Use Dark Mode on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Use Dark Mode on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support? ›

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness, then select Dark to turn on Dark Mode or select Light to turn it off.

There are a lot of advantages to using dark mode, like extended battery life and reduced glare and blue light exposure. MORE BATTERY, LESS CHARGING: Using dark mode can extend your battery life by up to 30%, which means you won't need to charge your phone as often.

Reduced Eye Strain

Reducing eye strain is the most common reason users with normal vision mention for using dark mode. As one research participant put it, “My eyes have always been very sensitive to bright lights.

A few months later, in March 2020, Android Authority reported that 91.8% of people use Dark Mode whenever it is available. Talking about Apple Mail on macOS, 7.5% of people use Dark Mode. That number rises to 36% if we consider iOS users.

Cons of dark mode

Dark mode may increase eye strain in brightly-lit conditions. Dark mode can cause halation for individuals with myopia or astigmatism, making text less readable for them. Dark mode may lower reading comprehension and focus. Dark mode does not improve battery life on older devices without OLED screens.

While dark themes may be better suited for the night, they aren't necessarily helping you read better or saving your eyes from digital strain, or even saving a lot of juice on your device. You may also want to avoid dark mode altogether if you start noticing eyesight issues or increased sensitivity to light.

The study added: “These results suggest that older adults use positive polarity to avoid mental fatigue, while younger adults use negative polarity in a dim environment for aesthetic reasons.”

Switching to Dark Mode on an iPhone or iPad changes the operating system and apps so that the background becomes dark and the text light. This often makes the screen easier to read, especially in low light situations.

When the background is dark and the text is light, it can be difficult to make out the words on the screen, especially in dimly lit environments. This is particularly true for people with certain visual impairments, who may find dark mode to be more of a hindrance than a help.

Does Dark Mode save power on iPad? ›

In summary, the higher the brightness when switching from light mode, the greater the battery savings, both on iOS and Android. However, you will unlikely notice any difference even if you use the dark mode in darkness unless you need it to be at high brightness, such as on a sunny day.

Turn on Dark Mode in Settings

Go to Settings, then tap Display & Brightness. Select Dark to turn on Dark Mode.

If your device gets too warm, the display might dim and your maximum screen brightness is reduced until your device can cool down. Learn more about temperature management of your iPhone or iPad.

For example, people may prefer light mode for reading and dark mode for video streaming. Therefore, understanding the context of use is vital in evaluating these statistics. According to a survey conducted by UXDesign.cc, 58.7% of designers prefer using Dark Mode for their UI, citing less eye strain and better focus.

Dark mode reduces the overall brightness of the interface, which can be particularly beneficial in low-light conditions.

However, dark mode can be a valuable accessibility feature for many users. Some visual impairments can make it difficult to look at or process bright colors. While others with dyslexia or visual processing disorders find it tough to interpret black text on a white background.

Dark mode makes it easier for your eyes to adjust from your dimly lit surroundings to your phone screen. This can reduce eye strain and minimize eye fatigue. Car navigation systems and GPS devices switch to dark mode after sunset for this reason.

Changing from light to dark mode reduces the phone's power consumption by 42% at 100% screen brightness. When the brightness level is 50%, switching from light mode to dark mode saves 9 % of the battery, and when the brightness level is 30%, the saving is only 3 %.

Your screen can impact your battery savings

Using more black pixels can have a measurable impact on power consumption that can range from 5% to 50% improvement depending upon how high the brightness is turned up. The brighter you like your screen, the more power savings dark mode can provide.

The science behind modes

Dark Mode advocates argue that it's easier on the eyes and can contribute to better sleep patterns by reducing exposure to blue light. On the flip side, Light Mode proponents contend that their preferred mode offers superior readability and less visual fatigue in bright environments.