How to Turn On Dark Mode on Instagram

To turn on dark mode on Instagram, iPhone users open Settings and activity inside the app and set Theme to Dark, while Android users turn on Dark theme in the phone’s own Settings > Display and Instagram follows it automatically. The key thing to know is that the two platforms work differently, so the steps depend on the phone in your hand. Dark mode swaps Instagram’s bright white background for deep grey and black, which is easier on the eyes at night and can save a little battery on newer screens.

Turn on dark mode on iPhone

On iPhone, Instagram has its own theme control, so you do not have to change anything system-wide.

1. Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right.
2. Tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Settings and activity.
4. Scroll down to the app settings and tap Theme.
5. Choose Dark. Pick System instead if you want Instagram to match whatever your iPhone is set to.

The change is instant and only affects Instagram, so the rest of your phone stays exactly as it was. If you would rather your whole iPhone go dark, you can also turn on Dark mode for iOS in the phone’s Settings > Display & Brightness, and then set Instagram’s Theme to System so the app follows along.

Turn on dark mode on Android

On Android, Instagram does not include a separate switch. Instead it mirrors your phone’s system theme, so you turn it on from Android settings.

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Display (on some phones this is under Display & brightness or a maker-specific menu such as MIUI, One UI, or ColorOS).
3. Turn on Dark theme (also called Dark mode).
4. Open Instagram — it will already be dark.

Because the setting is system-wide on Android, turning it on also darkens WhatsApp, Chrome, and most other apps that support it. If you only wanted Instagram dark, that is not possible on Android by design — the app has no independent toggle there.

Use System or Automatic for day and night

If you like a light look during the day and a dark one at night, do not pick Dark outright. On iPhone choose System in Instagram’s Theme menu, and on Android use the automatic or scheduled option for Dark theme. Most Android phones let you schedule Dark theme to switch on from sunset to sunrise, or between custom times you set. Instagram then flips itself in step with your phone, so you never touch the setting again — bright while you are out during the day, easy on the eyes once it gets dark.

Fixes if dark mode will not turn on

If it still looks light after following the steps, run through these checks.

1. Update the app. Open the Play Store or App Store and update Instagram to the latest version — very old versions handled themes differently.
2. Restart the app. Fully close Instagram from your recent apps and reopen it.
3. Recheck the phone theme (Android). Make sure Dark theme is actually on in Settings > Display, not just Night Light or Eye Comfort, which only warm the colours rather than switch the theme.
4. Restart the phone if the change refuses to take effect.

You never need a third-party app, a “dark mode” browser trick, or any mod to do this. If a website promises a special dark-mode APK for Instagram, avoid it — sideloaded copies of Instagram can steal your login. If you are unsure about any download, read our guide on how to tell if an app is safe before you install it.

What dark mode actually changes

Dark mode only changes the app’s interface colours — the feed background, menus, chat screens and settings turn dark, while your photos, videos and other people’s posts look exactly the same. It does not hide your activity, change who can see your posts, or affect any privacy setting; it is purely a visual theme. Many people find the darker screen more comfortable for late-night scrolling and reading DMs, and on phones with an OLED or AMOLED display the true-black areas switch pixels off entirely, which can trim a little battery use. On older LCD screens there is no battery benefit, but the softer look at night is still worth having.

While you are in Instagram settings

Since you are already in Settings and activity, it is a good moment to tidy a couple of other things. You can add a link to your Instagram bio from the Edit profile screen, or turn off read receipts in your Instagram DMs if you would rather people not see when you have opened their messages. A couple of minutes now sets the app up the way you like it for good.

One last note: your choice here is remembered per app, so if you also use Instagram on a tablet or a second phone, you will need to set the theme there too. The setting does not sync across devices, and it is separate from any theme you have chosen for the Instagram website in a desktop browser, which follows your computer’s own light or dark setting.