Night Mode reduces blue light from your screen to make reading easier in dim light
Night Mode (called Dark Mode on some iPhones) shifts your screen toward warmer colors and reduces the bright blue light that can strain your eyes in low light. You turn it on in Settings, and you can set it to switch automatically at sunset or stay on all the time. The feature works across most built-in apps and many third-party apps, though some apps do not support it yet.
If you arrived here from monitor setup: Night Mode on your iPhone works differently than blue light filters on a computer monitor. Your phone's Night Mode changes the entire interface color, while a monitor filter typically adjusts the backlight. Both reduce blue light, but the iPhone version is easier to toggle and schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then toggle Dark Mode on to change your entire interface to dark colors.
- You can set Dark Mode to turn on automatically at sunset by choosing Automatic in the Display & Brightness menu.
- Dark Mode works in Mail, Messages, Safari, and most built-in apps, but some older or third-party apps may not support it.
- If you want to reduce blue light without darkening your whole screen, use Night Shift instead, which you control from Control Center.
How to turn on Dark Mode in Settings
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. At the top of that screen, you will see three options: Light, Auto, and Dark. Tap Dark to switch your entire interface to dark colors when ready.
Once Dark Mode is on, your home screen, app icons, menus, and text will all shift to dark backgrounds with light text. The change applies to most built-in apps right away. If you want to turn it off later, go back to Display & Brightness and tap Light.
Set Dark Mode to turn on and off automatically
If you want Dark Mode to switch on its own, tap Auto in the Display & Brightness menu instead of Dark. Your phone will then ask you to choose a schedule. Select Sunset to Sunrise, and your phone will turn Dark Mode on when the sun sets in your location and turn it off when the sun rises.
Alternatively, you can tap Custom Schedule and set exact times. For example, you could set Dark Mode to turn on at 8 p.m. and off at 7 a.m. Your phone will switch automatically at those times without you having to do anything.
Night Shift reduces blue light without changing your whole interface
Night Shift is different from Dark Mode. Instead of changing your interface to dark colors, Night Shift keeps your screen the same but shifts the color temperature toward warmer, more orange tones. This reduces the amount of blue light your eyes see, which can help you sleep better if you use your phone before bed.
To turn on Night Shift, open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones). Find the Night Shift icon—it looks like a sun—and tap it. You can also schedule Night Shift to turn on automatically at sunset by going to Settings, Display & Brightness, and tapping Night Shift to set a schedule.
Which apps support Dark Mode and which do not
Dark Mode works in all Apple's built-in apps: Mail, Messages, Safari, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Maps, and Photos all switch to dark colors when you enable it. Most newer third-party apps from the App Store also support Dark Mode, including Gmail, Twitter, Instagram, and Slack.
Older apps and some specialized tools may not support Dark Mode yet. If an app does not switch to dark colors when you turn on Dark Mode, the app developer has not built that feature in. You can still use Dark Mode everywhere else on your phone; that one app will just stay in light mode. Check the App Store to see if an update is available, as developers sometimes add Dark Mode support in later versions.
Troubleshooting Dark Mode if it is not working
If you turned on Dark Mode but your screen did not change, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the power button and volume down button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.
If Dark Mode still does not work after a restart, check that you are running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings, General, Software Update, and install any available update. Older iOS versions sometimes have bugs with Dark Mode. If you are already on the latest version and Dark Mode still will not turn on, try toggling it off and on again in Display & Brightness, or contact Apple Support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dark Mode actually help my eyes?
Dark Mode reduces the brightness of your screen, which can reduce eye strain in dark rooms. However, research on whether it prevents sleep problems is mixed. If you use your phone before bed, Night Shift (which reduces blue light) may help more than Dark Mode alone. The best approach is to try both and see what feels more comfortable for you.
Can I use Dark Mode and Night Shift at the same time?
Yes. Dark Mode changes your interface colors, and Night Shift adjusts the color temperature. You can have Dark Mode on and Night Shift on at the same time, and they work together. This gives you both a dark interface and warmer colors, which some people find most comfortable in the evening.
Why do some apps not switch to dark colors?
Developers have to build Dark Mode support into their apps. If an app was made before Dark Mode existed or the developer has not added the feature yet, the app will stay in light mode even when you turn on Dark Mode system-wide. Check the App Store for updates, as developers often add Dark Mode in later versions.
Will Dark Mode drain my battery faster?
On iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone 12 and newer), Dark Mode may actually use slightly less battery because dark pixels require less power. On iPhones with LCD screens (iPhone 11 and older), Dark Mode does not significantly affect battery life. Either way, the difference is small enough that you should choose based on what feels comfortable to your eyes.