How To Automatically Start Redshift on Your Computer

Redshift is a popular software tool that adjusts the color temperature of your computer’s display according to the time of day. This can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep patterns. However, manually starting Redshift every time you boot your computer can be a hassle. In this article, we will guide you through several methods to automatically start Redshift on your computer.

Setting the Location Permanently on Startup

Redshift needs to know your geographical location to adjust the color temperature accurately. The first method to auto-start Redshift involves setting your location permanently in the startup command. Here’s how to do it:

1. First, you need to find your latitude and longitude. You can use a service like iTouchMap to find these coordinates.
2. Next, you will need to edit the autostart configuration file for Redshift. This file is typically located in the ~/.config/autostart/ directory.
3. In the redshift-gtk.desktop file, add your latitude and longitude to the Exec line. The line should look something like this: Exec=redshift-gtk -l <latitude>:<longitude>.
4. Save the file and reboot your computer.

In the Exec line, -l is an option that specifies the location provider. When you use -l <latitude>:<longitude>, you’re telling Redshift to use a manual location provider with your specified coordinates.

Creating a Configuration File

Another method is to create a configuration file for Redshift. This file will include your location details. Here’s how to create the configuration file:

1. Create a file named redshift.conf in the ~/.config directory.
2. In this file, specify the location provider as manual and provide your latitude and longitude. The file should look like this:

[redshift]
location-provider=manual
[manual]
lat=<latitude>
lon=<longitude>

3. Replace <latitude> and <longitude> with your actual coordinates.
4. Save the file and reboot your computer.

The location-provider=manual line tells Redshift to use the manual location provider. The lat and lon parameters under the [manual] section specify your latitude and longitude.

Using Crontab or Upstart

You can also use crontab or upstart to run Redshift at startup. Here’s how to do it with crontab:

1. Open a terminal and type crontab -e to edit the crontab list.
2. Add the following line at the end:

@reboot export DISPLAY=:0.0 && /usr/bin/redshift -l <latitude>:<longitude>

3. Replace <latitude> and <longitude> with your actual coordinates.
4. Save the file and reboot your computer.

The @reboot command tells crontab to run the command at boot time. The export DISPLAY=:0.0 command sets the DISPLAY environment variable, which is necessary for Redshift to know where to display its output.

For upstart, you need to edit the /etc/rc.local file:

1. Open a terminal and type sudo nano /etc/rc.local to edit the file.
2. Add the path to the Redshift executable before the exit 0 line:

/usr/bin/redshift -l <latitude>:<longitude>

3. Replace <latitude> and <longitude> with your actual coordinates.
4. Save the file and reboot your computer.

The /usr/bin/redshift -l <latitude>:<longitude> line is the command to run Redshift with your specified coordinates.

Installing Geoclue-hostip

If the above solutions don’t work, you can try installing geoclue-hostip. This workaround has been reported to fix the issue for some users. Use the package manager to install geoclue-hostip and then reboot your computer.

In conclusion, there are several ways to automatically start Redshift on your computer. Whether you choose to set the location permanently on startup, create a configuration file, use crontab or upstart, or install geoclue-hostip, you can ensure that Redshift starts every time you boot your computer. This will help you maintain your eye health and sleep patterns without any extra effort.