Dark Mode for iOS: Where to Find It

Dark Mode for iOS is a system-wide display setting that changes the interface to a dark color scheme, and you can find it in the Settings app under Display & Brightness. You can turn it on manually or set it to switch automatically based on the time of day. This guide covers exactly where to find it, how to customize it, and what to do if it isn’t working.

Background: What Dark Mode Is and Why It Exists

Apple introduced Dark Mode with iOS 13 in 2019. It was designed to reduce eye strain in low-light environments, save battery life on OLED displays (where black pixels are turned off), and provide a more immersive experience for media consumption. The feature works across the entire system, including native apps like Mail, Messages, and Photos, as well as third-party apps that adopt Apple’s dark mode APIs.

Dark Mode is not just a simple color inversion. It uses a true dark palette with carefully chosen grays and accent colors to maintain readability and contrast. For example, in dark mode, the background becomes a deep gray (#000000 on OLED, #1C1C1E on LCD), and text becomes a light gray or white, reducing the harsh brightness of a white screen.

How to Enable Dark Mode Manually

To turn on Dark Mode right now, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
Tap Display & Brightness.
Under the Appearance section, tap Dark.

The change takes effect immediately across the entire system. You can also toggle it from the Control Center: swipe down from the top-right corner (on iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom (on iPhones with a Home button), then press and hold the Brightness slider and tap the Dark Mode button (a moon icon).

How to Schedule Dark Mode Automatically

If you want Dark Mode to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise, or at custom times, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
Under Appearance, tap Automatic.
Tap Options (just below the Automatic toggle).
Choose Sunset to Sunrise (uses your location’s sunset/sunrise times) or Custom Schedule to set your own times.

If you choose Custom Schedule, you can set a specific time for Light Mode and a separate time for Dark Mode. Note that the Sunset to Sunrise option requires Location Services to be enabled for the system (Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Setting Time Zone).

How to Choose Between Light and Dark Mode Per App

Some apps let you override the system setting. For example, in the Books app, you can choose a white, sepia, or dark background regardless of the system appearance. Similarly, many third-party apps have their own theme settings inside their options menu. If an app doesn’t follow Dark Mode, it may not have been updated to support it, or it may have its own independent setting.

To force a specific appearance for an app that doesn’t offer its own setting, you can use the Smart Invert feature (Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Smart Invert). This reverses colors but keeps images and some media natural. It’s not a perfect solution, but it can help in apps that are stuck in light mode.

Common Problems and Fixes

If Dark Mode isn’t working as expected, here are common issues and solutions:

App doesn’t change: The app may not support Dark Mode. Check for updates in the App Store, or look for a theme setting inside the app.
Dark Mode turns off by itself: If you have scheduled Dark Mode, it will switch at the set times. Check your schedule under Settings > Display & Brightness > Automatic > Options.
Wallpaper doesn’t change: Dark Mode can dim your wallpaper. Go to Settings > Wallpaper and choose a wallpaper that supports dark mode (look for a moon icon on the wallpaper preview).
Control Center toggle missing: The Dark Mode button in Control Center is part of the Brightness slider. Press and hold the slider to see it. If it’s not there, ensure you haven’t customized Control Center to remove it (Settings > Control Center > Include).

Dark Mode vs. Night Shift vs. True Tone

These three features are often confused, but they do different things:

Dark Mode changes the color scheme of the interface (backgrounds, text, menus).
Night Shift shifts the colors of the display to the warmer end of the spectrum (more yellow/orange) to reduce blue light exposure in the evening. It does not change the interface colors.
True Tone automatically adjusts the white balance to match the ambient light in your room, making whites look more natural. It also does not change the interface to dark.

You can use all three simultaneously. For example, many people use Dark Mode + Night Shift at night for a comfortable reading experience.

Battery Life and OLED Displays

Dark Mode can save battery life on iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone X and newer, except the iPhone SE models). OLED pixels emit their own light, so black pixels are turned off, consuming zero power. In dark mode, the system uses pure black for many backgrounds, which can reduce power consumption. However, the savings are modest in real-world usage—possibly a few percent per full charge. On LCD iPhones (like the iPhone 11 or iPhone SE), dark mode does not save battery because the backlight is always on, regardless of pixel color.

Accessibility and Dark Mode

For users with visual impairments, Dark Mode can be helpful, but it’s not always the best choice. Some people find light text on dark backgrounds harder to read, especially if they have astigmatism. If that’s the case, you can increase contrast or use the Increase Contrast setting (Settings > Accessibility & Display & Text Size > Increase Contrast). You can also set Dark Mode to turn on automatically only at night, so you get the best of both worlds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dark Mode work on all iOS versions? Dark Mode is available on iOS 13 and later. If you have an older iOS version, you’ll need to update to iOS 13 or newer to get it.

Can I schedule Dark Mode to turn on at sunset? Yes, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Automatic > Options and select Sunset to Sunrise. This uses your location’s sunset and sunrise times.

Why is my Dark Mode not turning on? Check if you have scheduled Dark Mode and the current time is within the light mode period. Also, ensure you haven’t enabled any accessibility filters that override appearance. Restarting your iPhone can also fix temporary glitches.

Does Dark Mode save battery? On OLED iPhones, yes, but the savings are small. On LCD iPhones, no significant savings occur.

Can I set Dark Mode for only some apps? The system setting applies to all apps that support it. For apps that don’t support it, you can’t force it except by using Smart Invert, which is a system-wide accessibility feature, not per-app.

Does Dark Mode affect screenshots? No, screenshots capture the screen as it appears. If you take a screenshot in Dark Mode, the image will be dark. If you want a light screenshot, switch to Light Mode temporarily.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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