A bright interface can be distracting in a dim room. Dark Mode gives your iPhone or iPad a darker interface with light text for low-light use.

Dark Mode applies to Settings, Apple's built-in apps, and supported third-party apps. Apps with their own appearance preferences may stay light until their individual settings change.

The dark appearance can stay on all day or follow a daily schedule. For warmer screen colors at night, the separate Night Shift feature changes color temperature rather than the light or dark theme.

Steps to activate Dark Mode on iPhone and iPad:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap Appearance.

    On iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, the light and dark appearance options are under Appearance. On iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, choose Display & Brightness instead. On iPad, Appearance is in the Settings sidebar.

  3. Turn off Automatic to keep the dark appearance all day.
  4. Select Dark.
  5. Confirm that Settings has a dark background with light text.

    Dark Mode now stays on all day. The remaining steps are only for a daily schedule.

  6. Turn on Automatic to switch between light and dark on a schedule.
  7. Tap Options.
  8. Select Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.
  9. Set the Light and Dark times if you chose Custom Schedule.

    Each time is when that appearance begins.

  10. Tap the back arrow to return to Appearance.
  11. Confirm that Options shows the next appearance change.
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