What you can change in Facebook's iPad settings

Facebook on iPad lets you switch between light mode and dark mode, adjust text size, and change which information shows on your screen. You cannot change Facebook's overall layout or move buttons around — the app controls where things go. But you can make the interface easier to read and reduce eye strain, especially if you use Facebook in dim lighting.

The changes you make apply only to your iPad. If you log into Facebook on your iPhone or a computer, those devices will still show Facebook's default appearance unless you change them separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark mode reduces eye strain and is turned on through your iPad's Settings app, not through Facebook itself.
  • You can increase text size in Facebook's app settings to make posts and comments easier to read.
  • Turning off autoplay for videos saves battery and stops videos from playing automatically as you scroll.
  • Compact mode removes extra spacing between posts, letting you see more content on one screen.
  • These changes only affect your iPad — you will need to repeat them on other devices if you want the same look there.

Turn on dark mode for Facebook

Dark mode makes Facebook's background dark instead of white, which reduces glare on your eyes. To turn it on, open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down to the Display section and tap Dark Mode. You will see three options: Off, On, and Use Device Setting. Tap On to turn dark mode on permanently, or tap Use Device Setting to match whatever dark mode setting your iPad already has. If you choose Use Device Setting, dark mode will turn on automatically when your iPad switches to dark mode at sunset (if you have that turned on in your iPad's settings).

Dark mode works best on newer iPads with OLED or Liquid Retina displays. On older iPad models with LCD screens, the difference is less noticeable.

Make text larger in the Facebook app

If posts and comments are hard to read, you can increase the text size without changing anything else on your iPad. Open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner. Go to Settings & Privacy and then Settings.

Look for the Accessibility section and tap Text Size. You will see a slider with a small "A" on the left and a large "A" on the right. Drag the slider to the right to make text bigger. The preview text above the slider shows you how large the text will be. Tap Done when you are happy with the size.

This change affects only text inside the Facebook app. It does not change the size of text in your iPad's other apps or on your home screen.

Turn off autoplay for videos

By default, Facebook plays videos automatically as you scroll through your feed, which uses battery and data. To stop this, open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

Scroll to Media and Contacts and tap Video Autoplay. You will see three choices: On, On WiFi Only, and Off. Choose Off to stop videos from playing unless you tap them yourself. Choose On WiFi Only if you want videos to autoplay when you are connected to WiFi but not when you are using cellular data.

Switch to compact mode to see more posts

Compact mode removes extra white space between posts, so you can see more content without scrolling as much. Open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

Find the Display section and look for Compact Mode. Tap the toggle switch next to it to turn it on. Your feed will immediately look tighter, with less space between each post. If you change your mind, tap the toggle again to turn it off and go back to the normal view.

Adjust notification badges and sounds

You can control how Facebook notifies you without changing how it looks. Open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

Tap Notifications and you will see options for different types of alerts — messages, friend requests, comments, and more. For each type, you can choose whether to get a notification, a sound, or a badge (the red number that appears on the Facebook app icon). Turn off the ones you do not want to see. This reduces clutter on your home screen and stops your iPad from buzzing or dinging as often.

What you cannot change about Facebook's appearance

Facebook controls the position of buttons, the layout of your feed, and where your profile picture appears. You cannot move these things around or hide them. If you dislike where something is located, there is no setting to change it — that is how Facebook designed the app for iPad.

You also cannot change the color scheme beyond dark mode and light mode. You cannot make Facebook blue, green, or any other color. Third-party apps that claim to let you do this are not official Facebook tools and may not be safe to use with your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will dark mode work on my older iPad?

Dark mode works on any iPad running iOS 13 or newer, but the effect is more noticeable on newer models with better screens. If your iPad is from 2015 or earlier, you may not see much difference. You can still turn it on — it just will not look as dramatic as it does on newer iPads.

If I change the text size, will it affect other apps on my iPad?

No. The text size change in Facebook's settings only affects the Facebook app. Your other apps and your iPad's home screen will stay the same. If you want to change text size across your whole iPad, you can do that in your iPad's Settings app under Display & Brightness, but that is separate from the Facebook text size setting.

Can I use a different Facebook theme or skin?

No. Facebook does not offer themes, skins, or custom layouts for the iPad app. The only appearance changes available are dark mode, text size, and compact mode. Any website or app claiming to offer Facebook themes is not an official Facebook tool.

Why does Facebook look different on my iPad than on my iPhone?

Facebook designs its app differently for different screen sizes. The iPad version uses more of the wider screen, while the iPhone version is narrower. The settings you change on your iPad do not carry over to your iPhone — you have to change them separately on each device if you want them to look the same.

Does turning off autoplay save battery on my iPad?

Yes. Videos use more power than text and images, so turning off autoplay means your iPad does not have to work as hard while you scroll. You will notice longer battery life, especially if you spend a lot of time on Facebook.