Symptoms
- Whites look slightly yellow or warm instead of neutral
- Tint is present across the whole screen, not just one area
- Problem appeared after enabling a blue-light or eye-comfort feature
- Colors looked normal before a recent settings change
Likely causes
- CommonNight Light, True Tone, or a blue-light filter enabledThese features intentionally warm the screen's color temperature.
- CommonMonitor's color temperature setting shifted to 'Warm'Many monitors have selectable presets like Cool, Normal, and Warm.
- PossibleIncorrect or outdated color profileA mismatched ICC profile can shift the overall color balance.
- Less commonAging backlight (older monitors, especially CCFL-based)Backlights can shift color slightly as they age, especially on older fluorescent-backlit LCDs.
What to do
- Turn off Night Light (Windows Settings > System > Display) or True Tone (Mac System Settings > Displays) and see if the tint disappears.
- Open the monitor's on-screen menu and set the color temperature to 'Normal,' 'Standard,' or a specific Kelvin value like 6500K.
- Check Windows or Mac color management settings and reset to the default/sRGB profile for the monitor.
- Compare the same white webpage or document on a phone or another monitor to confirm the tint is real and not just perception.
- If the monitor is several years old and none of the above fixes it, consider that the backlight itself may have shifted color with age.
- Restart the computer after changing color settings, since some changes need a fresh session to fully apply.
Tools and parts
- None
When to call a pro
If turning off all warming features and resetting color profiles doesn't remove the tint, and the monitor is older, a backlight replacement or new monitor is more practical than repair.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.