Instagram offers light and dark theme options in your phone settings
Instagram does not have its own theme switcher inside the app. Instead, it follows the theme setting on your phone — if your phone is set to dark mode, Instagram displays in dark mode. If your phone uses light mode, Instagram shows in light mode. You change Instagram's appearance by changing your device's system settings, not by looking for a toggle inside the app itself.
The steps differ slightly between iPhones and Android phones, but both take less than a minute. Once you change your phone's theme, Instagram updates automatically the next time you open it.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram automatically matches whatever theme your phone is set to, so you adjust the appearance through your device settings, not within Instagram.
- On iPhones, go to Settings, then Display & Brightness, and choose Dark, Light, or Auto to switch between themes.
- On Android phones, open Settings, select Display, and toggle Dark theme on or off depending on your preference.
- If you choose Auto on either device, your phone switches between light and dark mode based on the time of day.
- Some older Android phones may not have a system-wide dark mode option, in which case Instagram will only display in light mode.
How to change theme on an iPhone
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. You will see three options at the top: Light, Dark, and Auto.
Tap Light to use a white background with dark text throughout Instagram. Tap Dark to use a dark background with light text. Tap Auto to let your phone automatically switch between light mode during the day and dark mode at night based on sunset and sunrise times in your location.
Close Settings and open Instagram. The theme change takes effect when ready. If you chose Auto, you may not see the change right away — it depends on the current time of day.
How to change theme on an Android phone
Open the Settings app. The location of theme settings varies slightly by phone manufacturer, but the most common path is: tap Display (or Display and brightness), then look for Dark theme or Theme.
If you see a toggle switch next to Dark theme, turn it on for dark mode or off for light mode. If you see a menu with options like Light, Dark, and System default, select your preference. Some phones also offer a Schedule option that automatically switches themes at a set time each day.
Return to your home screen and open Instagram. The new theme appears the next time the app loads. If your Android phone does not have a dark mode option in Settings, your device may be older and only supports light mode.
What the light and dark themes look like in Instagram
Light mode shows Instagram with a white or light gray background, dark text, and dark icons. This is easier to read in bright sunlight but can cause eye strain in dim lighting. Stories, the feed, and direct messages all use the same light appearance.
Dark mode shows Instagram with a dark gray or black background, light text, and light icons. It reduces glare in low-light environments and uses less battery power on phones with OLED screens (most newer iPhones and high-end Android phones). The dark theme applies to every part of the app you navigate to.
The colors and exact shade of dark mode can vary slightly depending on your phone model and Instagram version, but the core appearance — light text on a dark background — remains the same across devices.
Using Auto mode to switch themes automatically
The Auto setting (on iPhone) or Schedule option (on some Android phones) lets your device switch themes without you having to change settings manually. On iPhone, Auto uses your location's sunset and sunrise times — at sunset, your phone switches to dark mode, and at sunrise it returns to light mode.
On Android, the Schedule option (if available on your phone) lets you pick specific times — for example, dark mode from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and light mode the rest of the day. This is useful if you use Instagram mostly in the evening and want dark mode to be your default during those hours.
If you travel across time zones, Auto mode on iPhone adjusts automatically based on your new location's sunset time. You do not need to change any settings when you land.
Troubleshooting: Instagram not changing theme
If you changed your phone's theme but Instagram still shows the old appearance, close the app completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe Instagram off the screen. On Android, open Recent Apps and swipe Instagram away. Then tap the Instagram icon again.
If the theme still does not change, restart your phone. Hold the power button, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary settings that may be preventing the change from taking effect.
If you are using Auto mode and the theme is not switching at the expected time, check that your phone's location services are turned on. Auto mode relies on knowing your location to calculate sunset and sunrise. Go to Settings, find Location or Privacy, and make sure location access is enabled.
Why Instagram does not have its own theme setting
Instagram follows your phone's system theme to keep the experience consistent across all your apps. Instead of managing separate theme settings for dozens of apps, you set the theme once on your phone and every app that supports dark mode updates automatically. This also means Instagram uses less battery and reduces eye strain when dark mode is active, because the app does not have to override your phone's settings.
Some apps do offer their own theme controls inside the app, but Instagram is not one of them. The company decided to rely on your device's built-in theme system rather than create a duplicate setting within the app itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use dark mode on Instagram while my phone is in light mode?
No. Instagram does not have its own theme toggle, so it always matches your phone's setting. If you want Instagram in dark mode, your entire phone must be in dark mode. You cannot have Instagram dark while other apps remain light.
Does dark mode on Instagram save battery?
Dark mode saves battery on phones with OLED screens (most iPhones from iPhone 12 onward and many newer Android phones) because OLED pixels that display black use less power than pixels displaying white. On phones with LCD screens, the battery savings are minimal or nonexistent. If you have an older phone with an LCD screen, switching to dark mode will not noticeably extend your battery life.
What if my Android phone does not have a dark mode option?
Older Android phones running Android 9 or earlier may not have a system-wide dark mode. If your Settings app does not have a Display or Theme section with a dark mode option, your phone does not support it. Instagram will display in light mode only. You can still use Instagram normally — you just cannot change the theme.
Does Instagram remember my theme preference if I switch phones?
No. Instagram follows your new phone's theme setting. If you switch from an iPhone in dark mode to an Android phone in light mode, Instagram will display in light mode until you change your Android phone's settings. Your Instagram account itself does not store a theme preference.
Can I schedule different themes for different times of day on all phones?
iPhones with Auto mode do this automatically based on sunset and sunrise. Most newer Android phones have a Schedule option in Display settings that lets you pick specific times. However, some Android phones only have an on/off toggle for dark mode with no scheduling option. Check your phone's Display settings to see what options are available.