The first covers the iPhone's ambient light sensor, the second covers Apple's 'Time Machine,' a system back-up application, and the third covers color management in Apple's Emmy winning. From the developer: Ambient Light offers real-time color synchronization of your selected screen and your Philips Hue light. Its custom-built algorithm analyses your screen and sends the current color to one of the selected lamps up to 10 times per second. You can connect your TV to your Mac via an HDMI output and select it in the app for the Ambient Light to analyze its picture and adapt the colors.
Studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can affect your circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep. Night Shift uses your computer's clock and geolocation to determine when it's sunset in your location. It then automatically shifts the colors in your display to the warmer end of the spectrum. In the morning it returns the display to its regular settings.
How to set up Night Shift
Make sure that your Mac meets the system requirements for Night Shift, then follow these steps:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Displays.
- Click the Night Shift tab.
Schedule: Create a custom Night Shift schedule or have Night Shift turn on automatically from sunset to sunrise.
Manual: Control Night Shift manually.
- If Night Shift is off, select the checkbox to turn Night Shift on until 7 a.m. If you're using a schedule, Night Shift automatically turns off at the scheduled time.
- If Night Shift is on, deselect the checkbox to turn Night Shift off. If you're using a schedule, Night Shift turns on again at the scheduled time.
Color Temperature: Drag the slider to make the color temperature more or less warm when Night Shift is on. Warmer color temperatures show more yellow and less blue.
System requirements for Night Shift
Night Shift requires macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later and one of these Mac computers, using the built-in display or the displays listed:
Ambient Light App Mac Pro
- MacBook models from early 2015 or later
- MacBook Air models from mid 2012 or later
- MacBook Pro models from mid 2012 or later
- Mac mini models from late 2012 or later
- iMac models from late 2012 or later
- Mac Pro models from late 2013 or later
- Apple Pro Display XDR
- Apple LED Cinema Display
- Apple Thunderbolt Display
- LG UltraFine 5K Display
- LG UltraFine 4K Display
Ambient Sounds App
Learn more
Ambient Light Application For Android
- How to use Night Shift on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- You can use True Tone and Night Shift at the same time.