---
title: "How to Turn On Night Shift on Mac (and Schedule It)"
description: Step-by-step — turn on Night Shift on your Mac from System Settings or Control Center, set a schedule, choose the right warmth, and fix a greyed-out toggle.
date: 2026-10-02
updated: 2026-10-02
category: Guides
url: https://nightshiftkeeper.com/blog/how-to-turn-on-night-shift-mac/
---

# How to Turn On Night Shift on Mac (and Schedule It)

Night Shift warms your Mac's screen toward the orange end of the spectrum, which many people find easier on the eyes in the evening. It's been built into macOS since Sierra 10.12.4 (2017).

## Turn On Night Shift in System Settings

On macOS Ventura and later:

1. Apple menu → System Settings.
2. Click Displays.
3. Click the "Night Shift…" button near the bottom.
4. Switch on "Turn on until tomorrow", or choose a Schedule.

On macOS Monterey and earlier: System Preferences → Displays → Night Shift tab.

## Turn It On Faster from Control Center

Control Center (menu bar) → Display → Night Shift. Same as "Turn on until tomorrow": on until the next morning, then the schedule takes over.

## Set a Night Shift Schedule

- **Off** — manual only.
- **Sunset to Sunrise** — follows local sunset/sunrise; needs Location Services on (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services), including the system services that set your time zone.
- **Custom** — your own start and end times.

There's no "always" option. A 4:00 AM to 3:59 AM custom schedule gets close, but macOS can still switch it off after sleep or a restart. All workarounds: https://nightshiftkeeper.com/blog/how-to-keep-night-shift-on-mac-all-the-time.md

## Choose the Right Warmth

The Color Temperature slider runs from Less Warm to More Warm; the default is subtle.

- Evenings: about two-thirds toward More Warm.
- Daytime: closer to the middle.
- Photo, video, design work: turn Night Shift off while editing.

Night Shift doesn't affect screenshots or screen recordings.

## Automate It with Shortcuts

Recent macOS versions include a "Set Night Shift" action in the Shortcuts app. Build a one-step shortcut and give it a keyboard shortcut or add it to the menu bar.

## Night Shift Missing or Greyed Out?

- **Mac or macOS too old:** needs macOS Sierra 10.12.4+ and a roughly 2012-or-newer Mac (Apple's "Use Night Shift on your Mac" article lists models).
- **External display:** many monitors work, but some connections don't — DisplayLink docks and adapters are a common culprit. Try a direct connection.
- **It was on, now it's off:** usually the schedule, sleep, or a restart — https://nightshiftkeeper.com/blog/night-shift-keeps-turning-off-mac.md

## Night Shift vs True Tone vs Dark Mode

Night Shift warms colors, True Tone matches the screen to room lighting, Dark Mode switches the interface to dark backgrounds. They work together: https://nightshiftkeeper.com/blog/night-shift-vs-true-tone-vs-dark-mode-mac.md

**Download Night Shift Keeper (free):** https://files.nightshiftkeeper.com/Night%20Shift%20Keeper%20v1.dmg — keeps Night Shift on through sleep, restarts, and sunrise. No account, no card. Always On unlocks with a one-time license (current price at https://nightshiftkeeper.com/#pricing, 7-day money-back guarantee). Product page: https://nightshiftkeeper.com/