How to Use Night Vision and Customise the Grid Display on iPhone

TL;DR

Night vision turns the app, including a red filter over the map, red in one tap from the Map screen. Display style lets you change the readout's typeface and colour, choose a style pack, reorder or hide data tiles, and pick the map crosshair style.

The problem

After ten minutes in the dark your eyes can see a trail or a star field. One look at a bright phone screen resets that for a long time. And in full sun a pretty, thin font vanishes. One display can’t be both, so you need to change it.

Night vision

On the Map screen tap the moon button. The whole app, including a filter over the map itself, turns red. Tap it again and you return to the theme you had before (so a light-mode user isn’t dropped into dark mode). It’s also under Settings → Appearance.

Combine it with the phone’s own brightness slider at minimum for the least light.

Make the readout yours

Settings → Appearance → Display style lets you set:

  • the typeface and colour of the grid readout and of each data tile;
  • one of the style packs, from a high-contrast instrument look to an amber segment LCD look;
  • styling for one tile on its own, or give the screen over to the readout.

Choose which tiles you see

On the Location screen’s settings, the tiles are Altitude, Accuracy, Heading, Speed, Zulu time and Destination. Drag to reorder, swipe to hide, and bring hidden ones back from the Hidden list.

Time

Choose Local, Zulu (UTC) or a date-time group for time displays.

Map crosshair

The reticle you line a point up with can be a ring with ticks, a crosshair, a dot or a reticle, in a colour you choose. A compact or detailed readout under it can show your heading and speed, or be turned off.

Units

Distance (metres, kilometres, miles, feet, nautical miles), altitude (metres or feet) and angle (degrees or mils) are all in Settings.

FAQ

What does night vision change? The whole app goes red, including a red filter over the map, so the screen doesn’t destroy dark adaptation.

How do I get back to my normal theme? Switch night vision off. The app returns to the theme you were using before.

Can I change the readout font? Yes. Choose the typeface and colour of the grid readout and of each data tile, or pick one of the style packs.

Can I hide tiles? Yes. In the tile settings drag to reorder and swipe to hide altitude, accuracy, heading, speed, Zulu time or destination.

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