Instagram offers light and dark theme options in your phone settings

Instagram does not have its own theme selector inside the app. Instead, it follows the theme setting on your phone — if your phone is set to dark mode, Instagram appears dark, and if your phone is set to light mode, Instagram appears light. To change how Instagram looks, you change your device's system theme, not a setting within Instagram itself.

The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone. Both processes take less than a minute and affect not just Instagram but all apps on your device that support dark mode.

Key Takeaways

  • Instagram automatically uses your phone's theme setting, so you change the theme by adjusting your device's display mode, not through the Instagram app.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings, then Display & Brightness, and choose Dark, Light, or Auto to switch between themes.
  • On Android, open Settings, select Display, and toggle Dark Theme on or off depending on your preference.
  • You can set your phone to switch themes automatically at sunset and sunrise by choosing the Auto option on iPhone or scheduling on Android.

How to change Instagram's theme on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Auto. Tap the one you want. Light mode shows a white background with dark text. Dark mode shows a dark background with light text. Auto switches between the two based on the time of day — it uses light mode during the day and dark mode at night.

If you choose Auto, your phone will switch themes at sunset and sunrise based on your location. This means Instagram will change appearance automatically without you having to do anything. If you prefer a specific theme all the time, choose Light or Dark instead.

How to change Instagram's theme on Android

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. The exact path varies by manufacturer, but look for Display or Display and Brightness. Tap it, then look for Dark Theme or Dark Mode. Toggle it on to enable dark mode or toggle it off to use light mode. Some Android phones also offer an Auto option that switches themes at set times.

If your Android phone does not show a Dark Theme toggle in the Display settings, check under Advanced or look for Theme options in the main Settings menu. Samsung phones, for example, sometimes place this setting under Display > Screen Mode or under Themes. Once you find it, the toggle works the same way — turn it on for dark mode or off for light mode.

What dark mode and light mode look like on Instagram

In light mode, Instagram's background is white or very light gray, and text appears in dark gray or black. The feed, stories, and all menus use this light color scheme. Light mode is easier to read in bright sunlight and uses less battery power on phones with older screens.

In dark mode, Instagram's background is dark gray or black, and text appears in white or light gray. The feed, stories, and menus all shift to this darker color scheme. Dark mode is easier on the eyes in low-light environments and uses less battery power on phones with OLED screens, which turn off pixels to display black.

Using Auto mode to switch themes automatically

If you set your phone to Auto mode, it will switch between light and dark themes based on the time of day. On iPhone, Auto mode uses your phone's location to determine sunset and sunrise times, then switches to dark mode at sunset and light mode at sunrise. You do not need to do anything after setting it to Auto — the switch happens on its own.

On Android, the Auto option works similarly, though the exact timing depends on your phone's manufacturer. Some Android phones let you set a specific time for the switch instead of using sunset and sunrise. Check your Display settings to see if you can customize the schedule.

Why Instagram does not have its own theme setting

Instagram follows your phone's system theme to keep the app consistent with the rest of your device. This design choice means you do not have to manage themes separately for each app — one setting controls the appearance across your entire phone. It also reduces the amount of code Instagram needs to maintain, since the app does not have to store individual theme preferences.

Some other apps do have their own theme settings that override your phone's system theme, but Instagram is not one of them. If you want Instagram to look different from your phone's current theme, you will need to change your phone's theme setting instead.

Troubleshooting if Instagram's theme is not changing

If you changed your phone's theme but Instagram still looks the same, close and reopen the Instagram app. Sometimes the app does not immediately reflect a system theme change until you restart it. Force-close Instagram completely, then open it again.

If that does not work, restart your phone. A full restart ensures that all system settings, including theme preferences, take effect across all apps. After your phone restarts, open Instagram and check whether the theme has changed. If you are still seeing the wrong theme, check your phone's Display settings again to confirm the theme is actually set to what you intended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set Instagram to dark mode while keeping the rest of my phone in light mode?

No. Instagram does not have its own theme setting, so it will always match your phone's system theme. If your phone is in light mode, Instagram will be in light mode. To change Instagram's appearance, you must change your entire phone's theme.

Does dark mode on Instagram save battery?

Dark mode saves battery on phones with OLED screens, which turn off pixels to display black. On phones with LCD screens, dark mode uses about the same amount of battery as light mode. If your phone has an OLED screen — most newer iPhones and high-end Android phones do — dark mode will extend your battery life slightly.

Will changing my phone's theme affect other apps?

Yes. When you change your phone's system theme, all apps that support dark mode will switch to that theme. Apps that do not support dark mode will remain unchanged. This is why changing your phone's theme affects Instagram along with everything else on your device.

What if my phone does not have a dark mode option?

Older phones may not support dark mode. iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier and Android phones running Android 9 or earlier typically do not have a system-wide dark mode option. If your phone does not have this setting, Instagram will appear in light mode only, and there is no way to change it.