By default, the interface of iOS and iPadOS is white with light tones, but if desired you can also use a dark mode on your iPhone and iPad. The entire system is then provided with this special dark display.
For example, menus, icons, windows and standard apps are automatically adjusted when you choose this dark version. Third-party apps can also use the default blackish appearance without the developer having to make too many changes. Dark Mode has various options and possibilities, so you can switch it on automatically and color backgrounds.
Activate Dark Mode on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Navigate to ‘Screen & Brightness’
- Choose ‘Dark’ when displaying
Once you have chosen this display, you will notice that everything immediately appears darker, ideal for the evenings and recommended for iPhone models with OLED screen.
Enable Dark Mode automatically
If you do not always want to use the dark mode, you can also choose to set a schedule. You can switch the display on and off at a time of your choice. But you can also choose to set dark mode automatically from sunset to sunrise.
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Navigate to ‘Screen & Brightness’
- Enable the ‘Automatic’ option under ‘Display’
- Tap ‘Options’
You can then choose ‘Sunset to sunrise’ or ‘Custom schedule’. You can then indicate when the light mode should be started and when it should switch to dark.
Quickly switch on and off via Control Panel
It is also possible to directly switch from light to dark display and vice versa via the Control Panel. That saves you a few taps to the settings menu, follow the steps below.
- Open the Control Panel
- Place your finger on the brightness slider switch
- Tap ‘Dark Mode’
You can also add the dark mode control directly to the control panel. This gives you even faster access to changing the view. Open Control Center, place your finger on the screen, then tap Add Control. Search for ‘Dark Mode’ and add it.
Adjust wallpaper to dark mode
To implement dark mode consistently, iOS automatically adjusts the background. You can choose between Apple’s standard dynamic backgrounds, but personal wallpapers can also be adjusted. Once the dark display is activated, iOS and iPadOS will dim the wallpaper with a dark overlay. If you don’t want that, you can disable it using the steps below:
- Open Settings
- Go to ‘Background’
- Tap ‘Customise’ on the lock screen
- Open the symbol for display (circle)
- Choose a desired mode
Remove dark app icons
As you can see in the image above, the app icons will now also appear dark in dark mode. If you don’t want this, you can adjust it.
- Unlock your iPhone or iPad
- Enable dark mode
- Place your finger on an app or widget
- Wait a few moments
- Choose ‘Customize home screen’
- Tap ‘Edit’ at the top
- Choose ‘Customize’
- Choose ‘Light’
- Confirm with done
From now on, the symbols will appear light in dark mode. At least, for this background combination. Do you use multiple backgrounds and lock screens? Then you need to adjust them for all these backgrounds using the steps above.
Also suitable for websites and apps
As in macOS, developers can take advantage of this default view and automatically make their apps appear dark when an iPhone or iPad user has Dark Mode active. This is also the case for websites that support dark display, such as our website. If a website supports this feature, Safari in iOS will automatically choose the dark view when Dark Mode is active.