What Is Dark Mode – And Should You Be Using It? (2024)

Dark modeis a display setting for user interfaces, such as a smartphone or laptop.

It means that, instead of the default darktext showing up against a light screen (known as ‘light mode’), a light colour text (white or grey) is presented against a dark or black screen.

Light mode, however, is the default setting for most phones and apps.

Dark mode can also be known as:

• black mode
• dark theme
• night mode
• light-on-dark

The idea behind dark mode is that it reduces the light emitted by device screens while maintaining the minimum colour contrast ratios required for readability.

Both iPhones and Android handsets offer system-wide dark modes. However, you will still need to set up dark mode on some individual apps.

Some PC operating systems offer dark mode too, enabling you to set it up on your desktop or laptop.

So, the big question: is it time to go to the dark side?

Dark mode explained

Dark mode is nothing new. If you’re old enough to remember Teletext and Ceefax, you’ll recall cyan or yellow text on a black background as you squinted at the TV to read the weather forecast.

Computers screens originally used what we now call dark mode, because of the capacities of the cathode-ray tubes used several decades ago. But in a bid to encourage people who weren’t programmers to use computers, interfaces were gradually adapted to resemble paper – i.e. black text on white paper.

The science behind dark mode is still a little shady, with lots of conflicting views and evidence as to its benefits. Some experts say it’s easier and healthier to read text against a dark background as it reduces eye strain, while other studies arrive at the opposite conclusion.

There’s also a debate about whether dark mode can make your smartphone battery last longer.

Many mobile users simply think dark mode looks more slick. And some apps, most noticeably Spotify, have always leaned to the shadier side of the colour spectrum.

How do you set up dark mode?

If you have an iPhone updated to iOS 13or an Android phone that’s updated to Android 10, your device will support system-wide dark mode.

However, this still only applies to supported apps. Many other apps have their own dark modes that you will need to activate individually.

How to activate dark mode on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch

1. Go to settings > display & brightness
2. Select dark to turn on dark mode

You can also turn on dark mode from the control centre. To do this open the control centre, touch and hold the brightness control, then tapdark mode onordark mode off.

You can also turn on dark mode automatically at sunset or at a specific time:

1. Go to settings > display & brightness
2. Select automatic.
3. Tap options to set a schedule for dark mode.

How to activate dark mode on Android

1. Go to settings > display
2. Tap on advanced
3. Toggle dark theme on or off

How to activate dark mode on Samsung phones

1. Go to settings > display
2. Toggle night mode

How to activate dark mode on popular apps

If you don’t have a recent phone or operating system that supports dark mode, you can enable it on many smartphone apps individually.

Here’s how to do it:

Facebook Messenger: Click the icon of your profile photo and toggle on the dark mode option.

Twitter: On iOS, click your profile image in the top left, then click settings and privacy > display in iOS, and toggle on dark mode.

On Android, click your profile image in the top left, then click settings and privacy > display and Sound, and toggle on dark mode.

Gmail: Go to settings > general settings > theme. Then choose light, dark or system default.

YouTube: On iOS, tap your profile photo and selectsettings > appearance > dark theme.

On Android, tap your profile photo and selectsettings > general > dark theme.

Slack: Open the option menu from the top-right corner of any chat, tap settings, scroll down to dark mode, and tap ‘enable’.

What are the advantages of dark mode?

• It’s better for low-light settings – so you can use it in bed without keeping your partner awake or in the cinema without disturbing other people
• There will be less ‘blue light’ emitted from your phone – which can keep you awake if you use your phone before you go to bed
• Can use less energy so your phone battery will last longer
• Can potentially reduce eye strain and dry eyes in low-light conditions
• Some experts say dark mode can help people with light sensitivity or visual impairment.

What are the disadvantages of dark mode?

• Light-against-dark is not always better for eye strain – text can appear washed out, increasing eye fatigue
• Can be challenging to read long pieces of content or text in dark mode
• Light text on a dark background can be difficult to read in a well-lit sunny room
• If you have a phone with an older LCD screen, dark mode won’t really save your battery. You will need a OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen for this to be the case.

Ultimately, opinions remain split on dark mode. But, until we know for sure whether it reduces strain on your eyes at night and helps promote sleep, at least there is the option of leaving your phone outside your bedroom.