How to turn on Instagram’s dark mode

No big app is complete nowadays without a dark mode to match its standard colour scheme, and Instagram has had one for a little while, in its settings.

With major benefits for eye strain if you’re checking Instagram in the dark, this is an essential mode, but it can be a little hard to find where to activate it. Below you’ll find all the details you need, but we also have guides on switching to dark mode for various other apps, like turning Gmail’s dark mode on and using dark mode on WhatsApp, in case you need them.

How to enable dark mode on Instagram’s mobile app

The way to turn Instagram’s dark mode on is different depending on the device you’re using, but it’s fairly easy on each, so here’s how you do it:

Dark mode for iPhone users

If you already use iOS 13 or later and have dark mode turned on at the system level, the Instagram app will auto-adjust to dark mode.

1. Make sure you’re running iOS 13 or later on your iPhone
2. Open Settings on your device, then go to Display and Brightness, and tap Dark
3. Install the Instagram app (or update it to the latest version) on your device and open it
4. Instagram will, by default, automatically respond to your device’s system settings

There’s nothing else you need to do! This will obviously apply dark mode to more than just Instagram, but your phone will now be easier on your eyes.

Dark mode for Android users

The process for Android phone users is very similar for Android 12 users as the app also reacts to the device’s theme.

1. Open your phone’s settings menu, navigate to Display and open it
2. Activate the Dark theme toggl
3. Install the Instagram app (or update it to the latest version) on your device and open it
4. Instagram will, by default, automatically respond to your device’s system settings

If you don’t want to turn on dark mode across your device entirely, then you can tweak the settings specifically on the Instagram Android app:

1. Go to your profile by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right
2. Select the menu icon at the top right
3. Tap Settings and privacy
4. Scroll right down and find the setting for Accessibility
5. From here you can select Light, Dark or System Default themes

How to turn dark mode on via Instagram on the web

If you access Instagram directly in your browser then you don’t need to put up with light mode. Yes, you can force Google Chrome to show any website in dark mode, but you can also change Instagram’s settings on the site to turn dark mode on specifically. Here’s how:

1. Head over to Instagram in your browser of choice
2. On the homepage click the three-bar burger menu on the bottom left of the site
3. Click on Switch appearance
4. Then turn dark mode on

FAQs

Why should I use Instagram dark mode?

Instagram is one of those apps that can dominate your thoughts and become a constant part of your life, which means you might use it at any time, including during the night.

That standard colour scheme can be bright, though, especially if you’re checking your phone in bed, for example. So, swapping to dark mode can be a huge win for your eyes, making it way less of a strain to focus on the screen.

This is probably the single biggest reason to use dark mode, but it’s also a matter of taste – you might just think that the app looks better with its darker layout.

Does Instagram’s dark mode save battery?

Because some phone displays can now use true blacks to avoid even having to light the pixels on parts of their screens, this can technically also bring battery life benefits, although these are likely to be so slim that you won’t genuinely notice them.

So, unless you’re using Instagram literally all day every day, don’t expect to see a major uplift in your battery life if you swap to dark mode – it’s not a magic bullet.