# Gabriel Kanev
> Source: https://gkanev.com/posts/trying-out-the-monochrome-on-my-smartphone/
> Machine-readable version - 2026-04-20

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- Search ESC I’m experimenting with enabling monochrome/grayscale mode on my Android device to reduce smartphone usage. No app required - just the built-in developer options.
## The Goal

Decrease daily screen time from roughly 2 hours down to around 1 hour. The grayscale filter removes the dopamine-triggering color cues that make apps so sticky. It’s not a silver bullet - checking games, emails, and messages still happens regardless - but it changes the texture of the experience.
## How to Enable Monochrome on Android

Go to Settings → About device (or About phone)

- Select Software information

- Tap Build number seven times to unlock Developer options

- Enter your security pattern/PIN when prompted

- Go back to Settings → System → Developer options

- Scroll to “Simulate color space”

- Select “Monochromacy”

That’s it. Your screen is now grayscale.

## Next Steps

I’ll revisit this in a few months and report whether it actually moved the needle on screen time, or whether it’s just an interesting experiment that doesn’t change behavior in practice.

My suspicion: the reduction will be real but modest. The color is part of the hook, but it’s not the only hook.

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