How to Enable Night Mode on Android

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Night ModeAndroidCustomizationSmartphoneUser InterfaceMobile OSDevice ManagementPerformanceAccessibilityProductivity

Night mode, often referred to as "dark mode", is a feature that changes your Android device's interface and system color scheme to dark colors, typically black or dark gray. This feature can help reduce eye strain, especially in low-light environments, and can also save battery life on devices with OLED screens.

Introducing night mode

Many Android devices are equipped with a night mode to enhance user comfort during nighttime use. The dark interface theme replaces bright white and other light colors with darker colors to make it easier on the eyes. Below is a detailed guide on how to enable night mode on different versions of Android, along with a detailed explanation for each step.

Enabling night mode on Android 9 (Pie) and above

On Android 9 (Pie) and above, Night mode can be enabled through system settings. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and select Display.
3. Look for the Dark Theme or Night Mode option and tap on it.
4. Toggle the switch to enable dark mode.

Once dark mode is enabled, you’ll notice the background of your Settings, notification shade, and other supporting apps turn dark.

Enabling night mode on Android 11

With the release of Android 11, enabling Night Mode has become even easier. Here's how you can enable it:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap the display.
3. Here you will get the option of dark theme. Tap on it.
4. Toggle the Use Dark Theme switch to enable it.

By following these steps, Android 11 will apply the dark theme uniformly across the system and supported apps.

Automatic night mode scheduling

Starting with Android 9 (Pie), users can schedule when Night Mode will turn on and off. Android can automatically switch to Night Mode at sunset and back at sunrise, or you can set a custom time. Here's how to set it up:

1. Go to Settings and then to Display.
2. Choose dark theme or night mode.
3. Look for scheduling options, such as Schedule or Turn on automatically.
4. You can choose from sunset to sunrise or a custom time.
5. If you choose Custom time, set the start and end time as per your preference.

This scheduling feature provides flexibility and ensures that you can take advantage of Night Mode when you need it most.

Enabling night mode on Samsung devices

Samsung devices often have their own custom user interface, known as One UI, which provides customized procedures for enabling Night Mode:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to find Display and tap on it.
3. Select the Dark Mode option.
4. Toggle the switch to enable dark mode.
5. You can also set a schedule by tapping Dark Mode Settings and selecting Turn on as scheduled.
6. Choose a time from sunset to sunrise or set a custom schedule.

After enabling dark mode, Samsung's One UI will adapt various system elements and supported apps to a dark theme, making night usage more comfortable.

Enabling night mode on Xiaomi devices

Xiaomi devices running on MIUI (their customized UI) have specific steps to enable Night Mode:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Display.
3. Find Dark Mode and tap on it.
4. Toggle the switch to enable dark mode.
5. You can also schedule dark mode by tapping Schedule dark mode.
6. Set a turn on time and a turn off time if you want a custom schedule.

MIUI's dark mode will change the look of system UI elements and many Xiaomi apps, providing a consistent dark-themed experience.

Turn on dark mode in individual apps

Some apps offer dark mode independent of the system settings. Below are ways to enable dark mode in commonly used apps:

Google Chrome

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap on the theme.
5. Select Dark to enable dark mode.

Facebook

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.
4. Select Dark Mode.
5. Toggle the switch to enable dark mode.

Twitter

1. Open the Twitter app.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
3. Scroll down and select Settings and Privacy.
4. Tap Display & sound.
5. Select Dark Mode and choose your favorite dark theme.

Instagram

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Go to your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner.
4. Select Settings.
5. Tap on the theme.
6. Select Dark to activate dark mode.

Benefits of night mode

Enabling night mode offers various benefits:

Reduces stress on the eyes

The biggest advantage of Night mode is that it puts less strain on the eyes. The darker interface is more comfortable for the eyes, especially in low light environments.

Battery life

Devices with OLED screens can experience better battery life with Night Mode. By displaying darker colors, OLED screens can save power because they turn off pixels completely for black areas.

Better sleep

Exposure to bright screens before bed can affect your sleep patterns. Night mode can help reduce this by reducing the amount of blue light emitted.

Customizing your night mode experience

With advancements in the Android operating system, it's now possible to further customize Night Mode settings to suit your specific preferences:

Adjusting brightness

In addition to enabling Night Mode, you may want to adjust your screen brightness for a better experience. Lowering the screen brightness can further reduce eye strain.

Blue light filter

Many Android devices offer a blue light filter in addition to night mode. The blue light filter reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the screen, so that it does not have much effect on the eyes during night time use.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Display.
3. Select Blue Light Filter or Night Light.
4. Toggle the switch to enable it.
5. You can also adjust the intensity and schedule it to turn on/off automatically.

Testing the night mode

After turning on Night Mode, it's a good idea to spend some time navigating your device and apps to get a feel for how it feels. Note any issues or areas where Dark Mode doesn't apply properly, and report them to app developers if necessary.

Troubleshooting common problems

Although enabling night mode is usually simple, you may still encounter some common issues:

Incompatible dark theme applications

Some apps may not fully support Night Mode, leading to an inconsistent experience. In such cases, check individual settings within the app to enable dark mode.

Screen appears too dark

If everything seems too dark and you’re having a hard time reading text, you can either adjust the brightness or partially disable Night mode:

1. Go to Settings > Display > Dark theme.
2. Adjust brightness from the quick settings panel for instant relief.

Conclusion

Night mode is a valuable feature that enhances comfort during nighttime use of your Android device. It helps reduce eye strain, can potentially save battery life, and generally provides a more pleasant viewing experience in low light conditions. This guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to enable Night mode on different Android versions and specific device brands. Additionally, it contains scheduling options, enabling dark mode in individual apps, and tips for optimizing your Night mode experience.

By following these instructions, you can make nighttime use of your Android device more seamless and comfortable.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update