How to Fix Black and White Screen on Android Phone

Have you ever experienced the frustration of your Android phone’s screen suddenly turning black and white? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This issue can be caused by various factors, such as misconfigured accessibility settings or power-saving modes. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the causes behind this problem and provide you with actionable solutions to restore the vibrant colors to your Android screen.

Understanding the Causes

To effectively troubleshoot and fix the black and white screen issue on your Android phone, it’s important to understand the underlying causes. The following are common factors that can contribute to this problem:

Accessibility settings: Accidentally enabling grayscale mode or other accessibility features can cause your screen to turn black and white.

Power-saving mode: Some power-saving modes, when activated, may change the display to grayscale to conserve battery life.

App conflicts: Certain apps or recent installations might conflict with your phone’s display settings, resulting in a black and white screen.

Now that we have an overview of the potential causes, let’s dive into the solutions.

1. Restart Your Phone

One of the simplest and most effective solutions for resolving software-related issues is to restart your Android phone. This can help refresh the system and eliminate any temporary glitches that may be causing the black and white screen problem. Here’s how you can restart your phone:

1. Press and hold the power button on your phone.
2. Tap on the “Restart” option when it appears.
3. Wait for your phone to reboot and check if the screen colors have returned to normal.

2. Uninstall Recently Installed Apps

If you’ve recently installed a new app on your Android phone and noticed the black and white screen issue shortly after, it’s possible that the app is causing the problem. To troubleshoot this, try uninstalling the recently installed apps using the following steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Apps” or “Applications” section.
3. Locate the recently installed apps and tap on them.
4. Select the “Uninstall” option and follow the on-screen prompts to remove the app.
5. Restart your phone and check if the screen colors have returned to normal.

3. Disable Grayscale Mode

Accidentally enabling grayscale mode can be a common reason for your Android phone’s screen turning black and white. To disable this mode and restore color to your display, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Accessibility” section.
3. Look for the “Color and motion” or “Screen colors” option.
4. Disable the toggle or switch next to “Grayscale” or “Use color correction.”

For Samsung Galaxy users, the process may differ slightly:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Accessibility” section.
3. Look for the “Visibility enhancements” or similar option.
4. Find and disable the toggle or switch for “Color adjustment” or similar.

4. Check Power-Saving Mode Settings

Power-saving modes are designed to conserve battery life by reducing system functions, including display features. However, some power-saving modes can inadvertently cause your screen to turn black and white. To check and adjust your power-saving mode settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Battery” or “Battery and device care” section.
3. Look for the “Power saving” or similar option.
4. Disable the toggle or switch next to “Power saving” to turn it off.

5. Turn Off Dark Mode

Dark mode, while aesthetically pleasing to some, can sometimes result in a black and white or monochromatic display. If you have dark mode enabled on your Android phone, try turning it off to restore the colors. Here’s how:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Display” or “Appearance” section.
3. Look for the “Dark mode” or “Night mode” option.
4. Disable the toggle or switch to turn off dark mode.

6. Verify Grayscale and Color Inversion Settings

In addition to grayscale mode, Android devices also offer a color inversion feature that can affect your screen’s appearance. To verify and adjust these settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Accessibility” section.
3. Look for options like “Color correction,” “Screen colors,” or “Vision.”
4. Disable any toggles or switches related to grayscale or color inversion.

7. Reset App Preferences

Resetting app preferences can help resolve conflicts or misconfigurations that may be causing the black and white screen issue. Here’s how you can reset app preferences on your Android phone:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “Apps” or “Applications” section.
3. Tap on the three-dot menu icon or the “More” option.
4. Select “Reset app preferences” from the menu that appears.
5. Confirm the action and restart your phone.

8. Update Your Phone’s Software

Outdated software can sometimes cause compatibility issues and unexpected screen behavior. It’s important to keep your Android phone’s software up to date to ensure optimal performance. Here’s how you can check for and install software updates:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “System” or “Software update” section.
3. Look for the “Check for updates” or similar option.
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install it.
5. After the update is complete, restart your phone and check if the screen colors have returned to normal.

9. Perform a Factory Reset

If all else fails, performing a factory reset can help resolve persistent software issues that may be causing the black and white screen problem. However, please note that a factory reset will erase all data on your phone, so it’s crucial to back up your important files before proceeding. Here’s how you can perform a factory reset:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the “System” or “Reset” section.
3. Look for the “Factory reset” or “Erase all data” option.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the reset process.
5. Once the reset is complete, set up your phone as a new device and check if the screen colors have returned to normal.

Conclusion

Dealing with a black and white screen on your Android phone can be frustrating, but with the troubleshooting steps provided in this guide, you can regain the vibrant colors and enjoy a visually appealing experience once again. Remember to start with the simple fixes, such as restarting your phone or disabling grayscale mode, before resorting to more advanced solutions like a factory reset. By following these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to troubleshoot and fix the black and white screen issue on your Android phone.

If you’re still experiencing difficulties, it may be advisable to consult a professional technician or contact your phone’s manufacturer for further assistance.