In a technology column published by CNET, writer Jason Chun argues that smartphone distraction can be reduced by using a grayscale background wallpaper and translucent app icons, creating a screen that appears monochrome until apps are used.
Grayscale Testing and the Hunt for a Fix
Chun writes that he originally tried to break a habit of doomscrolling by switching his iPhone 17 color filter mode entirely to grayscale. While the adjustment successfully reduced initial distractions, the setting proved too frustrating for daily use. Chun reports that he frequently toggled back to full color whenever he wanted to watch YouTube videos or edit photos for social media. Within a few days, he abandoned the full grayscale experiment and returned to a standard color display.
Artemis II Wallpaper and Liquid Glass Settings
The breakthrough came after Chun discovered a photograph of a solar eclipse captured from space by the crew of Artemis II. He set the NASA image as his home screen and lock screen wallpaper. Using iOS 26 features, he adjusted his phone’s Liquid Glass settings to apply a Clear appearance, which renders app icons translucent. Against the grayscale eclipse photograph, the icons lost all color entirely.
The resulting display looks strictly black-and-white upon unlocking, yet reveals full color the moment an app is opened. Chun notes that this setup creates a subtle barrier against mindless phone usage:
He explains that the setup is less immediately distracting, and so he uses it a little more intentionally, noting that he no longer has the impulse to check Instagram as soon as he unlocks his phone.
Android Customization Alternatives
Android users running Android 12 or newer can replicate the setup using built-in system tools. The Material You customization suite allows users to unify app icon coloring. By pairing a grayscale background image with dynamic color options, Android owners can achieve a similar monochrome-to-color transition on their home screens.
Chun notes minor imperfections in the iOS configuration, pointing out that charging or Low Power Mode injects a splotch of color via the battery icon onto an otherwise monochrome display. Despite that visual quirk, he continues to use the setup to trim minutes of mindless daily scrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do iPhone icons lose color with a grayscale wallpaper?
Since iOS 26, Apple has offered a Clear appearance setting for apps that makes icons translucent to showcase the background wallpaper. When combined with a monochrome NASA solar eclipse image, the icons display no color until the user launches an individual application.
Can Android users achieve this monochrome screen effect?
Yes. Phones running Android 12 or newer can use Material You customization options to make all app icons match a single color scheme, which can be paired with a grayscale wallpaper.
Why did a full grayscale color filter fail to work?
Chun reports that using the phone’s built-in grayscale color filter mode proved too frustrating because it stripped color away even when viewing media or editing photos, leading him to toggle back to full color within days.
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