If your Apple Watch screen is black and white, a grayscale color filter is turned on. Open Settings on the watch, tap Accessibility > Color Filters, and turn it off. Then restart your watch, since Apple says grayscale changes take effect after a restart.
These steps come from Apple’s Adjust text and display settings on Apple Watch and Restart Apple Watch guides. Why the filter shows up, and a watch face setting that can look similar.
How to Turn Off the Black and White Screen on Apple Watch
- Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Color Filters.
- Turn off the filter, or choose a different one.
- Restart your Apple Watch (steps below).
Result: After the restart, the screen shows color again. Apple describes Color Filters as a setting that shows the whole screen in grayscale or adjusts colors for color vision deficiencies. It isn’t a hardware or software fault, just the Grayscale filter being on.
You can also do this on your iPhone. Apple says to open the Watch app, tap My Watch > Accessibility, and change the option there. For the same kinds of color settings on the phone itself, see how to invert colors on iPhone.
How to Restart Your Apple Watch
- Press and hold the side button until the sliders appear.
- Tap the power button, then drag the Power Off slider to the right.
- Hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
Result: The watch turns back on. Apple notes you can’t restart an Apple Watch while it’s charging. If it won’t turn off, Apple says you can force a restart by holding the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears. Only do that if a normal restart doesn’t work.
Only the Watch Face Looks Gray?
If your apps show color but the complications on your watch face are gray, the filter may not be the cause. Infograph and Infograph Modular faces can show monochrome complications when you pick certain accent colors. To bring the color back:
- Touch and hold the watch face, then tap Customize.
- Turn the Digital Crown to the color option. On Infograph, choose Black or White. On Infograph Modular, choose Multicolor.
- Press the Digital Crown twice to save and exit.
Result: The complications show in color. You can make the same change in the Watch app on your iPhone under My Watch > My Faces.
What Is Reduce Motion on Apple Watch?
Apple says Reduce Motion limits the motion you see on the Home Screen and when apps open and close. With grid view, it also makes every app icon the same size.
- Open Settings > Accessibility.
- Tap Reduce Motion.
- Turn on Reduce Motion.
Other Display Accessibility Settings
Apple lists these in the same Accessibility menu:
- Bold Text and Text Size: make words easier to read. Apple says bold text also needs a restart.
- Increase Contrast: more contrast between text and background.
- Reduce Transparency: cuts transparency effects so text is easier to read.
- On/Off Labels: adds a line when a switch is on and a circle when it’s off.
- Show Borders: outlines buttons and other items.
- Minimum Brightness: sets a higher lowest brightness when the display adjusts to light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Apple Watch turn black and white by itself?
The usual cause is the Grayscale color filter in Accessibility settings. The filter is a built-in feature, not a defect, so turning it off brings the color back.
I turned off Color Filters, but it’s still gray. Why?
Restart the watch. Apple says grayscale changes take effect after a restart. If only the watch face is gray, check the face’s color setting as described above.
Related Guides
- How to make the Apple Watch screen brighter
- How to turn on VoiceOver on Apple Watch
- How to restart an Apple Watch
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.