How to Enable Windows 10′ Night Light on to Reduce Eye Strain

On Windows 10 Creator Update, Microsoft has deployed Night Light which essentially reduces the amount of blue light spectrum radiated by the monitor. Blue light is known by various studies to affect the sleeping pattern and make many people difficult to fall asleep.

By enabling Night Light, you may see the screen looks red-ish or yellow-ish but it would help you retain a healthy sleep cycle and reduce eyes fatigue, especially at night.

So, how to activate Night Light on Windows 10?

#1 How to turn on Night Light on your Windows 10 PC

1. Go to the Start menu and click Settings.

2. Select System.

3. Under Display menu, set Night Light to On.

4. You are pretty much done now. But if you want to to adjust the intensity, click Night light settings.

5. Slide the bar to the left or right to change its strength.

6. You may also set a custom schedule or let it check your location and turn on Night Light based on your local time.

In addition, you can always enable or disable Night Light from the Notification Center.

If you doing color-sensitive tasks, such as video editing, graphics design, or watching a movie, it best to disable the feature to keep the color temperature as accurate as possible.

Alternatively, a third-party program named f.lux lets you instantly disable its own night light filter on select apps. The program is completely free and comes with various features.

#2 A worthwhile tweak: enable dark theme

Too much light in a dark environment fuels eyestrain during your computer session. In addition to Night Light, I highly suggest you enable ‘dark theme’ on Windows 10, as well as other apps that have the theme.

To turn on dark theme on Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors, then select ‘Windows mode’ and ‘app mode’ as Dark.

While many apps may go ‘dark’ automatically according to the global settings, some have to be enabled manually. For example, I already made a guide to turn on a dark document on Adobe Acrobat Reader and a clever trick to enable full night mode on Google Chrome.

#3 Hardware upgrade: switch to a flicker-free monitor

If you haven’t heard about it, a flicker-free monitor is basically just like any other monitor but it eliminates a blank dark screen between frame rates. This way, the eye strain effect can be significantly reduced without compromising the picture quality and on-screen time.

Firstly appear on BenQ lineups, flicker-free monitors are available on many brands now. They are priced pretty much the same as non-flicker-free monitors. If you looking for a more ergonomic monitor, you definitely should go for it.

I personally uses BenQ Eye-Care monitor, but feel free to choose other brands.

Additional Tips for Better Eye Comfort

Try Blue Light Blocking Glasses

If you’re someone who spends long hours in front of a screen, consider investing in blue light blocking glasses. These glasses filter out harmful blue light, reducing eye strain and improving comfort during extended computer use. You can find a variety of options on Amazon that cater to different styles and budgets.

Use Flicker-Free Monitors

For an even more comfortable viewing experience, switch to a flicker-free monitor. These monitors eliminate the subtle flickering that can strain your eyes over time. Brands like BenQ, ViewSonic, and Pixio offer excellent flicker-free options tailored for both work and gaming. Check out flicker-free monitors to explore your options.

Calibrate Your Display

To further reduce eye strain, calibrate your monitor’s brightness and contrast settings. Search for “calibrate display color” in Windows settings and follow the on-screen instructions to adjust your display for optimal comfort.

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FAQ

Can I schedule Night Light to turn on automatically?

Yes, you can! Go to Settings > System > Display > Night light settings. Under “Schedule,” toggle it on and choose either “Sunset to sunrise” or set custom hours for Night Light activation.

What should I do if the Night Light toggle is grayed out?

This could be due to outdated display drivers. Update your drivers through Device Manager or download the latest version from your hardware manufacturer’s website.

Does Night Light affect color accuracy?

Yes, it does. Night Light shifts the screen’s color temperature toward warmer tones, which may not be ideal for tasks requiring precise color accuracy, such as photo editing or graphic design. Disable it temporarily for these activities.

Are there alternatives to Night Light?

Absolutely! You can use third-party apps like f.lux, which offer advanced customization options for blue light filtering and allow you to disable the filter for specific apps.

By combining these strategies with Night Light, you can create a healthier and more comfortable screen experience tailored to your needs!

On Windows 10 Creator Update, Microsoft has deployed Night Light which essentially reduces the amount of blue light spectrum radiated by the monitor. Blue light is known by various studies to affect the sleeping pattern and make many people difficult to fall asleep.

By enabling Night Light, you may see the screen looks red-ish or yellow-ish but it would help you retain a healthy sleep cycle and reduce eyes fatigue, especially at night.

So, how to activate Night Light on Windows 10?

#1 How to turn on Night Light on your Windows 10 PC

1. Go to the Start menu and click Settings.

2. Select System.

3. Under Display menu, set Night Light to On.

4. You are pretty much done now. But if you want to to adjust the intensity, click Night light settings.

5. Slide the bar to the left or right to change its strength.

6. You may also set a custom schedule or let it check your location and turn on Night Light based on your local time.

In addition, you can always enable or disable Night Light from the Notification Center.

If you doing color-sensitive tasks, such as video editing, graphics design, or watching a movie, it best to disable the feature to keep the color temperature as accurate as possible.

Alternatively, a third-party program named f.lux lets you instantly disable its own night light filter on select apps. The program is completely free and comes with various features.

#2 A worthwhile tweak: enable dark theme

Too much light in a dark environment fuels eyestrain during your computer session. In addition to Night Light, I highly suggest you enable ‘dark theme’ on Windows 10, as well as other apps that have the theme.

To turn on dark theme on Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors, then select ‘Windows mode’ and ‘app mode’ as Dark.

While many apps may go ‘dark’ automatically according to the global settings, some have to be enabled manually. For example, I already made a guide to turn on a dark document on Adobe Acrobat Reader and a clever trick to enable full night mode on Google Chrome.

#3 Hardware upgrade: switch to a flicker-free monitor

If you haven’t heard about it, a flicker-free monitor is basically just like any other monitor but it eliminates a blank dark screen between frame rates. This way, the eye strain effect can be significantly reduced without compromising the picture quality and on-screen time.

Firstly appear on BenQ lineups, flicker-free monitors are available on many brands now. They are priced pretty much the same as non-flicker-free monitors. If you looking for a more ergonomic monitor, you definitely should go for it.

I personally uses BenQ Eye-Care monitor, but feel free to choose other brands.

Additional Tips for Better Eye Comfort

Try Blue Light Blocking Glasses

If you’re someone who spends long hours in front of a screen, consider investing in blue light blocking glasses. These glasses filter out harmful blue light, reducing eye strain and improving comfort during extended computer use. You can find a variety of options on Amazon that cater to different styles and budgets.

Use Flicker-Free Monitors

For an even more comfortable viewing experience, switch to a flicker-free monitor. These monitors eliminate the subtle flickering that can strain your eyes over time. Brands like BenQ, ViewSonic, and Pixio offer excellent flicker-free options tailored for both work and gaming. Check out flicker-free monitors to explore your options.

Calibrate Your Display

To further reduce eye strain, calibrate your monitor’s brightness and contrast settings. Search for “calibrate display color” in Windows settings and follow the on-screen instructions to adjust your display for optimal comfort.

---

FAQ

Can I schedule Night Light to turn on automatically?

Yes, you can! Go to Settings > System > Display > Night light settings. Under “Schedule,” toggle it on and choose either “Sunset to sunrise” or set custom hours for Night Light activation.

What should I do if the Night Light toggle is grayed out?

This could be due to outdated display drivers. Update your drivers through Device Manager or download the latest version from your hardware manufacturer’s website.

Does Night Light affect color accuracy?

Yes, it does. Night Light shifts the screen’s color temperature toward warmer tones, which may not be ideal for tasks requiring precise color accuracy, such as photo editing or graphic design. Disable it temporarily for these activities.

Are there alternatives to Night Light?

Absolutely! You can use third-party apps like f.lux, which offer advanced customization options for blue light filtering and allow you to disable the filter for specific apps.