Dark Mode iOS 13: Turn It On in 3 Steps

Dark Mode in iOS 13 changes the system-wide color scheme to a dark background with light text, which can reduce eye strain in low light and save battery on OLED iPhones. This guide shows you how to enable it from the Control Center or the Settings app, and how to schedule it automatically. You don’t need anything special—just an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 13 or later.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 installed.
• Your device passcode (if you have one) to unlock the screen while changing settings.

Step-by-Step

1. Unlock your device and go to the Home Screen.
2. Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
3. Tap “Display & Brightness”—it’s near the top of the Settings list.
4. Under the “Appearance” section, tap “Dark” to switch immediately. The screen will change to dark right away.
5. To schedule Dark Mode, toggle on “Automatic” (the switch turns green). Then tap “Options” to choose a schedule:
   • Sunset to Sunrise: Uses your location to determine when the sun sets and rises (requires Location Services to be enabled for system services).
   • Custom Schedule: Set your own times—tap “From” and “To” to pick the start and end times.
6. To toggle Dark Mode from Control Center (quick way): Swipe down from the top-right corner (on iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom (on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center.
7. Press and hold the Brightness slider until a larger control appears.
8. Tap the Dark Mode button (the circle with a crescent moon icon) in the bottom-left corner. It will turn blue when Dark Mode is active.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing Dark Mode with Night Shift: Night Shift makes the screen warmer (more yellow) to reduce blue light at night, but it does not change the interface to dark. They are separate settings.
• Expecting all apps to follow immediately: Some third-party apps only support Dark Mode if they’ve been updated to iOS 13. Until then, they may stay light.
• Forgetting that the wallpaper stays light: Dark Mode doesn’t automatically change your wallpaper. You may want to choose a dark wallpaper to fully enjoy the effect.
• Setting a custom schedule but not enabling Automatic: If you set times but leave Automatic off, the schedule won’t work.

Tips

• Use the Control Center toggle for a quick switch—it’s much faster than going into Settings.
• Try the “Sunset to Sunrise” schedule if you want a seamless transition without fiddling with times.
• Enable “True Tone” (in Display & Brightness) to have the screen adapt to ambient lighting; it works well with Dark Mode.
• Check individual apps for their own dark mode settings. Some apps have a separate toggle that overrides the system setting.
• If you have an OLED iPhone (X, XS, 11 Pro, etc.), Dark Mode can help battery life because black pixels are turned off.

Troubleshooting

• Dark Mode doesn’t turn on when I tap “Dark”: Make sure you’re running iOS 13 or later. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates.
• Automatic schedule doesn’t work: Check that Location Services is enabled for System Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and make sure “Setting Time Zone” is on.
• Some apps still show white: The app may not support Dark Mode. Check the App Store for updates, or look for a separate dark theme in the app’s own settings.
• Control Center toggle doesn’t appear: Make sure you’re pressing and holding the brightness slider, not just tapping it. If it still doesn’t show, restart your device.
• Dark Mode turns on by itself: You likely have Automatic enabled. Check Settings > Display & Brightness and see if Automatic is on. If you don’t want it, turn it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dark Mode save battery on all iPhones?

Only on OLED screens (iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro, and later). On LCD models (iPhone 8, SE, 11), the backlight stays on, so the savings are minimal.

Can I schedule Dark Mode for specific times?

Yes, you can set a custom schedule in Settings > Display & Brightness > Automatic > Options. Choose “Custom Schedule” and set your start and end times.

Why doesn’t my wallpaper change in Dark Mode?

Dark Mode doesn’t automatically change your wallpaper. You can set a dark wallpaper manually in Settings > Wallpaper.

Can I use Dark Mode with Night Shift at the same time?

Yes, they are independent. You can have both enabled, and the screen will be dark and warm.

How do I turn off Dark Mode?

Follow the same steps and tap “Light” under Appearance, or toggle off Automatic. You can also use the Control Center toggle.

Will Dark Mode affect how my photos look?

No, Dark Mode only changes the interface. Photos and videos are displayed with their original colors.

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