Turn on dark mode in the Instagram app

Dark mode on Instagram dims the white background to dark gray or black, which reduces eye strain in low light and uses less battery on phones with OLED screens. The fastest way to turn it on is through your phone's system settings, which will automatically explore dark mode to Instagram along with your other apps.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and tap Dark. On Android, open Settings > Display and toggle on Dark theme or Dark mode (the exact name varies by phone brand). Instagram will switch to dark mode when ready the next time you open it.

If you want dark mode only in Instagram and not on your whole phone, you can set Instagram to dark mode independently. Open the Instagram app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Go to Settings and privacy > Appearance and select Dark. This overrides your phone's system setting just for Instagram.

Key Takeaways

  • The easiest method is to turn on dark mode in your phone's system settings, which applies it to Instagram automatically.
  • You can also enable dark mode only in Instagram by going to Settings and privacy > Appearance and selecting Dark.
  • On iPhone and Android, the setting names are slightly different but both are found in the Display or Appearance section.
  • Dark mode takes effect the next time you open or refresh the Instagram app.

Enable dark mode on Instagram's web version

If you use Instagram on a computer through a web browser, dark mode is controlled through your browser settings, not through Instagram itself. Instagram will automatically match whatever dark or light mode your browser is set to.

In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, go to Settings > Appearance, and select Dark. In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select Settings > Browser, scroll to Browsing, and under Browsing theme choose Dark. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Tabs and toggle on Use dark website appearance when available.

What to do if dark mode isn't working

If you've turned on dark mode but Instagram still shows a light background, the app may not have fully refreshed. Close Instagram completely and open it again. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Instagram, and swipe it up to close it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find Instagram, and tap Force stop.

If dark mode is still not working after a restart, check that you're using the latest version of the Instagram app. Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Instagram, and tap Update if an update is available. Older versions sometimes have bugs with dark mode.

On web browsers, if Instagram remains light even though your browser is in dark mode, try refreshing the page by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). If that doesn't work, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then reload Instagram.

Scheduled dark mode on iPhone

iPhone lets you schedule dark mode to turn on and off at specific times. This is useful if you prefer light mode during the day and dark mode at night. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, tap Automatic, and choose either Sunset to Sunrise (dark mode turns on when the sun sets in your location) or Custom Schedule (you set exact times).

With a schedule set, Instagram will switch between light and dark mode at those times without you having to change it manually. You can still override the schedule at any time by manually selecting Light or Dark mode in the same settings menu.

Scheduled dark mode on Android

Android phones also offer scheduled dark mode, though the exact steps depend on your phone brand. On most Android phones, go to Settings > Display > Dark theme and look for a Schedule or Automatic option. Some phones let you set it to turn on at sunset, while others let you pick specific times.

Samsung phones have this option under Settings > Display > Dark mode > Turn on as scheduled. Google Pixel phones put it in Settings > Display > Dark theme > Schedule. Check your phone's manual or support page if you can't find the option, as the location varies.

Why dark mode can help reduce eye strain

Dark mode reduces the amount of bright light your eyes are exposed to, which can lower eye fatigue when you're using Instagram in dim environments. The dark background also uses less power on phones with OLED screens, since those screens only light up the pixels that need to display color—black pixels use almost no power.

However, dark mode is not a cure for eye strain. The most effective ways to reduce strain are to take breaks every 20 minutes, look away from the screen at something far away, and keep your phone at arm's length. Dark mode is a helpful addition to these habits, not a replacement for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode on Instagram save battery?

Dark mode saves battery only on phones with OLED screens, which includes most newer iPhones and high-end Android phones. On phones with LCD screens, dark mode makes little or no difference to battery life. If you're unsure what type of screen your phone has, check the manufacturer's specifications.

Can I use dark mode on Instagram while keeping light mode on the rest of my phone?

Yes. Open Instagram, tap your profile icon, go to Settings and privacy > Appearance, and select Dark. This setting only affects Instagram and won't change the appearance of other apps or your home screen.

Why does Instagram look different in dark mode on my phone versus my computer?

Instagram's design team may update the dark mode appearance on the app and web version at different times, so they can look slightly different. Both versions are official dark modes—the difference is just in how the company chose to design them.

Will dark mode hide my posts or messages?

No. Dark mode only changes the color of the background and text. Your posts, messages, photos, and all your content remain exactly the same—only the interface around them becomes darker.