What you can actually change on Instagram
Instagram lets you change two things: the background color or image behind your direct messages, and the overall appearance of the app itself (light mode, dark mode, or automatic). You cannot change the background of your home feed or individual post pages — Instagram controls those. This guide walks you through both changes so you know exactly what's possible on your phone or computer.
The chat background customization is the most visible change you can make. Each conversation can have its own background, whether that is a solid color, a gradient, or a photo from your phone. The app-wide appearance setting affects everything else — the feed, your profile, Stories, and Reels all follow your light or dark mode choice, but their layout and structure stay the same.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram's chat background can be changed to a solid color, gradient, or photo from your phone's camera roll, but only within the app itself.
- The app's overall appearance (light or dark mode) is controlled in your phone's settings or Instagram's settings menu, depending on your device.
- Changes to chat backgrounds explore only to that specific conversation — each chat can have a different background.
- You cannot change the background of your home feed, Stories, or Reels; Instagram's design is fixed for all users.
How to change your direct message background on iPhone
Open Instagram and go to your direct messages by tapping the paper airplane icon in the top right. Find the conversation you want to customize and open it. Tap the person's name or group name at the top of the chat to open the conversation details.
Scroll down and tap Chat Theme. You will see preset color options and gradients. Tap any one to explore it when ready. If you want to use a photo instead, tap the camera icon or photo icon (the exact placement varies by app version), then choose a photo from your camera roll. The photo will become the chat background behind all the messages in that conversation. The change takes effect right away and applies only to that single chat.
How to change your direct message background on Android
Open Instagram and tap the direct messages icon (the paper airplane) in the top right corner. Open the conversation you want to customize. Tap the person's name or group name at the top of the screen.
Scroll down and select Chat Theme. Choose from the preset colors and gradients shown, or tap the photo icon to upload an image from your phone's gallery. The new background takes effect when ready in that chat only. If you change your mind, you can return to Chat Theme at any time and pick a different background or color.
How to switch between light mode and dark mode
On iPhone, the easiest method is to let Instagram follow your phone's setting. Go to Instagram Settings (tap your profile picture, then the menu icon, then Settings and Privacy). Tap Appearance, then select Use Device Settings. Now Instagram will automatically match whatever mode your phone is set to — light during the day, dark at night, or whichever you prefer.
If you want Instagram to stay in one mode regardless of your phone's setting, choose Light or Dark instead of Use Device Settings. On Android, the steps are identical: Settings and Privacy > Appearance, then pick your preference. Once you select a mode, it stays that way until you change it again.
What you cannot change on Instagram
Instagram does not let you change the background of your home feed, your profile page, individual posts, Stories, or Reels. The white or dark background behind posts, the layout of your grid, and the appearance of the Explore page are all controlled by Instagram and are the same for every user (except for light versus dark mode). You also cannot change fonts, icon colors, or the position of buttons.
If you see a third-party app claiming to let you customize these things, it is not actually changing Instagram itself — it is either showing you a screenshot or a fake version of the app. Stick with the official Instagram app to avoid security risks and to make sure your account stays safe.
Troubleshooting chat background changes
If you set a chat background and it does not appear, close the app completely and reopen it. Sometimes the change takes a moment to sync across your device. If the background still does not show, make sure you are using the latest version of Instagram — go to your phone's app store and check for updates.
If you uploaded a photo and it looks blurry or stretched, that is because Instagram is fitting your image to the chat window. Try a photo that is already close to a vertical rectangle (taller than it is wide) for the best result. If you want to remove a chat background and go back to the default, open Chat Theme again and select one of the preset solid colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as a chat background?
No. Instagram chat backgrounds accept only still images — photos from your camera roll or the preset color and gradient options built into the app. Videos are not supported for chat backgrounds.
Will my chat background change show up for the other person?
No. Chat backgrounds are personal to you. The other person will see their own background (or the default) on their end. You see your chosen background, they see theirs.
Can I change the background of group chats?
Yes. The process is the same — open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, scroll to Chat Theme, and pick a background. The change applies only to your view of that group chat.
Does changing to dark mode save battery?
On phones with OLED screens (most newer iPhones and high-end Android phones), dark mode does use slightly less battery because black pixels require less power. On phones with LCD screens, the difference is minimal or nonexistent. If battery life matters to you, dark mode is worth trying.
What if Instagram keeps switching back to light mode?
Check that you have selected Light or Dark in Appearance settings, not Use Device Settings. If you chose Use Device Settings, Instagram will follow your phone's automatic schedule. If you want it to stay dark all the time, select Dark manually.