How to Enable or Disable Dark Mode on Your Phone

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Dark mode is a popular feature that allows users to change the theme of their phone's interface from light to dark. The feature can help reduce eye strain in low-light environments and can also help save battery life on OLED screens. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain how you can enable or disable dark mode on your phone, step by step. Whether you're using an Android or iOS device, we'll cover the necessary steps and make sure you're able to switch modes with ease.

Understanding dark mode

Before we dive into the steps, let's understand what dark mode is. Dark mode is a feature that turns traditional black text on a white background into light text on a dark background. This can be beneficial for a number of reasons. It often makes reading easier in low light conditions by lowering the overall brightness of the screen, thus reducing glare and screen flickering. Additionally, it can help preserve battery life on devices with OLED screens, as these screens turn off pixels to display black, which uses less power than displaying white.

Both Android and iOS devices include dark mode as a built-in feature. The mode can be applied to the entire system, from native apps like Messages and Settings to third-party apps that support dark mode. Users often find it more comfortable to read at night, as it is less harsh on the eyes than the standard bright white screen.

Enable or disable dark mode on Android devices

For Android 10 and above

If you're using a device running Android 10 or later, enabling and disabling dark mode is pretty easy. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app: From your home screen or app drawer, find and tap the Settings app, often represented by a gear icon.
2. Go to Display: In the Settings menu, scroll down and find the Display option. Tap on it to proceed.
3. Choose a dark theme or dark mode: In Display Settings, look for an option labeled Dark Theme or Dark Mode. Toggle the switch next to this option to enable or disable dark mode according to your preference.

Using Quick Settings

Alternatively, you can also enable or disable dark mode via the quick settings panel:

1. Access Quick Settings: Swipe down from the top of your screen to view the Notification panel, and then swipe down again to access Quick Settings.
2. Find the Dark Mode icon: Look for the Dark Mode icon among the Quick Settings tiles. It often looks like a moon or a half circle.
3. Tap to toggle: Tap the dark mode icon to turn it on or off.

For Android 9 or earlier

If your device is running on Android 9 or earlier, the system-wide dark mode feature may not be available. However, some individual apps offer their own dark mode settings. Here's how you can enable dark mode within apps:

• Open the app settings: For each app, you'll need to go to the app's settings. This is usually accessed by opening the app and finding the Settings option in the app menu.
• Find theme options: Look for an option called Theme or Appearance Settings in the app settings.
• Enable Dark Mode: If available, select the Dark Mode option and apply the settings.

Enabling or disabling dark mode on iOS devices

For iOS 13 and above

Just like Android, iOS devices also offer a straightforward way to turn on dark mode from Settings or Control Center. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open the Settings app: From your Home screen, tap the Settings app.
2. Go to Display & brightness: In the Settings menu, scroll down to find Display & brightness. Tap to enter the Display settings.
3. Select Dark: You'll see two appearance options at the top of the screen called Light and Dark. Tap Dark to enable dark mode.

Using the Control Center

Another way to quickly switch between light and dark mode is through Control Center. Follow these simple steps:

1. Open Control Center: On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen. On other iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom edge.
2. Locate the brightness control: Find the brightness control bar, which looks like a sun icon.
3. Tap and hold: Press and hold the brightness control until additional options appear.
4. Select appearance: Tap the Appearance button at the bottom left corner which toggles between light and dark appearance.

Additional tips for using dark mode

Here are some additional tips to improve your experience with dark mode:

• Enjoy battery savings: If your device has an OLED screen (which is common in many modern smartphones), using dark mode can reduce battery usage because the screen uses less power to display completely black pixels.
• App-specific settings: Even if dark mode is enabled system-wide, some apps may require you to manually enable it in their settings. If you see an app not following system-wide dark mode, check the individual app settings.
• Automate dark mode: You can also set your device to automatically switch between light and dark mode based on the time of day. Both Android and iOS allow dark mode to be activated at sunset and deactivated at sunrise.

Troubleshooting common problems

Despite the simplicity of enabling and disabling dark mode, you may encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and solutions:

• Some apps don't support dark mode: Not all apps have dark mode support. In such cases, you won't be able to change the appearance of these apps until the developers add support for dark mode.
• Inconsistent appearance: Sometimes, you may find some elements of an app or site that don't look right in dark mode. This happens when the style of the content is not fully adapted to the dark theme. Try adjusting the settings or look for alternatives.
• Dark mode missing in Quick Settings: If you can't find the Dark Mode toggle in Quick Settings, you may have to add it manually. Access Quick Settings, tap the pencil or edit icon, and add it to the main panel.

By following the steps in this guide, you can easily enable or disable dark mode on your phone, improving your viewing experience and possibly even improving battery life. Remember, this feature may vary slightly due to differences in device manufacturers' user interfaces or operating system versions. Still, once you get accustomed to using dark mode, you may find it invaluable, especially when you use your phone in low-light environments.

As technology evolves, dark mode has become an integral feature across devices. It’s not just a visual preference but also a way to reduce stress during late-night sessions or boost battery performance throughout the day. So, why not give it a try and see how it complements your daily digital routine!

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