Grace Sullivan
If you want to know how to make Instagram dark mode work, the answer depends on your device. On Android you can switch it on inside the Instagram app, while on iPhone and iPad it follows your device settings. This guide gives the steps as Instagram’s Help Center describes them, read on 21 October 2026.
Menu names and the order of options change between app versions, so treat the steps as a map rather than a script. Where the Help Center is silent, this page says so instead of guessing. For dated product changes, see our Instagram updates section. For another account setting, see our guide to deleting or deactivating your Instagram account.
Quick answer: on Android, open Profile, then Menu, then Accessibility and translation, then Dark mode, and choose On or System default. On iPhone or iPad there is no switch inside Instagram: turn on dark mode in your device settings and the app follows it.
Status: current as of 21 October 2026. Cost: free. Risk: none for the built-in setting; avoid third-party “dark theme” apps that ask for your password.
What Instagram dark mode is
According to Instagram’s Help Center page on dark mode, dark mode “adjusts the colors on your screen for a darker appearance”. It is a display setting, not a separate version of the app. You can choose to turn it on or off for each device you use to access Instagram, so a change on your phone does not carry over to a tablet or computer.
The setting changes how Instagram looks, not what it shows. Your feed, Stories, Reels and messages stay the same. If you are interested in what does change what you see, our guide to the Instagram algorithm covers that.
How the setting works on each device
Instagram’s Help Center describes three different situations:
| Where you use Instagram | What the Help Center says |
|---|---|
| Android app | A Dark mode option exists inside the app: On, Off or System default. You may need Android 10 or later to see it. |
| iPhone and iPad app | Dark mode cannot be turned on or off inside the app. It can only be changed in the device settings. |
| Instagram.com (computer or mobile browser) | Turning on dark mode in the Android or iPhone app only affects that app. For the website you need to enable it on each device. |
Table based on Instagram’s Help Center, read on 21 October 2026.
Turn on dark mode on Android
Instagram’s Help Center gives these steps for the Android app:
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to open your profile.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Under “Your app and media”, tap Accessibility and translation.
- Tap Dark mode.
- Tap Select next to On or Off. Or tap System default to let Instagram follow your phone’s own setting.
The Help Center adds that you may need to update your device’s operating system to Android 10 to access this setting in the app. With System default, Instagram’s appearance is based on your device’s settings rather than a choice you make inside the app.
Turn on dark mode on iPhone and iPad
On Apple devices the Help Center says dark mode cannot be turned on or off in the Instagram app and can only be adjusted in your iPhone or iPad’s device settings. The page sends you to your device settings and does not list further steps. Apple’s own display settings are the place to look, but Instagram does not document the exact path, so check your iOS version.
Two things follow from this, both stated by Instagram:
- Turning on dark mode in your device settings can make other apps appear dark too, not only Instagram.
- There is no switch inside Instagram to keep the app light while the rest of the phone is dark. The Help Center describes no such option for iPhone or iPad.
Dark mode on Instagram.com
The Help Center says that if you want dark mode on Instagram.com from a computer or a mobile browser, you need to enable it on each device. The page does not spell out the browser steps, and we could not confirm a setting inside the website itself. Check the “Computer Help” or “Mobile Browser Help” tab on the Help Center page if you use Instagram in a browser.
If you cannot find the option
- Android phone with no Dark mode entry: the Help Center says Android 10 may be needed. Check your Android version and update it if your phone allows.
- App out of date: Instagram’s troubleshooting page says that as of May 2022 older app versions are no longer supported, and recommends updating to the latest version, ideally on Wi-Fi. See Instagram’s help page on app problems.
- iPhone or iPad: you will not find a switch in the app. Instagram describes this as how the app works, not a fault.
- Option looks different: menu names can change between app versions. Look in Menu, then Accessibility and translation, or use the Help Center search.
What it costs
Nothing. Dark mode is a built-in setting on both platforms, and the Help Center page mentions no fee, subscription or extra app. Instagram also offers a paid subscription, Instagram Plus, announced on 4 June 2026, but its listed features are about Stories, profile customization and insights, not dark mode. See our Instagram updates overview for what it includes.
Safety and risks
The built-in setting carries no known risk. The risk comes from outside tools.
- Third-party apps and mods. Instagram has said that third-party apps used to artificially grow an audience violate its Community Guidelines and Terms of Use. Modified Instagram apps and theme tools are a different category and we found no Instagram statement about them, but any app that asks for your Instagram password gives its owner access to your account. Do not share your password with a theme or customization app.
- Browser extensions. Dark-mode extensions for browsers are not covered by Instagram’s Help Center. Install only extensions you trust, and be wary of ones that ask for broad access to your data.
- If something already went wrong. If you gave an app your login and your account now looks compromised, our guide to recovering a hacked Instagram account explains the next steps.
Instagram’s 2018 post, Reducing Inauthentic Activity on Instagram, sets out its position on third-party apps.
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Free, built in, takes a few taps | On iPhone and iPad it cannot be set inside Instagram |
| On Android you can follow the system setting or choose On or Off | Android may need version 10 or later |
| Applies across the app, not post by post | Set per device; it does not sync between devices |
| Does not touch your content or followers | The website needs its own setting on each device |
We found no Instagram statement about battery savings or eye strain from dark mode, so we make no claim either way.
Who it suits
- Android users: the in-app setting gives the most control, including a fixed On or Off.
- iPhone and iPad users: set your device to dark and Instagram follows. If you want Instagram light while your phone is dark, Instagram documents no way to do that.
- Creators and businesses: the setting only changes your own view. Followers can use either mode, so it is worth checking how your photos and quote graphics (see our guide to using Instagram quotes) look on both light and dark backgrounds if appearance matters to you.
Alternatives and related guides
If the setting does not do what you need, the options are the ones Instagram itself documents: updating the app, or using the website with your device’s own appearance settings. For more practical walkthroughs, see our Instagram tips section.
Instagram dark mode FAQ
How do I turn on dark mode on Instagram?
On Android: Profile, Menu, Accessibility and translation, Dark mode, then choose On or System default. On iPhone or iPad: change your device display settings and Instagram follows.
Why is there no dark mode option in my Instagram settings?
On iPhone and iPad the app has no such option, according to Instagram. On Android you may need Android 10 or later and an up-to-date app.
Can I use dark mode on Instagram on a computer?
Instagram’s Help Center says dark mode for Instagram.com needs to be enabled on each device. It does not list the steps on the page we read, so check the Computer Help tab.
Does turning on dark mode change other apps?
On iPhone and iPad, it can: Instagram says turning it on in your device settings may switch other apps to dark too.
Can I keep Instagram light and the rest of my phone dark?
On Android, the Help Center describes an Off choice inside Instagram’s Dark mode setting. On iPhone and iPad Instagram describes no way to do it.
Is dark mode safe?
The built-in setting is. Do not give your Instagram password to any app that offers a dark theme.
Instagram changes menus from time to time. If a step here no longer matches, tell us on the contact page, as described in our editorial policy.