Twilight: Blue light filter

Filters blue light from your screen, reduces eye strain and helps you sleep

Twilight: Blue light filter

App stats

Version: VARY (Last updated: 2024-08-30)
Creation date: 2013-03-05
Permissions
Device & app history: retrieve running apps
Location: approximate location (network-based)
Photos/Media/Files: read the contents of your USB storage
Storage: read the contents of your USB storage
Wi-Fi connection information: view Wi-Fi connections
Other:
  • update component usage statistics
  • view network connections
  • allow Wi-Fi Multicast reception
  • full network access
  • run at startup
  • set wallpaper
  • draw over other apps
  • control vibration
  • modify system settings

Other platforms

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App summary

Are you having trouble falling asleep? Are your kids hyperactive when playing with the tablet before bed time?
Are you using your smart phone or tablet in the late evening? Are you sensitive to light during migraine?
Twilight may be a solution for you!

Recent research suggests that exposure to blue light before sleep may distort your natural (circadian) rhythm and cause inability to fall asleep.

The cause is the photoreceptor in your eyes, called Melanopsin. This receptor is sensitive to a narrow band of blue light in the 460-480nm range which may suppress Melatonin production - a hormone responsible for your healthy sleep-wake cycles.

In experimental scientific studies it has been shown an average person reading on a tablet or smart phone for a couple of hours before bed time may find their sleep delayed by about an hour. See references below..

The Twilight app makes your device screen adapt to the time of the day. It filters the flux of blue light emitted by your phone or tablet after sunset and protects your eyes with a soft and pleasant red filter. The filter intensity is smoothly adjusted to the sun cycle based on your local sunset and sunrise times.

You can also use Twilight on your Wear OS device.

Documentation
http://twilight.urbandroid.org/doc/

Get more from Twilight
1) Bed reading: Twilight is more pleasant on the eyes for night reading. Especially as it is able to lower the screen backlight far below the ability of the backligt controls on your screen

2) AMOLED screens: We have tested Twilight on an AMOLED screen for 5 years without any sign of depletion or over-burning. If properly configured Twilight causes less light emission (by enabling dimming) with more equal light distribution (dark areas of the screen such as the status bar get tinted). This may in fact increase your AMOLED screen life time.

Basics on circadian rhythm and the role of melatonin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanopsin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm_disorder

Permissions
- location - to find out your current sunset/surise times
- running apps - to stop Twilight in selected apps
- write settings - to set back-light
- network - access smartlight (Philips HUE) to shield you household light from blue

Accessibility Service

In order to filter also your notifications and lock screen the app may ask for enabling Twilight Accessibility Service. The app uses this service only to better filter your screen and does not collect any personal information. Please read more about this at https://twilight.urbandroid.org/is-twilights-accessibility-service-a-thread-to-my-privacy/

Wear OS

Twilight also syncs your Wear OS screen with your phone's filter settings. You can control filtering from a "Wear OS Tile".

Automation (Tasker or other)
https://sites.google.com/site/twilight4android/automation

Related scientific research

Amplitude Reduction and Phase Shifts of Melatonin, Cortisol and Other Circadian Rhythms after a Gradual Advance of Sleep and Light Exposure in Humans Derk-Jan Dijk, & Co 2012

Exposure to Room Light before Bedtime Suppresses Melatonin Onset and Shortens Melatonin Duration in Humans Joshua J. Gooley, Kyle Chamberlain, Kurt A. Smith & Co, 2011

Effect of Light on Human Circadian Physiology Jeanne F. Duffy, Charles A. Czeisler 2009

Efficacy of a single sequence of intermittent bright light pulses for delaying circadian phase in humans Claude Gronfier, Kenneth P. Wright, & Co 2009

Intrinsic period and light intensity determine the phase relationship between melatonin and sleep in humans Kenneth P. Wright, Claude Gronfier & Co 2009

The Impact of Sleep Timing and Bright Light Exposure on Attentional Impairment during Night Work Nayantara Santhi & Co 2008

Short-Wavelength Light Sensitivity of Circadian, Pupillary, and Visual Awareness in Humans Lacking an Outer Retina Farhan H. Zaidi & Co, 2007

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Google Play Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Effective blue light filtering
  • Customizable settings and profiles
  • User-friendly interface
  • No ads
  • Helps with headaches and insomnia
Cons
  • Issues with the app not applying the filter consistently
  • Confusing scheduling options
  • Stability issues after updates
  • Flash of brightness when switching apps
  • Experimental features lack reliability
Most mentioned
  • Used for years and highly reliable
  • Customization options to tailor the experience
  • Positive effects on sleep and eye strain
  • Problems with the filter not engaging properly
  • Recent updates causing functionality issues
User reviews
Phenomenal app. It's easy to use, reliable, and wonderfully flexible. The quick-settings tile is amazing - for years and years I've had it set up so Twilight is on the first page for easy access whenever I open up the notification tray. I love that I can long-press it to open up the app too. No ads, too! I can't praise it enough for the years of good, straightforward utility it's provided me.
by Teddy J, 2024-11-10

This one actually works! I've tried four or five other dimmer apps. Some of them had the dimming temperature wrong, some of them had a "flashlight" button next to the "dim" button, causing you to blind your partner while you sleep, some of them just didn't work without messing with disability settings! This one worked out of the box with minimal tinkering, has a VERY workable user interface, and doesn't turn my flashlight on when I want to dim my screen. I don't write reviews but this was worth!
by Jonathan Hicks, 2024-11-08

It is 2024. Been using since 2016!. Best blue screen protection ever. The most important health function on my Android. Set up to increase filter sunset to sun up but I can turn off on demand. I do turn off when I watch movies. 2016 Review (all still true): Been using for about 4 months. I am a news junkie. Wake up at 2am? I check in on news. Since using twilight, I noticed I go back to sleep easy as pie. Been getting a couple more hrs of sleep routinely. Changing my life!
by A Google user, 2024-10-07
View all user reviews

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