iPhone's Hidden 'Red Mode' Unveiled

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

iPhone fans have just discovered a hidden 'red mode' introduced in last year's iOS update. The feature initially left some users worried that their devices had suffered water damage or been hacked. However, it was specifically designed to help users relax and sleep better at night as research has suggested that red lights have no effect on the circadian clock.

The so-called 'red mode' was introduced with Apple's iOS 17 operating system as part of StandBy - a customizable version of the Lock Screen that activates when the iPhone is charging and placed on its side in landscape mode.

To activate the colored feature, you can either use the Color Filters feature to apply a red tint or enable Night Mode in StandBy to adjust the screen's colors to red. To enable Color Filters, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters. Alternatively, activate StandBy in Settings, connect your iPhone to a charger, and place it on its side.

"You can use StandBy to turn your iPhone into a bedside clock, a photo frame, or a display for widgets or Live Activities in full screen," the tech giant explained.

'When Night Mode is turned on for StandBy, the screen adapts to low ambient light at night, displaying items with a red tint to minimize disturbance while you sleep.'

Users can set the feature to either 'Automatically', which adjusts based on the ambient light around the device, or 'After 20 Seconds', which activates red mode when the phone is charging on its side.

A Reddit user sought help: "Any ideas why my widgets are red on the lock screen?" they asked. Some users quickly explained: "The red light only comes on when your room is dark."

"What!! How!? I feel like I could never find the setting for it," another user posted. Another Redditor commented: "As a hardcore Android lover, I have to say I keep getting impressed by Apple almost every time."

The Science Behind Red Light

Mariana Figueiro from Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center stated: "The only thing that you could argue is that if you give that red light in the evening prior to sleep, you're minimizing disruption of the circadian system."

"In other words," she continued, "it might be that any benefits come from replacing light exposure before sleep with red light rather than adding it during sleep." She added: "And that may be what leads to better sleep."

Interestingly enough, blue wavelength light -- like LED monitors -- suppresses melatonin secretion. Although some studies claim this connection has been exaggerated, research confirms links between these exposures and shifts in hormone production and circadian rhythms.

"The wider-ranging implication of our work," Harvard Medical School professor Charles Czeisler said, "is demonstrating how standard illumination affects circadian systems." He emphasized: "Light color as much as brightness matters for good night's sleep."