The quickest way to toggle dark mode

Dark mode on iPhone is easiest to turn on or off through Control Center, which you can open from the top-right corner of your screen (or swipe up from the bottom on older models). Look for the brightness slider — directly below it is a half-moon icon. Tap that icon once to switch between dark and light mode when ready. The change takes effect when ready across your home screen, apps, and system menus.

This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. You do not need to restart your phone or adjust any other settings. If you cannot see the half-moon icon in Control Center, you may need to add it first — see the Settings section below.

Key Takeaways

  • The half-moon icon in Control Center toggles dark mode on and off in one tap, and the change happens when ready.
  • You can schedule dark mode to turn on automatically at sunset and off at sunrise through Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark Mode.
  • If the half-moon icon does not appear in Control Center, add it by opening Settings > Control Center and tapping the plus sign next to Dark Mode.
  • Dark mode affects your home screen, lock screen, and most built-in apps, though some third-party apps may not support it.

Setting dark mode to turn on automatically

If you want dark mode to set up without tapping Control Center each time, you can schedule it. Open Settings, then tap Display & Brightness. Scroll down to the Dark section and tap the dropdown menu next to "Automatic." Choose "Sunset to Sunrise" to have dark mode turn on when the sun sets in your location and turn off when it rises.

Your iPhone uses your location services to determine sunset and sunrise times, so make sure location services are turned on for this to work. If you prefer a fixed schedule instead — say, dark mode from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. — you can select "Custom Schedule" and enter your own times.

Adding the dark mode icon to Control Center if it is missing

Control Center shows only the controls you have chosen to display. If you do not see the half-moon dark mode icon, you need to add it. Open Settings and tap Control Center. Scroll down to "More Controls" and look for "Dark Mode." Tap the green plus sign next to it to add it to your Control Center.

Once you add it, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) and the half-moon icon will now appear. You can rearrange the order of icons in Control Center by holding and dragging them, so you can move dark mode closer to the top if you use it often.

How dark mode affects different parts of your iPhone

When you turn on dark mode, it changes the background of your home screen, lock screen, and system apps like Messages, Mail, and Settings from light colors to dark ones. Text and icons adjust automatically so they remain readable. Built-in Apple apps support dark mode fully.

Third-party apps from the App Store may or may not support dark mode — it depends on whether the developer built that feature in. Some apps will switch to dark mode when you enable it system-wide, while others will stay in light mode. If an app does not support dark mode, you cannot force it to use dark colors through iPhone settings.

Turning off dark mode for specific apps

You cannot disable dark mode for individual apps through Settings. However, some apps have their own dark mode toggle inside the app itself. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon), and search for a "Dark Mode" or "Theme" option. If the app offers one, you can turn it off there even if your iPhone is in dark mode system-wide.

If an app does not have its own theme setting and you want to use it in light mode, your only option is to turn off dark mode entirely on your iPhone. This is rare — most modern apps either support dark mode or let you choose.

Troubleshooting dark mode that will not turn on

If dark mode is not turning on when you tap the half-moon icon, first check that your iPhone is running iOS 13 or later. Open Settings > General > About and look at the iOS version number. Dark mode is not available on iOS 12 or earlier.

If your iOS is current and dark mode still will not set up, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, slide to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. After restart, try tapping the dark mode icon again. If it still does not work, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and check that Dark is not grayed out or locked by Screen Time restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode save battery on my iPhone?

Dark mode uses less power on iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone 12 and newer, plus iPhone X and 11 Pro), because black pixels require less energy to display. On iPhones with LCD screens (iPhone 11, XR, and earlier), the battery savings are minimal or nonexistent. If battery life is your main concern, check your phone's screen type in Settings > General > About.

Can I schedule dark mode to turn on at a different time than sunset?

Yes. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark Mode and select "Custom Schedule." You can then enter any start and end time you want, such as 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and dark mode will follow that schedule instead of sunset and sunrise.

Why do some apps stay light when I turn on dark mode?

Older apps or apps whose developers have not added dark mode support will remain in light mode even when your iPhone is set to dark. You cannot force these apps to use dark colors through iPhone settings. Check the app's own settings menu to see if it has a theme or appearance option you can adjust.

Will dark mode affect my lock screen wallpaper?

Dark mode does not change your wallpaper image itself, but it may adjust how text and icons appear on top of it for readability. If you want a different look on your lock screen, you can set a separate wallpaper for dark mode. Go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper, choose your image, and tap "Set" to choose whether it applies to lock screen, home screen, or both.