Dark mode is in your Instagram settings and takes one tap to turn on
Instagram's dark mode reduces the brightness of the app's interface, making it easier on your eyes in low light and using less battery power on phones with OLED screens. You turn it on through your phone's display settings or directly in the Instagram app itself. The process is the same whether you use iPhone or Android, though the exact menu names differ slightly between the two.
Dark mode applies to the entire Instagram interface — your feed, Stories, Direct Messages, and the Explore page all switch to a dark background with light text. Once you turn it on, it stays on until you manually switch back to light mode or set Instagram to follow your phone's automatic schedule.
Key Takeaways
- You can enable dark mode directly in Instagram by going to Settings and Account, then selecting Theme and choosing Dark.
- On iPhone, you can also turn on dark mode through Settings > Display & Brightness, then select Dark, and Instagram will follow that setting.
- On Android, Instagram's dark mode setting is independent of your phone's system settings, so you must change it within the app itself.
- You can set Instagram to switch between light and dark mode automatically based on the time of day by selecting Automatic in the Theme menu.
How to enable dark mode on iPhone
On iPhone, you have two ways to turn on dark mode for Instagram. The first is through your phone's system settings, which will make Instagram follow your phone's overall dark mode setting. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then select Dark. Instagram will automatically switch to dark mode along with the rest of your phone.
The second way is to change the setting directly within Instagram. Open the Instagram app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the Preferences section and tap Theme. Choose Dark, and Instagram will stay in dark mode even if your phone is set to light mode.
How to enable dark mode on Android
Android phones do not automatically sync Instagram's theme with your system display settings the way iPhones do. You must change the setting within the Instagram app itself. Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
Tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down to the Preferences section and tap Theme. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Use Device Default. Select Dark to turn on dark mode. If you select Use Device Default, Instagram will follow whatever dark mode setting your Android phone has, though this option may not work on all Android versions.
Setting dark mode to turn on and off automatically
Instead of manually switching between light and dark mode, you can set Instagram to change automatically based on the time of day. This is useful if you prefer light mode during the day and dark mode at night. Open Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, then Settings and Privacy > Settings.
Scroll to Preferences and tap Theme. Select Automatic. Instagram will now switch to dark mode at sunset and back to light mode at sunrise, based on your phone's location. The exact timing depends on your geographic location and changes throughout the year as sunset times shift.
What dark mode looks like in different parts of Instagram
When dark mode is on, your feed displays posts against a dark gray or black background with white or light gray text. Story previews at the top of your feed also switch to a dark background. The navigation bar at the bottom of the app becomes dark, and all icons turn light colored for contrast.
In Direct Messages, the chat bubbles you send appear in Instagram's brand blue, while messages from others appear in a lighter gray against the dark background. The Explore page shows a dark background with light text and images. Settings menus, profile pages, and comment sections all follow the same dark theme. The only elements that may retain their original colors are images and videos in posts, which display as the creator intended.
Troubleshooting dark mode if it is not working
If you turned on dark mode but Instagram still appears in light mode, check whether your phone's system settings are overriding the app setting. On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and make sure Dark is selected, or set it to Auto. On Android, open Instagram's Theme setting again and confirm you selected Dark rather than Use Device Default.
If dark mode is still not working after checking both your phone and app settings, try closing Instagram completely and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Instagram, and swipe up to close it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find Instagram, tap Force Stop, then reopen the app. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall Instagram from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Why you might want to use dark mode
Dark mode reduces eye strain when you use Instagram in dim lighting or at night. The dark background emits less light, which can make scrolling through your feed more comfortable before bed. Dark mode also uses less battery power on phones with OLED screens, since those screens turn off pixels that display black, whereas LCD screens use the same power regardless of color.
Some people find dark mode easier to read because the contrast between light text and a dark background feels sharper than dark text on a light background. Others straightforward prefer the appearance. You can switch back to light mode at any time using the same Theme menu, so there is no permanent change if you decide dark mode is not for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dark mode make Instagram use less data?
No. Dark mode only changes the color of the interface you see on your screen. It does not affect how much data Instagram downloads or uses. Photos, videos, and Stories consume the same amount of data whether you view them in light or dark mode.
Can I set different themes for Instagram and my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, if you set Instagram's Theme to Dark while your phone is set to Light, Instagram will stay dark and your other apps will stay light. On Android, you can also set Instagram's theme independently from your phone's system settings by choosing Dark in the Theme menu instead of Use Device Default.
Will dark mode work on older versions of Instagram?
Dark mode has been available in Instagram for several years, so it works on most current versions of the app. If you have an older phone that cannot update Instagram to a recent version, dark mode may not be available. Update Instagram from the App Store or Google Play Store to make sure you have the latest version.
Does dark mode hide my activity or make me less visible to other users?
No. Dark mode is purely a visual setting that changes how the app looks on your screen. It does not affect your privacy, who can see your posts, or whether people can see when you were last active. Your activity status and visibility settings are controlled separately in your privacy settings.