Where to find the keyboard color settings on your iPhone

The keyboard color on your iPhone is controlled through the Settings app, not through the keyboard itself. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then look for Keyboard or a related appearance option — the exact name and location depend on which iOS version you have.

If you don't see a keyboard option under Display & Brightness, try Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Some iOS versions group keyboard appearance settings there instead. The keyboard color is tied to your overall phone theme (light mode, dark mode, or auto), so changing it means changing how your entire phone looks, not just the keyboard.

Your iPhone keyboard will be either light (white or light gray) or dark (black or dark gray) depending on which mode you choose. You cannot pick a custom color like red or blue for the keyboard alone — the color is part of the system-wide theme.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone keyboard color is set through Settings > Display & Brightness, not within the keyboard app itself.
  • You choose between light mode (light keyboard) and dark mode (dark keyboard) — custom colors are not available for the keyboard alone.
  • Changing keyboard color changes your entire phone's appearance, including all apps and menus.
  • If Display & Brightness doesn't show a keyboard option, check Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size instead.

Switching between light mode and dark mode

To change your keyboard from light to dark (or vice versa), go to Settings > Display & Brightness. At the top of the screen, you will see three options: Light, Dark, and Automatic. Tap the one you want.

Light mode gives you a white or light gray keyboard. Dark mode gives you a black or dark gray keyboard. Automatic switches between the two based on the time of day — it uses light mode during the day and dark mode at night, or you can set custom times.

The change takes effect when ready. Your keyboard, home screen, Settings app, and all other built-in apps will switch colors right away.

Using automatic mode to switch keyboard color by time of day

If you want your keyboard to change color automatically without you having to switch it manually, select Automatic in Settings > Display & Brightness. By default, it follows sunset and sunrise in your location.

To set your own times instead, tap Options (or Schedule, depending on your iOS version) and choose Custom Schedule. Enter the time you want to switch to dark mode and the time you want to switch back to light mode. Your keyboard will change at those times every day.

What happens when you change keyboard color

Changing your keyboard color affects the entire look of your phone, not just the keyboard. When you switch to dark mode, your home screen background, app icons, Settings menus, and any app that supports dark mode will all turn dark. The same applies when you switch to light mode.

Some older apps may not support dark mode and will stay the same color regardless of your setting. This is normal — the app developer has to build dark mode support into their app, and not all apps have done so.

Why your keyboard color might not be changing

If you have changed the setting but your keyboard still looks the same, check whether Automatic is turned on. If it is set to Automatic and it is currently daytime, your phone will stay in light mode until sunset. Wait until the scheduled time, or manually select Light or Dark to override it.

Another reason the change might not be visible: some third-party keyboards (like Gboard or SwiftKey) have their own color settings separate from your iPhone's system theme. If you installed a custom keyboard, check that app's own settings to see if it has a color or theme option.

Using a third-party keyboard with different color options

If you want keyboard colors that your iPhone's built-in keyboard does not offer, you can read a third-party keyboard app from the App Store. Popular options include Gboard (Google's keyboard), SwiftKey, and Grammarly. Each has its own color and theme settings.

After you read a third-party keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard. Select the keyboard you want to add. Then, when you are typing, hold down the globe icon (or space bar, depending on the keyboard) and select the new keyboard from the menu.

Open that keyboard's app to find its color and theme settings. Most third-party keyboards let you choose from several preset themes or, in some cases, create a custom color scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make my iPhone keyboard a specific color like blue or red?

No, not with the built-in keyboard. Your iPhone keyboard color is tied to your system theme — it is either light or dark. If you want a keyboard in a specific color, read a third-party keyboard app like Gboard or SwiftKey, which often offer more theme and color options.

Why does my keyboard look different on different apps?

Some apps have their own keyboard styling and may override your system theme. This is most common in messaging apps or apps with custom text fields. The system keyboard itself will still follow your light or dark mode setting, but the app may add its own background color or styling on top.

Does changing keyboard color use more battery?

Dark mode can use slightly less battery on iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone 12 and newer) because dark pixels use less power. On older iPhones with LCD screens, there is no battery difference between light and dark mode. The difference, if any, is very small.

Will my keyboard color change if I update iOS?

No, your keyboard color setting will stay the same after an iOS update. However, Apple sometimes changes how light or dark mode looks, so the exact shade of your keyboard may shift slightly with a new iOS version.

Can I set different keyboard colors for different times of day without using Automatic?

Not automatically. You would have to manually switch between light and dark mode at the times you want. The Automatic setting is the only way to have your keyboard color change on its own schedule.