a dance floor.
Mixing colors from several phones opens even more options: red and blue phones together make a purple wash on the wall, and three phones in red, green and blue create a surprisingly rich mix.
Will it harm my phone?
Yes. Colored light uses the screen and the LED the same way your phone normally does. A bright screen does use battery and warms the phone a little, so short sessions are best.
It is free
The built-in flashlight is free, and colored light from the screen costs nothing. Optional apps add effects and music sync; many are free as well.
Getting started takes a minute. You choose a color or a mode, raise the brightness and place the phone where you want the light. That is all there is to it, and you can change the color at any time with a tap.
Which version do you need
The two systems handle this in their own ways, because each system has its own controls and its own app store. The iPhone guide covers Control Center, Siri and the screen-color method; the Android guide covers Quick Settings, color flash alerts and the same color trick.
The two guides follow the same order: first the regular flashlight and the quickest ways to turn it on, then colored light from the screen, then the extra effects for parties.
Before you install
- Charge your phone, since bright light uses battery.
- Turn the screen brightness to maximum.
- Set auto-lock or screen timeout longer for the session.
- Dim the room lights for the best effect.
Choose your phone
Tap your phone type below for the step-by-step setup.