Dark mode is in your Instagram settings, and the steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android

Instagram's dark mode darkens the app's background from white to black or dark gray, which reduces eye strain in low light and uses less battery on phones with OLED screens. You turn it on through your phone's display settings, not Instagram's own settings menu — Instagram follows your phone's system preference by default.

On both iPhone and Android, the process takes about 30 seconds. Your choice affects not just Instagram but most other apps on your phone that support dark mode.

Key Takeaways

  • Instagram uses your phone's system-wide dark mode setting, so you change it in your phone's display settings, not in the Instagram app itself.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and tap Dark to enable dark mode across your entire phone.
  • On Android, open Settings > Display and toggle Dark theme on, though the exact wording varies by phone manufacturer.
  • You can schedule dark mode to turn on automatically at sunset and off at sunrise if your phone supports it.
  • If you want dark mode only in Instagram and not system-wide, some Android phones let you set it per app in Developer Options.

How to enable dark mode on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap Display & Brightness, which is usually near the top of the list. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Automatic. Tap Dark. Instagram and all other compatible apps will switch to dark mode immediately.

If you want dark mode to turn on and off on a schedule, tap Automatic instead. Your phone will then ask you to choose a schedule — Sunset to Sunrise is the default, but you can set custom times. This way you do not have to remember to switch it manually.

How to enable dark mode on Android

Open Settings and look for Display or Display and Brightness — the exact name depends on your phone's manufacturer. Samsung phones call it Display, Google Pixels call it Display, and other brands may vary slightly. Tap it and look for Dark theme or Dark mode. Toggle it on.

Some Android phones also let you schedule dark mode. In the same Display settings, look for an option called Schedule or Scheduled dark mode. If it exists, you can set it to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise, just like on iPhone.

What if dark mode is already on but Instagram is still light

Close Instagram completely and reopen it. Sometimes the app does not register the system change until you restart it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPhone or use your phone's app switcher on Android to close Instagram, then tap the Instagram icon to open it fresh.

If Instagram is still light after restarting, check that your phone's dark mode is actually on. Go back to Settings > Display and confirm the Dark or Dark theme toggle is switched on, not off.

Turning dark mode on for Instagram only, without affecting other apps

Most phones do not offer a built-in way to enable dark mode for one app only — it is a system-wide setting. However, some Android phones with Developer Options let you override this. Open Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times until you see a message saying you are now a developer. Go back to Settings, find Developer Options, and look for an option called Force dark mode or similar. Toggling this on will apply dark mode to Instagram even if your system setting is off.

This method is technical and not necessary for most users. If you just want Instagram in dark mode, the simplest approach is to enable dark mode system-wide on your phone.

Switching back to light mode

Reverse the steps: go to Settings > Display & Brightness on iPhone or Settings > Display on Android, and tap Light instead of Dark. Instagram will return to its normal white background within seconds.

If you have scheduled dark mode, you can turn off the schedule by going back to the same settings and choosing Manual instead of Automatic. Then select Light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode in Instagram save battery?

On phones with OLED screens — most newer iPhones and high-end Android phones — dark mode uses noticeably less battery because black pixels require less power than white ones. On phones with LCD screens, the difference is minimal or nonexistent. If your phone has an OLED screen, dark mode can extend battery life by a few hours per day.

Can I use dark mode on Instagram on my computer?

Instagram's web version on a computer does not have a dedicated dark mode setting within Instagram itself. However, if you use a web browser like Chrome or Firefox, you can enable dark mode in the browser settings, which will darken Instagram along with other websites. Some browsers also offer extensions that force dark mode on any website.

Why does Instagram sometimes switch back to light mode?

If you have scheduled dark mode set to Sunset to Sunrise, Instagram will switch to light mode during daytime hours automatically. If it is switching unexpectedly at other times, restart your phone and check that your dark mode setting is still on in your phone's display settings.

Will dark mode affect how my Instagram posts look to other people?

No. Dark mode only changes how you see Instagram on your own phone. The photos, videos, and text you post look the same to everyone else regardless of whether they use dark mode or light mode.