Where to find color settings on your device
Most devices let you change colors in two places: the system settings that affect your whole device, and individual app settings that only change that one program. The fastest route depends on whether you want to change one app or everything at once.
On Windows, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Personalization > Colors. On Mac, open System Settings, click Appearance, and choose Light, Dark, or Auto. On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and pick Light or Dark. On Android, open Settings, search for "display" or "theme", and look for Dark theme or Color mode.
If you only want to change colors in one app — like making your email darker or your browser lighter — you usually find that setting inside the app itself, not in your device settings. Check the app's Settings or Preferences menu first.
Key Takeaways
- System-wide color changes live in your device Settings under Personalization (Windows), Appearance (Mac), or Display & Brightness (iPhone and Android).
- Individual apps often have their own color settings in the app's menu, separate from your device settings.
- Dark mode reduces eye strain in low light and saves battery on phones with OLED screens, while light mode works better in bright sunlight.
- Some apps let you schedule color changes to switch automatically at sunrise and sunset.
- Changing your device color does not affect security or the information you store — it only changes how things look.
Changing colors in Windows
Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Click Personalization on the left side, then Colors. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Custom. Light mode shows dark text on a white background. Dark mode shows light text on a dark background. Custom lets you pick Light for apps but Dark for Windows itself, or the other way around.
Below those options, you can also choose an accent color — the color used for buttons, links, and highlights throughout Windows. Click on one of the preset colors, or click Custom color to pick your own. Windows will show you a preview of how it looks before you confirm.
If you want to change colors in just one app, open that app and look for Settings or Preferences in its menu. Most Windows apps like Notepad, Microsoft Office, and Edge have their own color settings separate from your system settings.
Changing colors on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, then System Settings. Click Appearance on the left side. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Auto. Light mode is best if you work in bright rooms. Dark mode reduces glare if you work in dim light. Auto switches between them based on the time of day — it uses Light during the day and Dark at night.
Below the appearance options, you can change your accent color and highlight color. These affect buttons, links, and selected text throughout macOS. Click on a color swatch to choose a different one. The changes take effect when ready.
For individual apps on Mac, open the app and look in its menu bar at the top of the screen. Click the app's name (like Safari or Mail), then Preferences or Settings. Most Mac apps have their own color or theme options there.
Changing colors on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness. You will see Light, Dark, and Automatic. Tap Dark to switch to dark mode, or Light to stay in light mode. Tap Automatic to let your iPhone switch based on time of day — it will use Light mode during the day and Dark mode at night.
Some apps also let you set their own colors separately. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon), and search for Theme, Appearance, or Color. For example, Mail, Messages, and Safari all have their own color settings you can change without affecting the rest of your phone.
If you have an iPhone with an OLED screen (iPhone 12 and newer), dark mode also saves battery life because OLED screens use less power to display black. This is one reason many people keep dark mode on all the time.
Changing colors on Android
Open Settings and search for "theme" or "display". The exact name varies by phone maker — Samsung calls it Theme, Google Pixel calls it Display, and others may call it Appearance. Look for Dark theme or Light theme and toggle it on or off. Some Android phones also offer an Automatic option that switches based on time of day.
You may also see an option for Material You or Dynamic Color, which pulls colors from your wallpaper and applies them throughout the system. This is available on newer Android phones and lets you create a custom color scheme without picking colors manually.
Individual apps on Android have their own settings too. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three lines or three dots), and look for Settings or Preferences. Search for Theme, Appearance, or Color mode. Gmail, Chrome, and most other Google apps let you change their colors separately from your system settings.
Scheduling automatic color changes
If you want your device to switch colors at a specific time each day, most devices offer an automatic schedule. On Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and turn on Scheduled. Choose a time to switch from Light to Dark, and Windows will make the change automatically every day at that time.
On Mac, open System Settings > Appearance and choose Automatic. Your Mac will switch based on sunset and sunrise in your location. On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and choose Automatic. On Android, open Settings, find your theme or display settings, and look for Scheduled or Automatic options.
Some individual apps also let you schedule color changes. Open the app's settings and search for "schedule" or "automatic". This is useful if you use an app for work during the day and want it to switch to dark mode in the evening.
Troubleshooting color changes that do not work
If you change your device color but nothing happens, the most common cause is that an app is overriding your system setting. Some apps ignore your device's dark mode and always use their own color. Open that app's settings and look for a Theme, Appearance, or Color option. Change it to match your device setting or set it to Automatic.
On Windows, if dark mode is not working, make sure you have the latest updates installed. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Restart your computer after updates finish installing.
On Mac, if colors are not changing, restart your Mac. Press the Apple menu, click Restart, and wait for your Mac to turn back on. If that does not work, go to System Settings > General > About and check that you are running the latest version of macOS.
On iPhone and Android, if colors are not changing, restart your phone. Hold the power button until you see the power-off screen, slide to turn off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing to dark mode make my device more find?
No. Dark mode and light mode are purely visual — they do not change how your device stores information or protects your data. Security depends on your passwords, updates, and what apps you install, not on the color of your screen.
Will dark mode drain my battery faster on older phones?
On older phones with LCD screens, dark mode makes almost no difference to battery life. Dark mode only saves battery on phones with OLED screens, which are mostly iPhone 12 and newer, and newer Samsung and Google Pixel phones. If you have an older phone, choose whichever color mode is most comfortable for your eyes.
Can I set different colors for different times of day?
Yes. Most devices have an Automatic or Scheduled option that switches between light and dark mode at sunrise and sunset, or at a time you choose. On Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and turn on Scheduled. On Mac, iPhone, and Android, look for Automatic in your display or theme settings.
What if one app stays light when I switch my whole device to dark?
That app is ignoring your system setting and using its own color. Open the app's settings and look for Theme, Appearance, or Color mode. Change it to Dark, or set it to Automatic so it matches your device. If the app does not have that option, it may not support dark mode yet.
Can I create my own custom colors instead of using light or dark?
On Windows, you can choose Custom and pick your own accent color. On Mac, you can change the accent and highlight colors in System Settings > Appearance. On iPhone and Android, some phones let you create custom color schemes through their theme or wallpaper settings. Most devices do not let you create a fully custom background color for the whole system, but individual apps often do.