Change app colors through iPad settings and display options

You can change how apps look on your iPad in three main ways: by switching to Dark Mode, by adjusting the color filter settings, or by changing individual app preferences within the app itself. Most apps follow your iPad's system-wide Dark Mode setting automatically, so turning that on affects dozens of apps at once. Some apps also let you pick accent colors or theme options from their own settings menu.

The fastest route is usually the system settings, because one change affects all compatible apps. If you want to customize a single app's appearance, you'll go into that app's own settings instead. Not every app offers color customization — it depends on what the developer built in.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark Mode in iPad Settings > Display & Brightness turns most apps dark automatically and works across your whole device.
  • Color Filters in Accessibility settings let you adjust how colors appear if you have color blindness or light sensitivity.
  • Individual apps often have their own theme or color settings inside the app itself, usually found under Settings or Preferences.
  • Some apps let you pick accent colors, background colors, or text colors, but this feature varies widely by app.

Turn on Dark Mode for system-wide app color changes

Dark Mode is the easiest way to change app colors across your iPad. When you turn it on, most apps automatically switch to a dark background with light text. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then tap Dark under the Appearance section. Your iPad will stay in Dark Mode until you switch it back to Light or set it to change automatically at sunset.

If you want Dark Mode to turn on and off on a schedule, tap Automatic in the Appearance section instead. Your iPad will then switch to Dark Mode at sunset and back to Light Mode at sunrise, based on your location. This is useful if you prefer dark colors in the evening but light colors during the day.

Not every app respects Dark Mode — some older apps or games may ignore this setting and stay light no matter what. If an app doesn't change when you turn on Dark Mode, the developer didn't build Dark Mode support into that app.

Adjust color filters for light sensitivity or color blindness

Color Filters let you change how colors appear across your entire iPad, which affects all apps at once. This is useful if you have color blindness, light sensitivity, or just prefer a different color tone. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, then scroll down and tap Color Filters.

Turn on Color Filters, then choose from these options: Grayscale (removes all color), Red/Green Filter (for red-green color blindness), Blue/Yellow Filter (for blue-yellow color blindness), or Tint (adds a color overlay). You can also adjust the intensity slider to make the effect stronger or weaker. The change applies to every app and the home screen when ready.

Color Filters are different from Dark Mode — they change the actual colors you see rather than switching between light and dark themes. You can use both at the same time if you want.

Change colors inside individual apps

Many apps have their own color or theme settings that override the system Dark Mode. To find these, open the app and look for a Settings, Preferences, or gear icon — usually in the bottom right, top left, or inside a menu. Once you're in the app's settings, look for options labeled Theme, Colors, Appearance, or Display.

Common color options in apps include: choosing between Light and Dark themes, picking an accent color (the color used for buttons and highlights), adjusting text size and color, or selecting a background color. Some apps like Notes let you pick a specific color for individual notes, while others like Mail let you choose a dark or light theme for the whole app.

If an app doesn't have a color or theme setting, it either doesn't offer one or it's hidden in a less obvious place. Check the app's help section or support page if you can't find it.

Use Smart Invert or Classic Invert for temporary color changes

Smart Invert and Classic Invert are accessibility features that flip colors on your screen. Smart Invert inverts colors while keeping images and videos looking normal, while Classic Invert inverts everything including images. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, then turn on Smart Invert or Classic Invert.

These are meant for accessibility rather than customization, but some people use them as a quick way to get a dark theme on apps that don't support Dark Mode. The effect applies to every app and the home screen. You can turn it on and off quickly from Control Center if you add it there.

Adjust text color and background in reading apps

Reading apps like Books, News, and many e-readers let you change text color, background color, and font separately. Open the app, then look for a text size icon, gear icon, or three-dot menu while reading. Tap it to find options for text color, background color, brightness, and sometimes font choice.

In Apple Books, tap the text size icon (usually marked "A" with a slider) while reading, then choose a background color like white, sepia, or gray. In News, tap the gear icon and look for Display options. These changes usually explore only to that app and that type of content, not to your whole iPad.

Change app icon colors with custom home screen shortcuts

You can't change the actual app icon colors built into iPad, but you can create custom colored icons using the Shortcuts app. Open Shortcuts, create a new shortcut that opens the app you want, then add a custom icon and color to that shortcut. Place the shortcut on your home screen instead of the original app icon.

This method takes more time and creates extra steps to open the app, so it's mainly useful if you want a specific look for your home screen. The original app still looks the same when you open it — only the home screen icon changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Dark Mode change the colors in my favorite app?

The app developer didn't add Dark Mode support to that app. Older apps and some games don't include it. You can try turning on Smart Invert or Classic Invert as a workaround, or check if the app has its own theme setting inside the app's preferences.

Can I make different apps different colors at the same time?

Yes. System-wide settings like Dark Mode and Color Filters affect all apps, but individual app settings override them. So one app can be dark while another stays light if you set them that way in each app's own settings.

Does changing app colors use more battery?

Dark Mode actually uses slightly less battery on iPads with OLED screens because dark pixels use less power, but the difference is small on most iPads. Color Filters and Invert don't meaningfully affect battery life.

Will changing colors affect how I see photos and videos in apps?

Smart Invert keeps photos and videos looking normal while inverting the rest. Classic Invert inverts everything including images. Dark Mode and individual app color settings usually don't affect photos and videos — they only change the app's interface.

Can I schedule different colors for different times of day?

Yes, but only for Dark Mode. Set Display & Brightness to Automatic, and Dark Mode will turn on at sunset and off at sunrise. Other color settings like Color Filters and individual app themes don't have scheduling options.